From Discouragement to Leadership : The Journey of Ms. Tim Srey Khouch
In Tansong Village, Siem Bok District, Stung Treng Province, Ms. Tim Srey Khouch, a 38-year-old Kuy Indigenous woman, lives with her husband and two daughters. Like many in her community, she relies on farming to support her family. In 2017, she decided to start raising chickens, hoping it would supplement their income and improve their quality of life.
Her journey was far from easy. Between 2017 and 2020, extreme heat waves and repeated outbreaks of chicken illnesses devastated her small flock year after year. Despite trying every method she could think of, her chickens kept dying, leading to financial losses and deep discouragement. By 2020, she had given up entirely, convinced that chicken farming was not meant for her.
When Forests and Livelihood Organization (FLO) introduced a chicken-raising group livelihood program in Tansong Village in 2022, Ms. Srey Khouch hesitated to join. Past failures made her doubt her abilities. But with the encouragement of her community, who recognized her hard work, determination, and love for raising chickens, she decided to give it one last try.
This decision would change her life.
Learning, Growing, and Leading
Through FLO’s project funded by the Belgian Government (DGD), Ms. Srey Khouch was elected as the secretary of the newly formed chicken-raising group (and treasurer of the village savings group, but that’s another story!). These roles gave her access to various training opportunities, covering family farming techniques, natural chicken feed preparation, income and expense recording, and report writing, among others. The training not only gave her practical knowledge but also boosted her confidence.
“I remember one of the sessions, it was about planting trees and vegetables around the chicken coop, it made so much sense. I knew I had to try it at home.” This was a turning point for her, she learned how to create shade for her chickens to protect them from the heat and mix feed using local resources available around her home and in her village. With these new skills, the improvements were remarkable.
Her chickens thrived in the improved conditions, with significantly reduced deaths, even during the hot season. She now raises healthy chickens that provide her family with fresh meat and eggs and earns additional income from selling the surplus. What was once a source of discouragement has become a source of pride and stability for her family.
Beyond the Chicken Coop
Ms. Srey Khouch’s success has extended beyond her farm. She has become an active leader in her community, facilitating meetings, raising questions, and providing technical support to other members of the chicken-raising group. Her confidence has soared, inspiring others to adopt sustainable practices as well.
Her husband has always been supportive, but the gender equality principles emphasized in all FLO’s training sessions have further deepened their partnership and strengthened their collaboration at home and on the farm. Together, they plan to expand their chicken farm and grow more cover crops and vegetables to sustain their business. Their shared vision is to create a stable and abundant future for their family.
“Since the project started, my life has completely changed,” Ms. Srey Khouch shares. “Our chickens are healthy, and our income has improved. My daughters have enough food to eat, and they can focus on going to school. I feel confident and at peace. I know I can support my children to have a better education and opportunities for their future.”
A Dream Come True
Today, Ms. Srey Khouch’s journey represents more than personal success—it symbolizes the transformative power of knowledge, community support, and resilience. Her leadership extends beyond her farm, as she actively participates in biodiversity conservation and works to preserve the cultural traditions of the Kuy people through other projects supported by FLO and DGD in her village.
With her growing independence and stable income, she dreams of continuing to empower her community and inspiring future generations of Indigenous women to pursue their aspirations, no matter the challenges.
