In Ros Rorn Commune, Preah Vihear Province, Bon Bo, 55, and his wife Tum Yut, 44, lived through years of hardship. Raising five children on farming and labor work, their lives were marked by poverty and uncertainty. But the greatest weight on their family wasn’t just financial—it was Bon Bo’s daily alcohol addiction.

For years, he drank from morning until night. The drinking robbed the home of joy, safety, and trust. Tum Yut, though exhausted, remained strong for her children’s future, enduring the pain and holding the family together.

Everything began to shift two years ago, when Bon Bo joined a community awareness session hosted by the local Community Management Committee with ADRA Cambodia. The campaign focused on the real-life consequences of alcohol abuse and domestic violence. It stirred something deep within him.

The voices of his wife, his children, and fellow villagers cut through the fog of addiction. He began to see clearly: alcohol brought nothing but sickness, sorrow, and silence. That moment became his turning point.

Since that day, Bon Bo has been sober. With the support of his family and the tools from the program, he’s chosen healing over harm. He now listens to his wife. They make decisions together. Their home, once filled with fear, is now filled with warmth, laughter, and shared meals.

Their children, once afraid to come near, now run to him with joy. The man who had once lost himself is now a father, a husband, and a partner—present, kind, and rebuilding trust every day.

Tum Yut speaks of peace and pride. She sees the difference—not just in his health, but in the way their family feels whole again. The transformation isn’t just personal—it’s generational.

This powerful story of healing and unity is part of the TOGETHER Project—a gender-transformative initiative by ADRA Cambodia, supported by the Government of Canada through ADRA Canada, SickKids, and Salanga. The project works across Cambodia, Kenya, the Philippines, and Uganda, empowering nearly 200,000 individuals to reclaim their health, dignity, and rights.

For Bon Bo and his family, change began with awareness, grew through support, and became a lasting testimony to what’s possible when communities walk together toward healing.