where cider meets condensed milk: Cambodian Children's Fund

where cider meets condensed milk

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Cambodian Children's Fund

We returned to the same children's home/school/orphanage-- Cambodian Children's Fund. It was started by a man named Scott who was an executive in the Hollywood film industry, came to Cambodia, fell in love with the country and the kids, struggled to find a way to give some of these kids a chance at better education and opportunities, and ended up moving to Phnom Penh to start his own foundation. Most of the kids at CCF were workers at the municipal dump (Steung Meanchey), picking through for recyclables or anything of value to sell. The conditions are dangerous, crime is rampant in the surrounding communities, and the kids don't have the chance to go to school. Some of the kids at CCF have been orphaned or abandoned, and have come to live full-time. Some are abuse victims, or had been sold into prostitution. Others have families, but live at CCF during the week and go home on weekends. The focus is on health and education, and giving kids the chance to study, stay healthy, learn all about Cambodian culture, and have a chance to pull themselves out of poverty.

For their drama class, the kids write about their own lives, and they act in and direct the story on stage. Above is one girl's story. In the play, her father comes home drunk, and beats the 3 children, while her mother (who has spent the day gambling) yells and sends them back to the dump to collect garbage. In the final scene, the children are attacked by a gang of thugs while picking through trash. The play ended with the girl collapsing in the sun with her brother and sister huddled on top of her. In real life, the girl has started a job working in a restaurant in the mornings, and takes classes at CCF in the afternoon and evening. Scott only has the kids do performances for special supporters of CCF, so that the kids are not treated as if they are in a monkey-show, dancing for the tourists' money.

Here is the author/ lead actress-- so accomplished at only 14! We spent time hanging around, playing, dancing, before dragging ourselves away for a late dinner.

Birdie and the boys!

The following morning was our last in Phnom Penh. Glamalie and I went to CCF2, which is a new facility across town, to visit a girl we've been sponsoring. In addition to basic education classes, they take sewing, hair and make-up design, and work at the training bakery. She was so shy, and sweet as can be, and very mature. She remembered all sort of small details we'd told her about ourselves and our group members in emails and letters, and I wish that we would have also had time to meet her mother, who is very sick. CCF2 is closer to Steung Meanchey, which makes it easier for more of the girls to be with their families. Too little time at CCF, will be back in a few months!

posted by Raychaa @ 2:48 PM

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