I (Leanne) just returned last Friday from a short trip to the city of Poipet. This city sits on the northern border of Thailand, and also is known for its prevalent poverty. These two factors combined allow for the Khmer children in Poipet to be highly vulnerable for child trafficking. I went there to see what some other organizations are doing to protect children from being trafficked into cities like Bangkok, Chang Mai, and other large Thai cities. It was a trip full of learning experiences, and new sites. Though we are not looking into setting up a border protection program, we can still learn from the things this organization does like non-formal education (school on a mat), Kids Clubs, vocational training, and anti-trafficking curriculum. All in all, it was a successful trip.
The only difficulty we faced was the mass flooding that is hitting not only Phnom Penh but also this region. It is heartbreaking to see these people's homes, businesses, and school be washed away in the days of unending rain. Though we like the coolness of the rain, I think we will be happy to see it go come November.
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