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The happiest moment for a scrap collection girl 
To Sear, a 13-year-old girl living in Cambodia, used cans, plastic bottles, and scrap metal are treasures. Every day she walks barefoot on dangerous streets searching for anything that can be recycled.Sear starts collecting every day at seven in the morning and works until five in the evening with a short break for lunch. She can make up to 8000 riels a day (around NZ$2.60). “I’ve been working as a scrap collector since I was 9-years-old. I don’t like the job but as the oldest daughter I have to support my family, or we won’t have food to eat,”she explains. Sear’s father left to find work in Thailand three years ago and has never returned. Sear’s mother has a heart condition which limits how much she can do, leaving Sear with the main responsibility for earning money to feed the family. “I am too busy to play. Besides collecting rubbish I have to care for my younger sister and cook rice. Only when I get sick do I rest,” says Sear. When asked to recall the happiest moment in her life, at first Sear frowns and shakes her head as if she has never experienced such a time. When asked if there is any wish she would like to come true, she smiles and answers, ”I want a stronger and bigger house. My house shakes when people come inside, and has holes in the walls.” World Vision New Zealand helps to fund a child labour project in Battambang province where Sear lives. Through the project, World Vision focuses on protection and care for children like Sear, and work with the community to reduce the number of children working in hazardous and exploitative labour. Sear is now being assisted through the programme’s non-formal education classes, which help children get back into formal education, drop-in centre and regular outings. “At the centre, I enjoy classes the most. I learn to read, write and calculate numbers,” says Sear. Recognising Sear’s enthusiasm and study habits, the programme staff worked with a local school principal to identify which grade she should be in. Now, she is officially registered and attending grade two. To help reduce the stress and depression of children who work to support their families, and give them a chance to simply be children for a day, the project runs outings every three months. Because of this, Sear can finally identify the happiest moment of her life. “Now I can say visiting Kompong Pouy waterfall is my happiest time. I felt relaxed and forgot all the sadness that I have. I enjoyed swimming and playing with the other children very much,” she says. |
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