Help A Cambodian Genocide Survivor Have Hope Again
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THIS IS MALA THE CAMBODIAN TUK TUK DRIVER... AND HE HAS A MESSAGE FOR ALL AMERICANS.
Meet Mala, 36-year-old Tuk Tuk driver.
(Tuk Tuks are little windowless cars used as taxis in SE Asia).
He works 15 hours every day with no days off to make the $400/month to support his wife and young daughter.
He started out selling baguettes at the bus stop. Then he saved enough money to buy a cyclo (a bicycle taxi).
And finally he bought an Indian Tuk Tuk so he can provide even more for his family.
But the truth is that Mala is struggling and has struggled for his entire life.
And not in the way you and I struggle.
If you’re American, our country is the richest country in the world. And our government is democratic.
We struggle with happiness and stress while we drink $5 mocha Frappuccinos at Starbucks.
His struggle is different.
It’s about survival.
The economic and political situation here is also very different.
He can’t even talk about some of what’s happening because he can end up in prison.
But suffice it to say that the deck is stacked against him in many, many ways.
On a more personal level, he grew up very poor in the wake of the Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian genocide, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1.5 to 2 million people from 1975 to 1979, nearly a quarter of Cambodia's 1975 population.
The things that Cambodians saw were atrocious, watching executions of their own family members. Cambodians are still struggling to deal with the consequences of the genocide.
In fact, something horrible happened to Mala. He was so poor that when his son got sick, he took him to the hospital, but couldn’t pay for the treatment.
His son ended up dying because of that. There's no medical care available.
Watch the video below to learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the Genocide survivors:
That said, he still taught himself English, learned his country’s history, has a good attitude and works his ass off to provide for his wife and daughter.
A big problem that he’s facing is that he bought a Tuk Tuk in the hopes it would bring about a better life to his family who has suffered a lot.
Tuk Tuks cost around $1200 but because of the import taxes, he bought it for $4k and has a 5-year deal to pay it off.
He didn’t ask me for any help other than to share his contact info with anywho might need a driver in Phnom Penh.
But I felt compelled to do more after hearing his story.
Let’s try to help him come up with the 4K to pay off his Tuk Tuk so he has one less thing to worry about it.
And if reading this and watching him moved you, I want you to help too.
Let’s surprise him with the money to pay off his Tuk Tuk! What do you say?
Want to keep talking or actually take action to help someone in need?
You know where I stand and I’d appreciate your help to give someone a break in life.
And more importantly, to give them hope after coming out of these horrible situation and honoring the lifes lost.
We CAN make a difference.
But that difference comes from taking action now.
Donate today and help a genocide survivor have a better future. ❤️
If you want to learn more about the Cambodian Genocide, watch this video below:
Meet Mala, 36-year-old Tuk Tuk driver.
(Tuk Tuks are little windowless cars used as taxis in SE Asia).
He works 15 hours every day with no days off to make the $400/month to support his wife and young daughter.
He started out selling baguettes at the bus stop. Then he saved enough money to buy a cyclo (a bicycle taxi).
And finally he bought an Indian Tuk Tuk so he can provide even more for his family.
But the truth is that Mala is struggling and has struggled for his entire life.
And not in the way you and I struggle.
If you’re American, our country is the richest country in the world. And our government is democratic.
We struggle with happiness and stress while we drink $5 mocha Frappuccinos at Starbucks.
His struggle is different.
It’s about survival.
The economic and political situation here is also very different.
He can’t even talk about some of what’s happening because he can end up in prison.
But suffice it to say that the deck is stacked against him in many, many ways.
On a more personal level, he grew up very poor in the wake of the Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian genocide, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1.5 to 2 million people from 1975 to 1979, nearly a quarter of Cambodia's 1975 population.
The things that Cambodians saw were atrocious, watching executions of their own family members. Cambodians are still struggling to deal with the consequences of the genocide.
In fact, something horrible happened to Mala. He was so poor that when his son got sick, he took him to the hospital, but couldn’t pay for the treatment.
His son ended up dying because of that. There's no medical care available.
Watch the video below to learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the Genocide survivors:
That said, he still taught himself English, learned his country’s history, has a good attitude and works his ass off to provide for his wife and daughter.
A big problem that he’s facing is that he bought a Tuk Tuk in the hopes it would bring about a better life to his family who has suffered a lot.
Tuk Tuks cost around $1200 but because of the import taxes, he bought it for $4k and has a 5-year deal to pay it off.
He didn’t ask me for any help other than to share his contact info with anywho might need a driver in Phnom Penh.
But I felt compelled to do more after hearing his story.
Let’s try to help him come up with the 4K to pay off his Tuk Tuk so he has one less thing to worry about it.
And if reading this and watching him moved you, I want you to help too.
Let’s surprise him with the money to pay off his Tuk Tuk! What do you say?
Want to keep talking or actually take action to help someone in need?
You know where I stand and I’d appreciate your help to give someone a break in life.
And more importantly, to give them hope after coming out of these horrible situation and honoring the lifes lost.
We CAN make a difference.
But that difference comes from taking action now.
Donate today and help a genocide survivor have a better future. ❤️
If you want to learn more about the Cambodian Genocide, watch this video below:
Co-organizers (2)
Ted Ryce
Organizer
Miami Beach, FL
Gisele Oliveira
Co-organizer