The Hairy Cow: A Brighter Future

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

A Brighter Future

Dump kids.

I don’t mean “dropping kids off” somewhere and leaving them there...

I mean... kids, living in the dumps.

Kids... walking across mountains of rubbish,

scrounging through stinking piles of trash.

Kids... looking for something to sell.

Kids... who don’t wash their hands before eating,

because there’s no clean water.

Kids... who wear worn-down rubber thongs

as they step over broken glass and sharp metal.

Kids... who sleep under pieces of tin,

lying on piles of rubbish.

Dump kids.

While it’s hard for me to imagine,

it’s impossible for those kids to imagine anything else.

Cambodia is a country which has suffered more than its share of difficulties. In my life-time, most of the Cambodian population was killed and the country has had to start over.

Many children in Cambodia live in horrible conditions.

Many, are dump kids.

Some statistics:

Just over 50% of Cambodia’s children will reach Year 5.

Malnutrition rates in Cambodia are some of the highest in South East Asia.

Over 70% of town people live in slums.

Enter Scott Neeson. Born in Scotland, growing up in Australia and living in LA, where he took the movie world by storm, Scott felt as though there was something missing. He packed a bag and took off on what was to be a trip through parts of Asia. Cambodia had such a strong impact on him that he packed up his life of luxury and settled in the nation.

He developed the Cambodia Children’s Fund (CCF) and set out to improve the life of the dump kids.

Scott’s earliest attempts to help the children failed.

Parents withdrew their children from school.

They preferred the children to be working on the dumps and bringing money home for the family. Gifts presented to the children were usually sold.

The CCF realised that simply moving the children to a new location would not solve the problems, which are deeply buried in the lives of Cambodians.

The organisation recognises the importance of family, and now builds on helping the family and community to care for the child. They provide healthcare, education, job training and leadership development. The organisation is teaching the younger generation to look after themselves, to help themselves to climb out from the poverty-stricken lives they were born into.

Hopefully, today’s dump kids will be

future leaders and care takers of Cambodia.

Cambodia’s Children’s Fund started out by helping 45 children. Seven years later, more than 700 children are cared for. The children’s communities and families are also assisted.

In Scott’s words: “My greatest triumph is seeing the metamorphosis of destitute and neglected children into wonderfully caring, and cared for, kids. It’s an endless source of surprise that they can adjust so quickly.”

Scott is taking hundreds of children off the dumps.

He is cleaning them up and giving them options.

He is giving them a chance.

When I see children stepping across piles of rubbish,

fingers searching through the stinking mess

for something to sell.... I feel saddened.

When I see their smiling faces as they rush to greet Scott Neeson, I recognise the joy of childhood. I sense the hope of a brighter future. I can imagine these children growing into caring and broad-minded adults. Cambodia’s history is shocking.... sad... With Scott’s help, Cambodia’s future is looking bright.