A visit to the landfill for the Smile CCH photo project

Today the children of CCH and CDCC returned to the landfill in Stung Meanchy - A place where they had all worked before being rescued by CCH. I had been to the dump once before but in the dry season. This time the filth was even more putrid and the stench stomach churning. We took 7 children back to take photos including 5 new students to the course. Their photos will be added to the Smile Project web page in the next couple of days (http://www.smile-cambodia.blogspot.com/).

Naran told me her story of how she worked on the dump for 10 years. Her parents initially went with her but then they just decided to return to the province but leave her and her brother and sister behind. She was 10. Piset told me how his mother had moved to Phnom Penh in search of making money - she moved to the dump with her 7 children. He was 8 years old at the time. His mother and all of the children now live at CDCC (CCH's partner orphanage). His mother is employed as the cook for the children. Sambath also came to the dump after he was told by a friend he could make money there. He was told all he needed was a plastic sack.

Our first task was to get boots. The director of education of CCH was kind enough to help and went on his moto to get a better price. 10 pairs of boots for under $20. Armed with our boots we set off 11 people in a large-ish tuk tuk.

We arrived at the main road lined with garbage trucks. Also along these roads are the warehouses where the plastic/glass is sold to recyclers. The rubbish eventually ends up in Vietnam. On the way in Naran pointed out where she use to live.
Me and Naran in the sludge - a picture taken by Raksmey

Upon arrival at the dump we quickly discovered how vital it was that we got the boots. The road was thick with filthy sludge. Not mud - just muck that smelt absolutely wretched. Around were the massive hills of rubbish. Surrounding the piles are little rivers of water which bubble in the heat due to the methane being released from the rubbish. Fires start of their own accord because of the heat and the gas. The grey sludge would often be so thick it would almost go over the top of the wellington boots. The children were quite happy to just start taking photos of everyone. It was awful how the dump has children picking through the rubbish by themselves. Their situation is so tragic that they have become like ghosts. Sniffing glue is a common problem. Even when the CCH kids were taking children's photos there was none of the usual interaction. The children of the dump were completely lost in their internal world and were completely vacant.
We sloshed through the muck to the area where the dump trucks deposit the trash. This is the main hub of action - People surrounding the trucks to get the best bits. A large machine with mashing wheels was menacing and the rubbish pickers would be warned very briefly that it was starting. Sometimes people are killed by these trucks so it was not surprising that one of the children was particularly scared by it. Ironically the largest shopping mall in the city and the only international chain hotel in the city (Intercontinental) can be seen on the skyline from the dump.

We left the dump going through the surrounding slum. One of the children had her aunt and her mum still working in the dump. We saw their house and the small shop she ran. She people in the surrounding areas were friendly and even warned us to look after the cameras because of the thieves that operate in the area.

We were at the dump for 3 hours and my stomach is still churning at the thought of the stench and the poverty. We were able to leave but when I think of the people who are still there now and the children it is absolutely devastating. The pictures give you some idea.



The pickers at the truck drop Man carrying his plastic collection sack


Children picking the recyclable goods from the mass of rubbish


The Smoky Mountain and someones "home" on the top




In the surrounding slum



One of the roads into the dump through the slum - these children were playing on the sacks of rubbish that had been collected. I wish I could say more in Khmer to say more to these children.

Bubbling "rivers"



This girl was so busy looking and I saw her quite alot in different places - more pictures of her below


I gave this woman my plastic water bottle as I has just finished it. She was very happy with it. The crunching machine is in the background. Also a picture of the garbage truck dumping spot.



The vacant stare of a child sat in a trailer to carry rubbish


Riding the rubbish truck


Recycler - he would buy off the rubbish pickers - less than 2p for 2 cans
This boy's complete lack of interaction is haunting

The stacks of filth... the muck of the roads