Freedom to be Five

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Soft dark brown eyes, sweet pucker-lipped smile, and dark bangs that hide most of her broad forehead. A simple soft pink hand-me-down t-shirt and blue denim shorts that cover her small frame. Quietly but with great enthusiasm, she plays in the toy box near the open door that leads to the vast greenness outside. Diving into the toy bucket and searching out the dolls, she gathers all the toys into her little arms, some spilling over her arms hugged closely to her body threatening to make the short plummet to the floor. In a delicate balancing act she shifts the load of dolls to one arm, with only a few casualties in the process, and reaches for the handle of her roller backpack. Then off she goes, with an armload of dolls and backpack in tow, around the house on a great make-believe adventure. Her eyes shine with the simple joy of being a kid, of living in the world of a child.

Dark brown almond shaped eyes, thin soft-pink lips, and short, straight, and dark hair cut to fall and curve around her small head. She wore a simple, somewhat worn outfit, most likely still from the day before. Moving around the small house, she swept and tidied the small common area. Outside, she finished washing and laying out the dishes from her simple meal that morning and began to hang up the basket of laundry she had already hand washed in a bucket. With the fusses of a small toddler coming from the door, she returned to the house and swooped the baby on to her hip. Then off she went to pacify the little cries with some lunch. Her eyes were dull with the weight of responsibility and the reality of living in an adult's world.  

She's five-year-old. 

These two stories are actually the same story about one beautiful five-year-old little girl named Peyton*. These two scenarios were only a few short days apart for Peyton, and they tell the story of little girl made to grow up and take on the world far to quickly. With the help of Remember Nhu she’s been given the chance to be a child once again. 

Prior to coming to our Remember Nhu home, Peyton lived with her mom, stepfather, and one-year-old brother in a small home. Her parents had moved from their hill-tribe village into the bigger city when Peyton was four in hopes of finding more opportunities. As is all too common in Thai culture, Peyton's step-father did not treat Peyton well, often treating her more like a servant than a daughter. At five-years-old, Peyton was responsible for most of the cooking, cleaning and laundry in her home. She was often left to solely care for her one-year-old brother, sometimes a whole day at a time as her mom had inconsistent work. She was a child forced to live an adults’ life. 

When the Thai directors heard Peyton's story, they feared for her safety. Peyton's step-father's lack of regard and care for her put Peyton at risk of being trafficked. Often in similar situations, if an indifferent caregiver is offered the right amount of money or promises, they will sell the child into slavery. With determination that it would never happen to Peyton, she was offered a scholarship to come and live in one of our Homes of Refuge and attend school.
Peyton’s story has been transformed. She no longer is that little girl carrying the weight of striving to survive in an adult's world, but now has the freedom to laugh, to play, to go to kindergarten, and to be a kid. She has the freedom to be five.

(Note: Name of child changed to protect identity)

Written By: Kelli H., Remember Nhu Intern
To support Kelli's work in the field go to:
Note Kelli H. - Thailand in the notes section.



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