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The Saga Of The Child Temple Vendor [Update]

Jinja — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 04:19:46 +0000

On social media in the last few weeks, this story has been HUGE:

Meet the Incredible Cambodia Boy Who Can Speak Over 10 Languages

https://nextshark.com/cambodian-boy-multiple-languages/

“Temple kid speaks many languages! But he’s POOR.”

I lived in Siem Reap from year 2000 to 2004. (And was in Tomb Raider before it labeled Ta Prohm the ‘Tomb Raider Temple’.)

The sellers then displayed the same skills as this child. They are versatile and amazing. They are also supported by their families. There are dozens of other children who are just as versatile, but did not get captured on camera. Fifteen languages? I’m sure a survey could find other kids who know ten, eleven languages conversationally – they all swap knowledge.

No child gets all the way into the most famous tourist attraction in the country – Angkor Archaeological Park – without an adult 1) driving them and 2) stocking them up with tourist items to sell. Child vendors are generally supported by an extended family that buys/resupplies their items to sell, provides transport, and replaces them with another child when they get too old and are not ‘cute’. Frequently these kids go to school. Some may duck out because temple selling is more profitable, it’s true.

But just because they’re barefoot doesn’t mean they are destitute. The temples are a highly regulated area and only those who have paid fees/bribes get permitted/selected sell their wares there. If the spaces were truly open to all, tourists would be mobbed by beggars.

On social media, there’s been a lot of attention and hand wringing. (“Please help him, save him”) There are also ethical considerations regarding filming any child so young. I’m not sure that’s good for these youths in the big picture. The tourist who made the viral video? She did not ask for the child’s approval before sharing his picture to the world.
This young vendor is doing way better than lots of other children in Siem Reap, one of Cambodia’s poorest provinces. If there are any positive results from all the media attention, it would be great to see his family get long-term support to take the burden off him specifically at such a young age.

I doubt international media will understand that temple selling is a job and role that will never go away.

In the broader picture? It would be smart to see authorities check to make sure child temple sellers go to school. It’s a half-day in Cambodia.

Cambodian Teen Who Speaks 15 Languages Invited to China to Sing

https://nextshark.com/cambodia-singer-china/

Postscript: Article added November 17th.
The vendor is going to school, has a family, and is pretty clearly not destitute. Fame can be a burden, let’s see how it works out.

New life beckons for multilingual Cambodian boy at centre of viral video

Now, the life of this simple family has been transformed. They have been brought on expense-paid trips to be guests on local television programmes in the capital Phnom Penh. Wealthy businessmen and charities have pledged thousands of dollars, donated new bicycles and toys, and promised to support Salik’s education until he finishes university. There is talk of the family being invited to visit Hong Kong.

… while this family has been the fortunate beneficiaries of the country’s affection and attention, they are just one among hundreds around the Angkor area. And right across Cambodia, children are used as tools to supplement family incomes, often at the expense of their education. While Salik attends school each weekday, he also works several hours every afternoon.

Giving money to children at tourist sites or on the streets can make the situation worse, according to Bruce Grant, UNICEF Cambodia’s Chief of Child Protection.

“Our advice is you don’t give money and you don’t buy from children. I know it’s hard but that’s the right thing to do,” he said, suggesting that visitors should look to only buy from adults, give children pens or books, or seek out vetted social organisations that can properly assist kids in need.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/cambodian-khmer-temple-seller-boy-speaks-many-languages-viral-10937500

Post-Postscript: Holy cow! This child’s family is $50,000 in debt. That’s more than many farming families earn in a lifetime. Cambodia has a huge consumer debt problem: lenders give loans too easily and citizens are poorly informed of the risks. As an example: Cambodia’s total household debt stood at US$2.9 billion in April 2018 (National Bank of Cambodia), while a decade ago, debt was $200 million. This is the underside of Cambodia’s rapid economic growth – the tide is not lifting all boats, nor ‘trickling down’. Statistically, the broad majority of Cambodians are poorer.

Like many Cambodians whose livelihood depends on selling souvenirs at Angkor, the family has found themselves in debt, Mann says.

“We bought a plot of land and built a house, but it became more and more difficult to make enough money. I have weeks where I don’t earn a single dollar, yet I still have to pay the authorities US$5 a month to be allowed to sell souvenirs near the temple,” she says. Mann says the family has racked up debts of US$50,000, making it impossible to send her boys to a private school so they can improve their language skills.

“At some point we had to borrow money from a private lender, but the interest was very high [15 per cent to 20 per cent].” Medical bills for her ailing mother and the expense of sending her to Thailand for treatment got them into a deeper hole.

“Right now I still owe private lenders US$30,000 and the bank over US$20,000. The bank now wants me to pay US$700 a month. If I don’t pay it back on time, they will add the interest that I still owe them to the loan. I don’t want that to happen,” she says.

Poverty and debt: the true story of the multilingual Cambodian boy https://www.inkstonenews.com/society/poverty-and-debt-true-story-multilingual-cambodian-boy-thuch-salik/article/2175382

Post-Postscript:
Despite Salik’s success, concerns remain for welfare of Cambodian children working in tourism

The viral story of Thuch Salik, the talented multi-lingual boy selling souvenirs around Angkor Wat, has thrown the spotlight on the plight of working children in the province and across the country.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/salik-multilingual-angkor-temple-seller-children-welfare-10996172?cid=TWTcna

Update: Fire behind Java Cafe

Jinja — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 22:28:33 +0000

This last Friday morning (estimated 1 AM) a fire broke out in the buildings behind Java Cafe. Four residences were damaged as well as the office of Java Cafe / Gallery, including a number of irreplaceable art items in storage.

https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/fire-destroys-5-homes-decades-of-artwork-97079/

Nine families remain in the area, with severe structural damage. (Above.) It is possible that some members of the community may have some issues related to smoke inhalation. In a country where few have fire insurance, health insurance, or other resources, some of the families are believed to have lost nearly everything in their homes.

Thanks to calls on social media, local community members have donated over $700 in cash and a substantial number of household items. (Cash is preferred, household items are welcome as well.)

At 3pm this afternoon a donation of money and household donations took place (below), to be distributed under the supervision of the local village chief.

A further donation of household items took place at 4pm. Java Cafe will accept donations up until 10 PM tonight, closing for several days due to Pchum Ben holiday. It will re-open on Wednesday the 14th.

Due to the Pchum Ben holiday season, it is a particularly challenging time to manage relief efforts. It has been very gratifying to see the immediate response of many varied Phnom Penh residents.

During Pchum Ben holiday, donations will be accepted at nearby Willow Boutique.
http://yp.com.kh/listings/kh43755-the-willow-boutique-hotel

For further news and updates, follow Java on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/javacafeandgallery
It is expected that international fundraising venues will be established in the near future (i.e. ‘Kickstarter’, bank transfer, etc). Default contact email: Dana@JavaArts.org.

Additional pictures:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jinja_cambodia/albums/72157659255960749
Interested parties are welcome to share these pictures freely, to assist in the relief effort.
On social media, please reference the hashtag #JavaFireKH.

Survivor Comes To Cambodia

Jinja — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:59:07 +0000

Having lived in Cambodia for over 15 years, I know plenty of real ‘survivors‘.

I’m not 100% comfortable with Cambodia repackaged as a slick media show, toasted by the powers that be.

Ah well. If you want to see more about the real Cambodia, try the films by actual Cambodians: Rithy Panh, Kalyanee Mam, so many more.

Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten is making waves; I’m happy we have The Last Reel up for an Oscar.

I should withhold my snarky comments until the show is done and dusted. My nieces love it.

General Amusement

Jinja — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 15:19:55 +0000

@john_weeks @erikwdavis This would work here judging by the guys I see staring at their phones at MOD every day pic.twitter.com/AKPF0XV0wW

— Paul James Harper (@pauljamesharper) September 16, 2015

@pauljamesharper Now I know your truly Australian. #AusGrammar @erikwdavis

— John Weeks (@john_weeks) September 17, 2015

Cambodia’s Blogger Diaspora

Jinja — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 11:01:49 +0000

In the (ancient) days before Facebook dominated Cambodia, our small but tiny community of bloggers (AKA ‘Cloggers’) was full of enthusiasm.

Many of them became ‘trainers of trainers’ via the ‘Personal Information Technology Workshop‘, holding weekend workshops for university students and getting them started on email & basic blogging.

These included Hou Virak, Bun Tharum, ‘Big Kalyan’, ‘Little Kalyan‘, Be Chantra, Chak Sopheap, Nearirath Sreng, Lux Mean. A new face at the time was Kounila Keo.

Many of these ‘blog evangelists’ have found a niche for themselves as writers, pundits, organizers and advocates, and used their online presence as a combination of CV / writing sample / profile. Many have gotten overseas scholarships and jobs based on their heightened profile and reputation. (Virak’s now in Kenya!) Why are they in demand? There’s a need for representative Southeast Asian / Cambodian voices in global conversations.

In a nutshell, that was my encouragement to a younger crowd at this year’s BarCamp Phnom Penh: share your thoughts — and you’ll meet other people who want to engage with your views. Simply share and people will want to share with you too. News, opinions, and opportunities.

Case in point: ‘Clogher‘ Chak Sopheap regularly blogged about human rights, contributed to the Global Voices blogging aggregation platform, and landed a postgraduate scholarship in Peace Studies in Japan. She regularly chronicled her work and opinions working in the field of human rights, and received accolades as a pundit and commentator, moving from personal blog opinions to public editorials.

My oped on Australia-Cambodia refugee deal, "an affront to human rights" #cchrcambodia pic.twitter.com/CYkCRTaSb8

— Sopheap Chak (@sopheapfocus) October 1, 2014

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/analysis-and-op-ed/affront-human-rights

Her efforts to engage the global community in contemporary human rights concerns took her to many regional and international meetings. She also ‘gave back’ to the local community by joining the team that brought ‘BlogFest Asia’ to Cambodia.

This week she was lauded by President Obama and profiled on Voice Of America in her role as the head of Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR). It’s very gratifying to see one of the ‘home team’ getting international praise.

Does the USA government ‘stand with’ civil society? Well… this can certainly be seen as a chance to hold the States to this public commitment. And if anyone can leverage this, Sopheap and CCHR are up to the task. Bravo!

Above: Chak Sopheap & VOA team (photo credit: CCHR)

Linkage:
“Obama Praises Two Civil Society Activists” (Voice Of Democracy (In Khmer) http://vodhotnews.com/24472
“Obama Honors Slain Activist, Praises Rights Worker” (Cambodia Daily)
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/obama-honors-slain-activist-praises-rights-worker-68364/
“Human Rights Deteroriating in Cambodia, Says Activist”
http://youtu.be/rEidqq4h7SM (Video link)
“Obama Honors Two Cambodian Rights Workers” (Voice of America)
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/obama-honors-two-cambodian-rights-workers/2460908.html
Obama praised Cambodian human rights activists and forestry (Radio Free Asia (In Khmer))
http://www.rfa.org/khmer/news/human-rights/Obama-admire-Cambodian-rights-and-forest-activists-09242014081814.html
“President Obama addresses the 2014 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting”
http://youtu.be/eEZrZcIYAPA (Video Link)
“Remarks by the President at Clinton Global Initiative” (Transcript)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/09/23/remarks-president-clinton-global-initiative
Cambodian Center For Human Rights Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cambodian-Center-for-Human-Rights-CCHR/206984670430
US Embassy In Cambodia Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/us.embassy.phnom.penh/photos/a.390395653223.168690.79770243223/10152478435913224/?type=1