Today was an emotional day for all of us. We were exposed, perhaps the first time to the extreme extent of sufferings in Cambodia. After all the beautiful Khmer dances, songs and costumes we have admired for the last couple of days, images of little kids struggling to survive, fighting against AIDS, or searching for what’s left valuable amongst the dump site will remain vivid in our minds after this project. So much needs to be done …

This morning we skipped our routinely walk to the park and had breakfast. The concert was over, the preparation for our next concert hasn’t started, today initially was relaxing and calm. That feeling didn’t last long. We headed to the first organization without much knowledge about their work except that their goal is to provide treatment and care for children with HIV-AIDS. It is “New Hope for Cambodian Children” funded by private donors in the United States. Welcoming us with a big grin, John, the director of NHCC, gave an orientation about their work and the support they got from Bill Clinton, who raised 50 million US dollars for children with HIV-AIDS in the world. There in front of us were kids ranging from 3 to 16 eating, walking around, being comforted by their caretakers or simply sitting in silence. Tida, with her hair dyed light brown, jumped on John. She looked at us for awhile, shy and curious. Who are all these strangers that just come and go? She must have seen many groups like ours. Tida is Vietnamese and as many other Vietnamese with HIV-AIDS, is denied treatment at the hospital. As John said, many times he had to walk the children to the doctors at the hospital to make sure they would be treated. Upstairs of the small house, a couple of women were sewing quilts to be sent to the US. Each quilt is sold for $50. The shameful look on their faces when they first arrived was replaced by the joyful smile. As we walked out of the sewing room, one little girl about 3 years old was sitting by herself eating all day because her mom had to sew. No matter how we tried to catch her attention, she didn’t move or respond. Many of us probably felt uneasy looking at a kid who had suffered so much at that age.

We came back to CLA, parted for lunch and continued to visit another organization in the afternoon called “The Cambodian Children’s Fund,” founded by Scott Neeson, someone I truly admire. Giving up all he has in Los Angeles, Scott moved to Phnom Penh to set up a boarding school for kids living in Steung Mean Chey, Phnom Penh’s garbage dump. He brought all the kids who never set foot outside of an 11 acre landfill to a facility that provides food, education, health care, clean beds and no fear of violence. 240 children are living in CCF’s facilities. We visited the classrooms where the kids were studying English. There is so much hope for them and they all hungrily grab this opportunity to get out of poverty. After seeing the facility, we went to the dumpster. The first time setting foot on the mountain of trash with armies of flies left an impact that can never be erased on all of us. Some of us were angry to see the living conditions that were beyond imagination of these 2000-3000 people. We all knew the dumpsite existed. We might have seen it on television but we had never been so close to it, let alone walking in it. We brought them some water and food, which did nothing much to ease their pains. There was even a small area where some people sold food. It looked like a mini food market in the countryside except that we were all standing on top of the trash, breathing in our lungs the air all these little kids had been growing up with. I was wordless. Living in a dumpsite, however, might not be my worst fear. Having no hope is. What Scott was doing at least gave these kids some hope.

We went to back to the hotel, showered and then went to dinner. No matter how long my shower was, the smell, the feeling of the afternoon could barely fade away. After dinner, we had a session for team members to reflect on the experience. We analysed the situation, and thought of solutions both at micro and macro level. What was important, however, was the emotion we had would remind and drive us to serve and to lead.

Now it’s 1:20 am and I am really sleepy so I guess I will have to close my lengthy entry by introducing myself. I am Dieu Huong (I go by Vina) from Hanoi, Vietnam. I am a rising senior at Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA and an economics major with international relations minor. I love traveling, playing sports, reading fiction and taking black and white photos. I love watching people so just now when I am typing this, I am looking at Will sitting next to me and Phuong falling asleep on the next chair. ☺