Blum house officially opened its doors in March 2008, but got under way a few months earlier. The house, a simple two-story home a few minutes walk from the railway track slum community it serves, was named after Blum Jensen, the much-loved grandmother of Teena Ingram and her family in Australia.
The railway track that runs through Phnom Penh forms a long narrow slum. Building immediately next to the track is illegal and dangerous so only the very poor will. Near Blum House, there is a community of several hundred families. Some work at nearby factories, others less fortunate at the shabby brothels along the railway track. The area is considered dangerous by local standards after dark, and is known for teenage and adult male sex work as well.
Riverkids identified families with children at risk for exploitation and trafficking. We invited them to visit our Alexandra site, and some of the parents agreed to enroll their children at Blum House. While the house was getting ready for the first class – repairing the bathroom, a fresh coat of paint, desks and chairs – the Riverkids social workers visited many families living along the railway track.
Now, Blum has a morning and afternoon grade school program serving more than 50 children on the first floor. The children have daily snacks and help with their homework. The other half of the day, they are enrolled at the local state school, with Riverkids’ support for school fees, uniforms, books and more.
Upstairs, our Get Ready for Boys program reaches out to at-risk teenagers. The social worker who visits the Blum families has a small office on the second floor where he talks to families and children to find solutions.
Thanks to generous support, one side of the building has been extended to create an outdoor classroom perfect for kindergarten. Currently, the grade school children play and read there, using the donated library and toys.
In the near future, we hope to add a kindergarten and start weekly boarding for children at extreme risk for domestic abuse.
Blum has become a community center, welcoming and safe for vulnerable children.
- Blum, December 2009 - February 1, 2010
- Riverkids November 2009 report - January 19, 2010
- October 2009 Monthly report - November 26, 2009
- Cambodian operations report, September 2009 - October 28, 2009
Monthly Report in September 2009 46 pages, 950kb. Covers all our Cambodia programs in Phnom Penh for September 2009.
- Snapshots from the September 21-23 advocacy trip - September 28, 2009
Blum Donations
$5.78
A healthy breakfast and a yummy treat to start the day off (11 Jan, 2010)
$6.12
Local cake - a dense rich treat and hard-boiled eggs for hungry kids
18 Feb 2010
$5.78
A good source of vitamins and carbohydrates
5 Mar 2010
$6.16
Sandwiches and milk make a healthy snack for hungry students
9 Mar 2010
$3.27
Sandwiches and milk make a healthy snack for hungry students
6 Mar 2010
$5.78
A healthy breakfast and a yummy treat to start the day off!
3 Mar 2010
$5.78
Local cake - a dense rich treat and hard-boiled eggs for hungry kids
2 Mar 2010
$21.71
Keeps the electricity on and aids teaching and cooking
12 Mar 2010
$27.13
Electricity is expensive in Cambodia's slums. Support us!
8 Apr 2010
$5.42
Local cake - a dense rich treat and hard-boiled eggs for hungry kids
5 Apr 2010
$3.75
Sandwiches and milk make a healthy snack for hungry students
7 apr 2010
$4.93
Our troupers stay strong and healthy with snacks!
6 Apr 2010
$5.42
Proteins, good minerals and fibre for sturdy bodies and sharp minds. Contribute!
8 Apr 2010
$6.79
Keeps energy levels up and helps them concentrate - for our students!
$6.16
Sandwiches and milk make a healthy snack for hungry students
19 Apr 2010
$4.33
Our students never eat meat. Egg is the best source of protein they have. Contribute!
20 Apr 2010
$6.16
Great way to ensure carbs, fibre and vitamins reach our tenacious students!
21 Apr 2010
$5.42
Gives an extra boost of energy, so our students do well in academics!
23 Apr 2010
$3.27
Sandwiches and milk make a healthy snack for hungry students
27 Apr 2010
$6.39
A healthy breakfast and a yummy treat to start the day off!
3 May 2010
Send Kosal to school!
Choir performance in Logos International School
Well done to Teen, the staff at Blum House, and volunteers! This is a remarkable achievement and you should be proud of yourselves. Keep up the good work.