Riverkids Project

On 6 September, Riverkids staff met for the week. The staff who attended this meeting were Py Sophon, Khin Pheakdey, Yim Sophal, Lim Theany, Som Ritthy, Tep Sothearith and Un Sopheak. There were a number of problems raised, mainly about Riverkids’ children who have been missing school.

At Churten House, a student was away from school for a week because he was ill after having gotten wet. Another student was also away for a week—because he went out of town with his mother. In both cases social workers will be visiting the children’s families—to encourage the former’s family to get medical care for him and to dissuade the latter’s family from taking him out of school for extended periods. At Steven House, one student simply didn’t show up for school, and from now on will be taken to school by a social worker. Two more Riverkids’ children have been hard to pin down. One who went home and has not returned, and another who has been skipping school for awhile. To try and locate these kids, social workers have visited their families, and, in the case of the child who has been skipping school, have been told by his mother that he has been away because he is too busy collecting rubbish to support the family, but that he will return soon.

There has been staff absenteeism too, with a housemother who often doesn’t show up for work. Pheakdey and Ritthy will ring her and try and get her to see a counselor. Another staff issue was more serious: a kindergarten assistant was sexually abused by her boyfriend. She has been receiving counseling from RHAD and the Social Service for Cambodia, and social worker Un Sopheak is on the case, reporting to Mr Sophon.

And a Get Ready Girl who had managed to get a job at Golden Hotel has unfortunately quit and returned to collecting rubbish. To help her, Riverkids will provide her with more training and also try to find her another job.

But progress has been made in several areas. Twenty-three vacancies have opened have at Churten House, as the kindergarten students there have moved on to Steven House and state schools. To fill these places, a team of Riverkids social workers will be recruiting new children. Riverkids was also able to start computer and English classes for students at Steven House and Blum, and send Mr Theany for training in handling sex abuse, at Chad Dai. Riverkids will also be extending the education it provides to former Riverkids students, who have moved on to state schools. And other organizations are working with Riverkids—RHAC will provide medical care for Riverkids’ children, and social enterprise and guesthouse Changiville is providing training. Ritthy will prepare a schedule for these children, and Ms Pheakdey will arrange their transportation to and from Changiville.

—Yim Sophal, Administration Officer

(Thanks to Elaine Meyers for editing!)

Related posts:

1. Riverkids Weekly Meeting Report: 9 August
2. Riverkids Weekly Meeting Report: 9 August 2008
3. Riverkids Weekly Meeting Report: 16 August 2008
4. Riverkids Weekly Meeting Report: 16 August 2008
5. Weekly meeting 26 July 2008