Landmines have shaped the life of Sok Seng since she was a tiny child. Her father was killed by a mine when she was just six years old and her brother lost his arm in a mine accident. Without her father, it was hard to survive. Cambodia was at war, her family lived along the border and there were many mines.
In 2010, Sok Seng began working for The HALO Trust. Understandably, her mother was afraid for her safety but Sok Seng wanted to help Cambodia become mine-free, to remove the indiscriminate killers that had devastated her family and the lives of so many others. This is her story in her own words.
What were you doing before you joined HALO?
Before joining HALO in 2010, I worked in a cassava plantation as a farmer.
What does your family think of you working as a deminer?
When I decided to join HALO as a deminer it was very difficult for my mother. She was so fearful that I would be injured as my father was killed by a landmine and my brother lost his left arm in a mine accident. My family were very apprehensive but I wanted to show them that I could help Cambodia become mine-free. I tried to reassure my mother I would be safe because of the good training and strict procedures. Luckily, when she saw some mine-clearance teams working in my village it convinced her that I would be safe.
What’s it like living in remote camps?
For me it is normal life. The market is quite far away but we still go every five days. Men and women live separately and there is good water for drinking and washing. The villagers where we work are always really kind and friendly towards us, which is important.
What’s it like living away from your family?
Sometimes it is lonely to be away, when I have had a tough day I miss my family.
What do other women think of you doing this job?
Other women have two very different opinions of me working as a deminer. In my culture, when women work far away from home some people talk negatively about it, so if I go to work in a province a long way from my village then this might be their attitude. But other women say they think I am courageous and they admire me for choosing to do such a hard and dangerous job.
What opportunities has your job given you or your family?
It means I can support my family. I have been able to pay the school fees for my nieces and nephews and I have promised my niece that I will buy her a bicycle when she becomes top of her class. If my brother or sister need help to pay off a loan then I am able to help. I am also planning to buy myself a plot of land soon, which my sister can farm until I have saved enough to build a house on it.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I want to keep working for HALO, I want to stay as long as I am needed to finish clearing all the mines from Cambodia. Afterwards, I would like to open my own shop. When I first joined HALO I was shy to work among so many men but I also felt encouraged because HALO believes in equality and treats men and women the same. I can also see that Cambodia is starting to value equality between men and women more.
If you could ask a fellow female deminer from around the world one question, what would it be?
I would like to ask other female deminers if they feel that their country values them as a female?
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