Siem Reap, KH – New Rent-to-Own house gives teacher and her elderly mother hope and a safe environment – 31 May 2022

A secure home is one of our basic human needs. In the village of Peaksneng so many families lack a proper roof over their heads, and walls to protect their families from the weather. Most of the houses in this rural area are made of palm leaves, round timber and plastic sheeting. It is unfathomable how hot these homes are in dry season and constantly wet when it rains. Children and elder people are exposed to the elements and unprotected in deep-seated discomfort. Unfortunately, this is the reality for over 43% of Cambodian families in the village.

Our Peaksneng Thormacheat shop is trying to change this by partnering with Better Lives and investors to build Rent-to-Own homes. We aim to build houses for qualified families who we trust to always pay rent until they own their home. The Thormacheat construction team has over time, developed a good quality and affordable house building model that serves the local families very well. Our Rent-to-Own house program in Peaksneng builds wooden houses with a zinc roofs, and concrete houses with tile roofs that are elevated off the ground enough to ensure they are protected from the weather, provide a safe haven, and are truly secure homes for a families.

The story of one home is about teacher Thida who assists the children at the local Catholic church center for children. She said goodbye to her elderly mother in another province in 2006, to go to her job serving the children in Peasneng Village, Siem Reap. She left her mother with her older sister in their old and fragile condition house. Since then, she has rarely seen her mother because of the travel cost and distance. Teacher Thida as part of the Thormacheat shop team. Working as an adviser, she has helped us so much in making our work organized and easier. She has also assisted us hosting students from UK, making everyone well fed, feeling comfortable and welcomed.

One of the greatest achievements of teacher Thida is having a new house and bringing her mother to live with her in the community.She is feeling comfortable, happy and joyful to see her mother. She does not worry anymore because her mom is with her.

Thida’s dream since a young age has been to have her own house. She thought she would never live in a very beautiful house, because to own a house that costs $9,000 is surely a privilege. Not everyone can afford this amount. Her next dream is to now take care of the person who once nurtured her, her mother.