Meet Mr. Sout Vanna - a 45 years old blind

"Hopeless situations can change and there are opportunities to make life more satisfying. Although I am blind, I feel that I can see everything like other people and I have a warm, loving family.

Mr. Sout Vanna, aged 45, has been affected by optic atrophy in both eyes since he was 15 years old. He lives in Trapaing Chomkar village, Trapaing Krasaing commune, Baty district in Takeo province with his wife, daughter and son. Visually impaired, Mr. Sout Vanna has lived with blindness for 30 years. 

He not only lives with blindness, he is also very poor, lives in an old home and is ignored by his community. He lives with hopelessness and depression. However, one day he met a beautiful, kind woman who did not discriminate against people with disabilities and agreed to marry him. Since then, Mr. Sout Vanna’s life improved considerably even though he is still poor. 

After meeting the community supervisor from CDMD, he started receiving support from CDMD such as encouragement and orientation about his daily health care, helping with work inside and outside his home, and providing counseling on how he could generate income. CDMD also provided him with non-interest grants so he was able to buy animals and provide a good living for his family. Due to his efforts in following instructions, his business improved so that he can now support his daily expenses, provide

school fees for his children, buy new rice land and paint his home. 

Mr. Sout Vanna and his family are very appreciative of CDMD’s support which changed his life from one of hopelessness to one of brightness and harmony and also provided him with the opportunity to contribute to development work by becoming a member of a self-help group.