Sreymom: A Champion for Safe Migration and Education in Cambodia

Soun Sreymom, a former Cambodian migrant worker, now uses her experience to advocate for safe migration and workers' rights. As a leading voice in the EU-funded PROTECT project in Cambodia, she facilitates community dialogues on gender, labour rights, and violence against women, and uses her powerful photographs to spark conversation and raise awareness about safe migration.

Approximately 1.3 million Cambodians work abroad, contributing significantly to Southeast Asia's economy. Women constitute nearly half of the region's 10 million migrants, forming a vital economic force through remittances that support families and communities. However, the lack of essential information and support often undermines the potential benefits of migration.

Now living in a rural community in Kampong Speu Province, Sreymom’s experience highlights the issues faced by many. "I faced challenges when switching from one job to another," she reflects. "First, I believed that changing jobs would lead to safer and less demanding work environments. However, the reality was the opposite, and the difficulties got worse with each job change. We had no choice but to accept these difficult and unsafe jobs."

Sreymom spent 12 years travelling between Cambodia and Thailand for work, where she encountered the stark contrast between promised opportunities and harsh realities. "When I first migrated, I didn’t know the language," she recalls. "I worked as a rubber tapper. We didn’t know when we would get paid or anything. We didn’t dare to ask because we didn’t know the language. So, for the first five months, we didn’t get any pay from the boss." Without legal documentation and facing language barriers, she endured months of unpaid labour.

Khun Sophea, Country Programme Coordinator at UN Women Cambodia, highlights the isolation many women migrant workers experience: "There's a strong sense of isolation as many don't speak the language of the destination country and lack a deep understanding of its culture. Additionally, they struggle with a lack of information about essential services and don’t have any support networks, making it difficult to find help if they face abuse or discrimination.”

A VOICE FOR SAFE MIGRATION 

After returning to Cambodia in 2018, Sreymom joined a Peer Network. Initially part of the Safe and Fair Programme, this network transitioned to the PROTECT project, a partnership between the ILO, UN Women, UNODC, and UNICEF, funded by the European Union, focused on protecting the rights of women and children migrant workers in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The PROTECT project’s peer networks are vital support systems for women migrant workers across Southeast Asia, providing both online and in-person spaces in countries like Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. These networks, operating both online and in-person in countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, provide safe spaces for women to connect, share information, share experiences, learn about risks, and access essential support services. "Mostly, as women working in other countries, we need support to talk to our families, share our problems, or find help to leave a difficult situation," Sreymom reflects. Through these networks, women gain leadership skills, better understand their rights, and reduce feelings of isolation.

Through this network, Sreymom discovered the My Journey mobile app, a vital resource offering information and emergency support. "At first, as a migrant, I didn't know much. I just went. But this app guides us, no matter where we are, and provides contact numbers we can use if we are in trouble." Sreymom actively shares the app with her community, offering a lifeline of support to friends and relatives working abroad. "I share it with my relatives who are already in Thailand and lack support and information. They love the app because now they have something to rely on."

As part of the same programme, Sreymom was one of 28 women selected to participate in a participatory photography project. Using mobile phones, she documented and reflected on her migration journey, capturing both the struggles and hopes within her community. The project aimed not only to gather valuable information but also to equip participants with skills in self-expression, reflection, and critical thinking. “I gained knowledge about photography and learned how to use photographs to tell stories,” says Sreymom.

Currently, Sreymom is preparing to lead community dialogues on gender, migration, and violence against women. She has co-designed “Photo-language” cards to facilitate these dialogues, using the very photos taken by herself and other migrant women to share experiences and raise awareness. "I am excited to continue contributing to community dialogues, sharing my migration experience, and leading discussions using the photo-language cards," she shares.

NEW ROLE IN EDUCATION

Sreymom understands that education is more than just learning—it’s a lifeline. Motivated by her belief that education can prevent unsafe migration, she began teaching kindergarten in her community. "People in my village are mostly poor, and children have difficulty continuing their studies due to family conditions. Some children migrate with their parents. Without education, they will end up working in low-paid jobs or migrating without proper documentation," Sreymom explains.

Her commitment has been recognised. Local authorities have informed her that she will be promoted to a formal kindergarten teacher under the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports.

Today, Sreymom is a trusted and respected member of her community. "Some people in my village ask me if they should migrate to Thailand for work," she says. "I tell them that migration is their choice. But if they really need to go, they should go through a regular channel, with all the required documents, to be safe and avoid the hardships I faced."

Her strength and community contributions exemplify what the PROTECT project aims to foster among migrant women – recognising their innate strength and capacity to transform their communities.

Sophea Khun reflects, "From my experience working with women migrant workers, I find them truly amazing. They exhibit strength and courage while navigating their lives. We need to continue to find ways to raise their voices, share their experiences, and showcase their strengths."

Looking back on her transformation, Sreymom says, "I've had the opportunity to become more confident and gain a clearer understanding of myself. I feel like I have been given a voice." Through her tireless work, Sreymom empowers others, ensuring that future generations of migrants are better informed, protected, and supported. 

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The project "Ensuring Decent Work and Reducing Vulnerabilities for Women and Children in the Context of Labour Migration in Southeast Asia (PROTECT)", running from 2024 to 2026, is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the ILO, UN Women, UNICEF, and UNODC to safeguard the rights of women and children in labor migration.