On, Maly, Loeung, Ath, Malim, Oeun - Vernon BC 2008
Refugees Loeung, Ath 1979
The Rice Box Asian Takeout in Vernon BC set its third Wok-a-thon for Sunday January 8 2102, 12 noon to 7 pm. The owner On Ouch (Ooykh) will split all profits, as he did in past Wok-a-thons, between CSG and Vernon’s Jubilee Hospital Foundation. Staff will be volunteering. Love for both homeland and new country keep motivating the Ouch family to give back to Cambodia and Canada.Life for Cambodia’s poor is still a ceaseless struggle – and for Cambodians in Canada, memories of a brutal regime are painful even as they carve out successful lives here.
On’s father Ath Ouch is an energetic part of the Rice Box team, but behind his sunburst smile lie stories of hopelessness which Canadians brought at last to a joyful end.
Swept up in Cambodia’s murderous 1970s Khmer Rouge regime, Ath was driven into fields with millions of people for forced labour at gunpoint. “We work fourteen, fifteen hours a day,” he recalled. “We eat only two time a day,” a small cup of watery rice porridge each time. Starvation was rampant, health care non-existent, friendship and emotion forbidden – and in vicious attacks on culture and education, even soft hands (not peasant-work rough) might be fatal.
As the regime collapsed in 1979, Ath escaped to Thailand with countless others. He crept for three months, slowed by starvation and staying off cleared trails to avoid detection. Many thousands died from hunger, illness – or landmines scattered like wind-blown seeds.
In Thailand, the chicken-coop refugee life brought new trouble. Ath and his wife Loeung, married in late 1979, had four children over time and struggled to support them in spite of minimal food and water, constant war-zone dangers, and stern refugee-camp rules against personal initiative like selling to earn income.
Rules were broken out of desperate need. On Ouch remembers selling goods at age five. “We needed money for basics like food and medicine,” he says. “Canadian kids have school and playtime, but my brother Oeun and I had to work long hours in the hot sun doing child labour just to survive.” Girls Maly and Malim were born later. Ath and Loeung appealed with no luck to many countries. After nine years they were recommended to Canada through U.N. channels, then by Canadian Immigration to CSG. President Arne Sahlen, now living in Vernon, remembers: “We were told that Loeung and Ath were very hard-working, but needed a support system as opposed to more independent government sponsorship. Within two weeks, we found an eager Vernon response and a group being set up at All Saints Anglican Church.” Outpourings of church and community kindness greeted the refugees – as in centres across Canada for Cambodians and others – giving priceless gifts of freedom and life choices. After a few years renting, Ath and Loeung bought a fine house. All four children succeeded in studies and work. For Ath, eighteen years of sawmill jobs ended with recent economic woes. Loeung has had regular restaurant work.
On Ouch is passionate about the Wok-a-thon charities. “Health care was a desperate need during all our refugee years, so my family knows how it matters to a healthy society. My sister Malim is now a nurse in Nova Scotia, and Wok-a-thons let us honour Canadian health systems by supporting the Vernon hospital. And CSG still works to rebuild Cambodia’s healthy society. We are glad to give back to the agency that brought my family to this great country.” On invited Arne to play piano at the Rice Box during the Wok-a-thon; a CSG donation basket will be there, with tax receipts available. Arne will give back also on CSG’s behalf by playing in Vernon hospitals and seniors’ homes.
More information: 250-540-4242 or www.thericebox.com
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