Cambodia is a source
country for men, women, and children who are subjected to sex trafficking,
forced labour, and domestic servitude. Poverty and debt bondage results in
thousands of Cambodian children being sold and trafficked in the modern slave
trade every year.
In 2010, I
visited a village in the Kampong Speu province of Cambodia. I went there
because the story of Vichetr Uon and his struggle to prevent child trafficking
in rural Cambodia stirred something in me. Vichetr grew up
in a village in rural Cambodia where many people are impoverished and are in
debt bondage with loan sharks. Vichetr’s father was shot dead while trying to
help the people in his village to resolve their debts with loan shark
syndicates. This incident sparked the idea for Vichetr to create Sao Sary
Foundation (SSF). SSF's mission is to "to identify at risk children and
provide sustainable assistance to both the children and their families".
Learn more about SSF here: http://ssf.org.kh/main/
SSF is located in a beautiful village where paddy fields are adorned with pretty
rolling hills. The people are simple and their smiles are genuine. Still,
behind those warm smiles are hearts that have become hard with suffering, fear
and worry. Many people do not own their own land and work laboriously in the
paddy fields for a measly wage. When they get sick because of the unsanitary conditions
of their environment, they are forced to spend money they don’t even have. Loan
sharks borrow money to vulnerable, naïve and desperate villagers. The loan
sharks charge an unreasonably high interest and demand for as much as they
wish. Many people in Kampong Speu are in debt bondage while still struggling to
meet make ends meet on a daily basis. Most people will never be able to pay
back the loan sharks and will forever be indebted to them. In many cases,
families who cannot pay the money back have their children taken away from them
and subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking. SSF is working hard to
prevent child trafficking by identifying and providing assistance to the most
vulnerable children and their families. SSF is engaged in various projects to
help the families earn more income. Other than that, SSF has also improved the
living conditions of the villagers by water and sanitation projects. SSF is
well aware that in order to prevent child trafficking, they must help improve
the social and economic conditions of the villagers.
The video below illustrates
the story of child trafficking in Kampong Speu, Cambodia.
Being in Kampong Speu really
made me realize how lucky I am. These people have done nothing wrong except for
being born in the wrong place. These children may one day be subjected to
forced labor and sex trafficking. There is only nothing much these children can
do about their situation, but YOU can make a world of difference with very
minimal effort.
Here’s what you can do:
1. Share this article to relevant groups to tell
more people about child trafficking and create an awareness of this issue.
3. Buy bracelets, purses and handbags made by the
youth from Sao Sary Foundation. You can send an e-mail to me at bogenfuerst@gmail.com to post your
order. They only cost between RM10 - 35.
