The story of a pop song lover: Salina
  As told by a Peuan Peuan Social worker

Salina is 8 years old. The Peuan Peuan team met her while she was selling candies in a tourist area in Bangkok.

Salina’s mother is a Cambodian woman leaving illegally in Thailand, and has been there since 1997. She left Cambodia because her husband died from AIDS and work opportunities seemed better in Thailand. She is doing different jobs and often she works late at nights.

During the day Salina does little jobs (carrying products, selling candies on the side of the street) and at nights she usually stays up late waiting for her mother in the hut they live in. She likes to walk along the river and to sing pop songs. She would really love to go to school.

Following discussions with Salina and her mother, the Peuan Peuan team is:

• Providing remedial education to Salina to prepare her to go to public school.
• Monitoring the health of Salina and her mother and ensuring the needed medical services are provided.
• Involving Salina in community activities (arts, sports) with other children.
• Working to get legal documents for Salina and her mother. If the mother has legal documents, she could be provided with vocational training and better working opportunities. They could then also rent a small apartment with clean water.

Note: for confidentiality reasons the name of Salina has been changed.