MBC Share the Happiness,

Cambodian children whom actress Jo An met ①

In Freedom Park which is located in Phnom Penh in Cambodia with wonderful sunshine and leafy trees, Ms. Jo An and the production crew met a woman who took children in a handcart which was full of trash. Two boys, who walked with the woman, kept looking around her surroundings as looking for something. The older child, Bon Him(15, male) disappeared and after a while, Him came back with trash in his hands. What happened? Checking a handcart closely, we were able to see that it was full of recyclable materials such as empty bottles and plastics from a trash heap.

"I leave home at 5 a. m and go home at 6 p. m" 

The mother left home with the handcart at dawn and went home at sunset. She picks up waste for 12 hours a day. The father abandoned the family 3 years ago. A Mother, who suddenly had to take care of living, didn`t have lots of work to do. The oldest son, Him, quit school to help his mother and was picking up trash. "Mom looked very poor and tired, so I gave up studying."

Her third child, JJanei(11, girl) carried huge trash on her back. JJanei diligently picked up trash, checking every nook and corner that the mother`s handcart couldn`t reach. As soon as JJanei found mother`s handcart, she ran with a smile with the trash she picked from the next town. When she poured trash from her bag to the handcart, lots of recyclable materials came out such as empty bottles, cans, and metal scraps. She has not been to school ever since she was born; JJanei is someone who is more familiar with the street than school. Today, JJanei picks up trash, searching through a wastebasket in the park again. 

Family have been in accidents frequently because they had to walk around to pick up trash. Especially, JJanei hit her head on a motorcycle when picking up trash last time. She has lots of scars on face and body because she couldn`t receive treatments on time. "I was scared," she said; she is just 11 years old. We could not imagine how much she was scared and hurt. We hope that JJanei didn`t get feelings hurt.

The mother always picks up trash, even if it rains or she is too sick, because she doesn`t want her children to go through terrible experience. However, this life is not getting better. How long should she wander about in the street? She can only have lunch over 12 o`clock even though she comes out from home at dawn. If she doesn`t pick up trash, she would end up starving for the entire day. She is anxious for her children`s health, and she feels frustrated that she cannot do anything for her children. "I feel bad about my children. Other children are nicely dressed up and go to school." She cried. Going to school is common and usual for us, but it is such an unimaginable dream which cannot come true for this family. 

After working for 6 hours without having breakfast, their lunch time finally came. They didn`t complain about food even though the side dish was just boiled conch. It costs 3,000won for having a meal for five people in the family. They earned 5,000won a day by picking up the trash. Sometimes they earned just 3,000won a day. Therefore, after they have a meal, they should only eat rice congee for dinner. However, this is the most precious moment for the family, having a meal altogether. 

Ms. Jo An visited a village that the family lives. The village was full of trash, so we couldn`t believe that people actually live there. Him and his family lived in small house made with wood and tinplates. Entering the room, we saw packed loads in the corner of the house. They didn`t unpack the loads because they were thrown out for not being able to pay their monthly rent. After her work of picking up trash for 12 hours, the mother cleaned the room and washed children. She thinks that the only thing she can do for her children is just doing chores, so despite her tiredness from work, she does not stop from doing housekeeping work.

Him grew up too early into an adult. We asked if he wanted to go to school, and he said that he wanted to go, but he would not be able to focus on studying whenever he would think about his family circumstances. He seemed mature for his age, but Him is just 15 years old. Does he blame the reality that he didn`t choose? Him, who recalled his mother suffering from their poor circumstances, didn`t complain and silently helped his mother`s works. "I want nothing." Ms. Jo An tightly hugged Him because she felt really sorry for Him who cares about his mother as the eldest son.

Ms. Jo An prepared a gift for Him and his family. She prepared notebooks and sketchbooks for them who cannot go to school. However, Ms. Jo An suddenly took a sketchbook and a pencil and drew their family. It was a last gift that she specially prepared. The family couldn`t take any family photos because of their rugged life. Jo An drew the family`s faces on sketchbook with all her hearts, hoping that it would be good memories for the family even though it`s not real photograph. After receiving her drawing, the family smiled radiantly pointing each other. We hope that they could live happily in full of laughter as in Jo An`s drawing.

Please, show your compassion to Him`s family who loves each other and endures through the difficult reality.