Village: Chlor
Commune: Bantheay Chmar
District: Thmar Pouk
Province: Banteay Meanchey
Training: Bicycle Repair
Injury: landmine - in 1987, when he was a soldier in the war against the Khmer Rouge in the Obey Chen region.
Sen enjoyed his training with Lom Orng very much. He would now like to further his knowledge via training in motorbike repair. He is very appreciative of the training, and the equipment Lom Orng provided him with to start his business.
His standard of living after starting his new business has improved considerably. His new income allows him to take time out of his day to grow vegetables and rice to provide food for his family. He also makes his own noodles to sell at the local market.
Prior to his training, Sen was forced to travel into dense scrub to cut and collect wood to sell. This exhausting task was made more difficult by his injury. His new prosthesis makes travelling long distances much easier and much more comfortable.
Sen finds the best success from his training comes from buying damaged bikes and restoring them to working condition for sale. On average, he makes 20,000 riel per bicycle.
Sen has eight children; five have married and moved away, and three live at home with him.
Sen was one of the friendliest students I spoke to, and probably my personal favourite. Here is a grandfather in his sixties who loved every bit of his training, and loves his new job: so much so that he is jumping out of his skin to do another course.
On our trip to meet Sen we punctured a tyre on our motorbike. When Sen saw this he could not wait to help us, and had the tyre repaired in no time. Having seen the benefits of his training, he is already starting to invent and create devices which will benefit his life. If all of the younger students had the same level of enthusiasm as Sen, every graduate would be successful.
Sen never stopped smiling the whole time we spoke to him. He showed me that students of any age can find success in the Lom Orng program.