CAMBODIA, Stung Meanchey (June 2005)-- Located in southwest of Phnom Penh, is the city’s municipal trash dump where everyday hundreds of people, kids as young as 6 years old to adults in their 50s, work through the landfill from early hours to well into the dark at night. At this garbage dump, people scavenging though rotten food, plastic, glass, metal, hazardous materials such as hypodermic needles and toxic waste.  They hope to collect

 

 

 

 

 

enough recyclable materials such as metals and plastics to make about one dollar a day and sometimes more if they get lucky.

 

I first found out about this place online while researching on Cambodia before traveling there. I was saddened and shocked at the level of poverty an hardship these people go through day after day, so I promised myself to make a trip to this place if I get a chance and be sure to take some food, candies and cookies to give away. Well, I did that three times in May and June 2005 and I’m very happy I did.

This was one of the highlights of my four months South East Asia tour. People were kind, kids were very well mannered considering their situation. In fact, much more well behaved than many spoiled western brats I’ve seen. They miss the opportunity to go to school and be normal kids. Without education and proper guidance they are stuck in a life of poverty. Their parents mostly can’t read or write. They rely on the kids to help them make ends meet. Even if there are free schooling, many  parents are reluctant to send their kids because they can’t afford losing the little income the kids bring daily to support the family. I heard a story that when some NGO showed up a few years ago, they started taking care of people and placing families in proper homes (other than cardboard boxes), so the words got around and next thing you know many more families and kids showed up. Months later, the NGO left and more families became full members of equal opportunity employment at Stung Meanchey. You think that’s awful and ask where is the help from UN and other countries?

One evening sitting at a cafe where “barangs” (foreigners) hang out.. (because they can afford to) got into conversation with a young French guy who was working in Cambodia as a medical equipment technician for a few years. He said: “I believe the corrupt government steals and intentionally wastes money. They don’t really want to improve people’s lives because the financial aid coming from abroad would get reduced or even cut.”

On top of government corruption, foreign donors (governments) exaggerate their aid figures or bind them with ideology and their “interest” as John Pilger wrote (you can read it in Article section). I don’t claim to know the answers to this problem but I think what is missing is honesty and what’s needed is enough groups or organizations who want to genuinely help without making a profitable career out of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyways, I hope I’ll be able to make a difference, no matter how small. The way out for these “Invisibles” is through education, hope and a little help from the rest of us.

 

 

best regards,

skye