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A Family on the Edge

in Siem Reap, Cambodia

 

 

 

My hotel in Siem Reap looked out on this field that has 6 volleyball courts

 

It's a big spectator sport, and you see truly excellent players here

 

 

 

Here's what it looks like when empty

 

See that structure in the far left corner?

 

No, not the big white hotel

 

 

this one

 

The house has a dirt floor and is pretty much open to the air

This houses a family of 9

 

 

 

Wan Polly

the mother

 

When I asked her how life is for her, she said Not bad, not good; it just is

 

 

Sam Po

the father

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were married in 1994

 

 

The four girls

 

Mouy Chou

Mouy Khhen

Mouy Lang

Mouy kea

 

 

The three boys

 

Seng Ly

Seng Haw

Seng Hong

 

 

How about a tour of the palace?

 

 

 

The kitchen outside

 

 

 

 

Cookstove

 

 

 

 

Bedroom for 4 girls (the bamboo slats)

 

 

 

Bathing room

 

 

 

Laundry area

(no front-loaders here)

 

 

 

Laundry area

Fully solar

 

 

 

 

The refrigerator, behind which is the bedroom for 3 boys

 

 

 

Polly's and Po's bed

it doubles as the living room couch

 

 

The family has two small businesses

 

Sam Po services motorbikes (the two umbrellas on the left)

 

Wan Polly has a small store, selling snacks (the umbrella on the right)

 

 

 

That's Sam Po in the blue shirt

 

In a good month he earns $80 from the work

In a not-so-good month he earns $40

To put that in perspective, a 50kg bag of rice costs $35, and lasts the family a month

 

 

What makes it really tough is that he lost one leg at age three, and the remaining leg is not functional

So he cannot walk normally

He has to scoot around on his behind, to do his shop work

 

 

 

He does small repairs and tire work

 

 

 

Wan Polly at her shop, also out on the sidewalk

 

she sells snacks and sundries

she earns maybe $9 or $10 a day

 

 

Their finances were already precarious, but in late April 2012 Sam Po was in a motorbike accident

As of this writing (late May 2012) he's unable to work, and may not be for several months

 

 

Mouy kea, the oldest daughter, speaks pretty good English

 

She emailed me to let me know of this tragedy

(This is not an appeal for funds, but if you feel moved to donate something to help them through this time, I'll be happy to tell you exactly how)

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