Ouch family in November 1989 shortly after they arrived in Vernon from a refugee camp in Thailand. Father Ath Ouch (left) with Maly, two; On, seven; Oeun, eight; mother Loeng Chum holding Malim, two months.
By Cara Brady - Vernon Morning Star
December 19, 2009
(CAAI News Media)
In November 1989, the Ouch family was adjusting to snow, a new language and a new country.
Ath Ouch, and his wife, Loeung Chum were Cambodian refugees who grew up under the oppressive regime of the Khmer Rouge where they saw family members and friends be killed or die from forced labour. Ath worked long hours as a rice farmer for two scant meals per day until 1978 when he and 300 of his coworkers were desperate enough to flee, knowing they would be shot if they were caught. They walked for two months through the jungle towards a refugee camp in Thailand. Starvation, disease, drowning and getting shot claimed most of the men but Ath was one of the lucky 50 to make it to the camp.
Loeung’s journey from forced labour as a weaver started in Phnom Penh and took four months. Of the 700 who started the trip, only 100 survived. Life in the camp was difficult but there was enough work to pay for food. The young couple met and with faith that the future would be better somehow, married and had children.
On Ouch, the second-oldest son, speaking for the family, said his parents don’t like to talk much about that time.
“I don’t remember much about the camp except selling slices of pineapple and watermelon to help earn a little money for the family,” he said. “We lived in huts with no running water or electricity and got food from the UN.”
His parents hoped to emigrate but were turned down by the United States and Canada because there were too many in the family once there were three children.
The Cambodia Support Group arranged for All Saints Anglican Church in Vernon to sponsor the family.
“We didn’t know where Canada was but when we found out we were going to be sponsored, we were so excited. I remember my Dad screaming and dancing and yelling out, ‘Canada, Canada.’”
While arrangements were being made, the fourth child was born. The parents were terrified that they would not be allowed to come to Canada but everyone, including two-month-old Malim, with only their clothes and a bag of rice, arrived in November, 1989.
“I stepped off the plane and it was too cold. I wanted to go back,” On remembers. “The church was very good to us. They found us a place to stay and showed us how to use the electric stove and the water and how to do things.
“Dad went to ESL and my brother and I went to Mission Hill school. We got picked on a lot because we were different and didn’t speak English.”
Both parents got jobs, Ath as a dishwasher and Loeung in sewing within six months and they worked hard to pay back their plane tickets. It was exciting when Ath got his drivers’ licence and a car in 1990 and the family bought a house in 1996.
“We came from a poor country and we didn’t have a lot of money but my parents appreciated the freedom and the opportunity that the church gave them. They changed six people’s lives. If we had not been able to come here, we would have been sent back to Cambodia because the camp was closing. Who knows what our lives would have been like?” said On. “We have relatives who still live there and are very poor. We help them and others in Cambodia as much as we can.”
The family has used freedom well. Ath and Leoung are still working. On, who is engaged and has an 18-month-old daughter, Aleeya, owns The Rice Box and has plans for other businesses. He is a volunteer basketball coach at Fulton school. Oeun lives in Vancouver where he works in sales and plans to start his own business. Maly is studying to be a registered nurse and Malim, who married this year, is also studying to be a registered nurse.
“If I have a bad day, I think that it could be worse,” said On. “I’m not hungry, I have a roof over my head. I have freedom. That’s what my parents wanted for all of us. We are big community supporters and we do fundraisers for community things like the hospital. We are lucky to be here.”
Rob Brockley was chairman of the All Saints Anglican Church committee which decided to sponsor the Ouch family.
“We were told that the family had been turned down for government sponsorship because they had three children and by the time they arrived here, they had another child. I don’t know what would have happened to them because the refugee camp where they had been for 10 years was going to close,” he said.
The church committed to find accommodation for the family, support them for a year and help them get settled in Canada.
“They were grateful to be here and eager to learn. We enjoyed helping them and we all did a lot of laughing together in that first year,” said Brockley. “The parents learned English, the kids got into school and it wasn’t long before they could buy a car and then a house. They did it all themselves and we were happy to give them that little boost. They are a real asset to the community.”
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