After seeing the positive changes that have taken place since Sophea and her daughters joined the programme, all members of the family want to spread the word and encourage more villagers to follow suit. Sokhy is sharing what he learnt from his wife with other men in the village.

“When I see another man committing violence, I want to educate him to change his behaviour. I find it unacceptable and sad. We can have a good family only if we know how to value one another, have mutual understanding, and be tolerant. In short, this involves all the family members, husband, wife and children. It means speaking up, not being narrow-minded, not getting angry easily. Then happiness will come”, says Sokhy.

Sophea has also become more knowledgeable on how to handle cases of violence against women in the community and lend support to her peers.

“When violence happens to a woman, I come forward to talk to the woman to understand what she has experienced. I can also refer her to the Commune Chief, or a support organization that we know through UNFPA. We have brochures, phone numbers, contact persons that can help her,” she explains.

Ultimately, through her work with adolescent girls and boys, Sophea is determined to prevent other women from experiencing the violence that she experienced.

“I want to completely eliminate violence against women in my village,” she asserts.

Stories like that of Sophea and her family are giving real hope that it is possible to end violence against women in Cambodia. The programme has not only led her husband to stop using violence, but it has also unleashed a wave of positive influence and transformations within the family, and more widely, within the community. These transformations will help prevent violence against women and girls in the future.

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Bunthat helps counter violence against women and hopes to bring change in his community.