Thursday, January 31, 2008

Never buy from children

From some tourist called Anna Kainberger through KI Media
Buying a book from either a landmine victim or a child is another option for putting some money back into the community - money better spent than paying the US$6 admission fee at the grand palace.


No that is not so. You never buy from children. It keeps the cycle of poverty going. It keeps very young children late on the streets, in a very vunerable position. The children who sell/beg are at risk of drug abuse, rape, violence, prostitution and trafficking.

The more you give/buy the more time the children spend on the street. If they are lucky enough to go to school, their learning is impaired due to exhaustion.

Besides, whatever money you give to children ends up in the pocket of their minder who waits on a motorbike around the corner.

Giving money to children or buying roses hinders the work of great NGOs like Mith Samlanh who work to educate and train children to have a future. Support NGOs who support children instead.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi, please read the blog again, you might find that I have been misquoted.

the blog reads:
Phnom Penh is also a city full of begging street children; orphans living in the street trying to survive on the money they are able to beg from tourists.

In perfect English these children will explain to you that they want your half-drunk can of coke because they are starving.

If you want to do something for these kids you should gather them together and take them to dinner or lunch at any of the local food stalls.

You can feed ten kids for as little as US$3-4. There is also a lot of organised begging and book selling going on in the capital and I was not sure if the kids were actually able to keep the money or had to hand it to a superior.

Buying a book from a landmine victim is another option for putting some money back into the community - money better spent than paying the US$6 admission fee at the grand palace.



Kind regards,
Anna