Somaly Mam

Unfinished portrait of Somaly Mam

I first heard of Somaly Mam after reading about her life in Half the Sky. Just yesterday, I ordered her book on Amazon titled, The Road of Lost Innocence. The work is Mam's autobiography revealing the struggle of a Cambodian girl sold into slavery. At the age of fifteen, Mam was sold to a brothel and forced to have sex with the customers. After enduring the harsh conditions within the sex industry, Mam ran away with a client. Believing he would provide her with a better life, Mam only found herself resold and later returned to her original brothel. Mam eventually met Pierre, a French man who came to Cambodia on business. He was a customer of Mam's and soon freed her from the oppressive life in the brothel. They married shortly after. 

While Mam no longer was in debt to her brothel owners, she felt forever in debt to the girls whom she could not save, to all those she left behind and to all those whose slavery was yet to come. Mam rescued girls by bringing them into her own home. Yet, soon the numbers were too big for her to accommodate them and AFESIP (Acting for Women in Distressing Situations) was born. Mam built a home for the girls where they could learn a trade, acquire services and start new lives. Despite death threats and attempts against her life and those of her family, Somaly persevered in building homes for victims of sexual slavery beyond the borders of Cambodia. The Somaly Mam Foundation based in America was created to garner American support. 

Somaly Mam’s past propels her forward. Mam is making changes in Cambodia to end the corruption that stole away her innocence. She has committed herself to breaking up illegal brothels, freeing children from human trafficking, and in doing so, she has helped thousands of women to safety providing them with hope for a better life.

Reading about Samaly Mam is one thing. However, seeing her in action in the film "Half the Sky" is breathtaking. She is tough against her aggressors and will fight tirelessly for what she believes in. She braves dangerous situations to bring about justice in Cambodia. Yet the side of her that resonates with me the most, is her ability to act as a mother, friend and guardian to thousands of children. The children flock to her and see her as a source of comfort. Somaly Mam's radiating smile truly emanates the warmth that lives within her soul. I chose to paint a picture of Mam that shows this smile to share its beauty. She is an amazing woman who I truly admire. One day, I would love to travel to Cambodia to meet her.