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Wed 3 Nov, I managed to fit in my visit to a family to help piseth carry out a survery to ascertain their state of living. My previous attempt had been aborted because none of the parents were availabel at the time, most are out all the time at present trying to catch and sell fish. So all was well on Wed am when Chaem was chosen, it was easy as his mother is a weaver at Grace House and would be finished by the time we needed to go. Chaem was collected to help us find his house, as addresses hasn't yet reached this part of the world. Chaem, Piseth and I set off on the moto and Mum walked with her three year old daughter who is in the kindergarten. Once across the river we set off along the sandy, bumpy track past Amelio school and into unexplored territory for me. Past huts, rice fields, single cattle grazing and groups of very run down huts which certainly would not have protected the families during the heavy rain. After about 15 mins we stopped outside a cluster of run down huts and many people just sitting about, and others sitting around cooking fires. There was rubbish and bits and pieces lying everywhere, but nothing of any value. As I was looking round and starting taking pictures Chaem'smother and sister arrived, We were quickly taken upstairs, but they were lethal, steep and the rungs were narrow and too far apart, me terrified and hanging on to the step above - I felt so old and feeble - I've no idea how the young children do them safely or old or ill people. Chaem quickly fetched a palm leaf mat and we sat for the survey to begin. Within seconds we were surrounded by toddlers just staring at us.
I was amazed at open the mum was to the questions she was asked about personal, financial and family matters, she had been married twice, but both men had gone and she was left unsupported with a twelve year old and a three year one, Although she owned her home she had given the land it was on away to raise cash and was frightened she would lose the house too, so had given the titles to it to the village elder so that no one else could get to them, Her only incoming are 2$ every time she completes a bag at Grace House and the 5kg of rice they give her once a fortnight. She can supplement it sometimes by working land for someone, or manual labour when someone wants land clearing for a new biuilding but that only brings her in about 2$ for half a days work. She owes money to her neighbours and has taken out a micro loan of 100$ - for that she has to pay 10$ a month. Her house only has one room and a verandah, but allows a couple and a friend of hers mothers to live there for nothing, although occasionally they bring veg back. Mum and the two children sleep under the same mossie net on a palm mat on the floor boards, there was no evidence of covers and just a bundle of rags for a pillow. There were a few clothes hanging from the walls, but very little else. The kitchen was in a bamboo hut and was just an open fire, a few pans and large containers of water pumped from the shared pump. That had only been put in in September'10 but no water filter. None of the houses in the group had a toilet or access to one. The family were very loving and caring of each other. From their place I could see two new babies living in the same appalling conditions and I wonder what on earth their future is. I don't think any of the women we saw can read or write and it is quite likely they are abused both mentally and physically by their partners. I think marriages can be easily annulled, but I'm not sure how.
In such beautiful surrounding and verdant greeness one wonders how such poverty can exist.
This weekthe temp has decreased a ittle and everyone is complaining how cold it is - they have no source of warmth whatsoever and the children are coming to school with hands like icicles. Wehad a quiz night last night to raise some funds to raise money to buy blankets for the families on the poverty list.
The fanily I visited were classed as Level 2 poverty and so if they are hospitalised they will be given 3000 riels a day towards food - that is less than 50p!
I can understand a bit more now why Chaem is always tired and wears to school his pink Grace House tee-shirt and a pair of dirty shorts. he finds concentration difficult but has enjoyed the extra support I have been able to give him.
I have got a copy of the survey translated into Eng and it makes interesting reading.
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