Srey La & Dalin

Srey La joined the CCF in April, 2007 when Scott, while on a visit to the dump, found her mother extremely sick and took her in. Someone had called Scott over to a small, fly infested tent where he found Koan, 34, extremely sick and with no medical care, pain relief or clean water. Rejected by her family due to the stigma associated with her illness, she was left to die on her own. Little Srey La, just seven years old, was sent out to work every day, picking garbage to get enough money so that she and her mother could eat.

Scott brought them both back to CCF1 and immediately sought palliative care for Koan. Little La has taken to the CCF like a duck to water and has already learned a lot of English.

One of Koan's wishes from her hospital bed was that we look after her 12 year old son Dalin, who was missing. We were very happy recently when we located Dalin at the dump and brought him into CCF. He has been welcomed in and has adapted really quickly. He says he is so happy to be able to live and study with his sister and his new friends.

Vichet, 12-years old

The story of how Vichet found his way to the CCF is heartbreaking. His father was a soldier but had to retire after an accident which left him seriously ill. Early in July 2007 Vichet's father fell sick and the family travelled from their home in Kandal province to bring him to Phnom Penh in the hope of finding free medical treatment. Sadly he died only one hour after arriving at the hospital.

The family was so poor that they had to rely on the kindness of a stranger at the hospital to pay for the costs of taking the father's body to a pagoda for the funeral ceremony. The kind stranger had heard of the CCF and suggested they try to find a place for Vichet. Vichet's mother immediately brought him in for an interview, and he was accepted along with his older sister! We also found medical care for the youngest brother, who was ill. Back in the province Vichet would sometimes plant rice but would be lucky if he earned more than $1 in a day. The nearest school was 20km away and he could only go when the family had money. Since being accepted at CCF he has started studying Khmer, English and computers, and next year he will start studying at public school again.

Vichet says "I want to study hard so that in the future I can earn money to support my family". His dream is to become a doctor.

Srey Chan, 6-years old

Srey Chan was found by Scott on a trip to Steung Meanchey, the city garbage dump.

When she was 4, her family moved from the provinces to Phnom Penh, to escape subsistence farming and try for a better life. They settled at Steung Meanchey in hopes that more money could be made picking garbage, but their life has been a difficult one.

After locating her mother, Srey Chan was asked back to CCF, and mother and child arrived the next morning at 8am. She took quickly to the CCF. Smart and enthusiastic, she now studies 8 hours a day, 4 hours at public school and 4 hours at CCF. She returns home nightly to her family on the CCF’s tuk tuk.

On a recent trip CCF field trip to Kep City in Kandal province, Srey Chan left Phnom Penh for the first time, and swam in the ocean.

Kagna, 12-years old
Nita, 10-years old

Kagna and Nita were sent from their impoverished home in Kandal Province by parents who could no longer feed themselves and six children.

The sisters’ destination was Steung Meanchey, Phnom Penh’s garbage dump, where they would live and be under the supervision of their great aunt. The hope was that Nita and Kagna, by picking through the garbage, searching for recyclables, along with 500 to 600 other children in similar situations, would earn enough to feed themselves and perhaps enough to send some home.

From the green island community in Kandal to the filth and squalor of the dump took a serious toll on the girls’ health. When found by Scott on March 17, 2005, they were suffering from upper respiratory infections and malnutrition.

They were brought to the CCF the day they were found, receiving medical treatment, food and clean clothes. That week, after negotiations with the great aunt, they enrolled at the CCF and commenced an education program that includes Khmer reading and writing, English, computer training and nightly dance and drama school. Nita is hoping someday to become a teacher.

Netra, 10-years old

Found by Scott at Steung Meanchey, Netra was one of the first students to attend CCF. However, her schooling was often interrupted by her parents, who would remove her from school to work at the dump. There she would pick thru garbage from 5am to noon, then again from evening to midnight or 1am, usually to redeem 50¢ a day.

The last time she was removed, however, the CCF was unable to locate her. It was months later, while on a tour with a crew from PBS, picking trash. He located her mother, and after lengthy negotiations, Netra was able to return to the CCF full-time, this time in residence, six days a week.

Netra now attends school full-time, eats three meals a day at CCF, and has settled into a comfortable room on the third floor with her friends. Her progress in school is gradual, as she had fallen behind, but her scores are good. Recently, Netra’s younger sister Seda joined her at CCF, thus escaping long workdays at the dump. Both girls are slowly beginning to smile more and more, to the delight of CCF staff.

Srey Mom, 13-years old

In March, 2006 Scott went to Kandal province, to a remote island reachable only after ferry crossing, treacherous roads and a motorized canoe. Lack of available teachers means irregular schooling for the island’s children; most do not reach beyond grade three, and none could read or write. Scott went to offer spots to children at the new CCF2 facility.

Srey Mom was one of the children chosen from a group interview conducted by the CCF. She is 13, with just 2 years prior schooling. Her parents are unemployed, and the family struggles to find enough food. The family home is not a happy one.

As with all the Kandal children, none had been off the island, never seen or ridden in a car, let alone seen the bustling city of Phnom Penh.

She arrived at CCF scared and unsure, but in the company of her friends from the island, making the transition easier. Now enrolled in the general education program at CCF2, she is studying Khmer reading and writing, English, computer applications, and art. This coming fall, she will enroll in public school in grade 3.