New York Students' Ripples of Hope Creating Waves in Cambodia

Wednesday, 29 Feb. 2012

Borei Keila Eviction Site

Gifts for Approx. 140 Families Living in Limbo after Violent Evictions

US$800 of School Supplies (200 Care Packages, plus 200 bags of snacks and 240 bottles of water) from Springville Middle School Students for Children Evicted from their Borei Keila Homes in Cambodia; remaining $700 for Teachers Training on Courage Without Borders curriculum with CIVICUS Cambodia

Authority

The security were out in full force the morning of our disseminating of care packages from the Springville Middle School students in New York.  One hour before we arrived at the Borei Keila eviction site, the Housing Rights Task Force informed us that 4-5 military police and approx. 20 others in civilian clothes were roaming the area.  It was to intimate the people from coming to our gathering because most of them have left by the time we arrived.  A few did stay to document and film us.

Authority

We handed out 140 care packages (wrapped gifts, bags of candies/snacks, bottled water).  The Housing Rights Task Force greatly assisted us in providing us a list of families and names of children who are still living in limbo at the evicted site of Borei Keila.

Theary Seng with Mr. Sia Phearum, director of the Housing Rights Task Force

Each care package for 140 Children at Evicted Site of Borei Keila consists of wrapped gift, along with a bag of snacks/candies and a bottle of water, accompany with note telling the children that the gifts come from Springville Middle School students as well as the Jan. 18 Press Release explaining the Day of Silence, both in the Khmer language. Yes, it's getting scorching hot here! And yes, that is perspiration from the tropical heat.

Each care package carries a note telling the Borei Keila students that the gift comes from Springville Middle School students as well as the Jan. 18 Press Release in Khmer giving the background to the Day of Silence.

Children whose lives and education have been disrupted by the violent eviction from their homes of the Borei Keila neighborhood in the heart of Phnom Penh

Video by Theary C. Seng of Mr. Sia Phearum, director of Housing Rights Task Force at eviction site of Borei Keila

See images from our trip to Phnom Bat, the settlement where the evicted people from Borei Keila were dumped - over one-hour drive in average traffic outside of Phnom Penh in Kandal Province, near Oudong...