Day 26: Friday 13 November 2009 – Rice Drop at New Hope

Once a month the Mondal 3 villagers supported by New Hope descend on the school to receive their monthly allocation of rice, soy sauce and fish sauce. To qualify, they must first have been registered to determine their level of their family’s needs and are given a photo ID that they literally treasure, and must present and be recorded in return for their monthly allocation.

The amount of rice allocated ranges from 50kg to 25kg bags, the larger amounts provided to independently sponsored families. Some of the sponsored families also receive a small cash allocation for the month, ranging from US$1 to $10, also dependant on their sponsorship status.


I arrived at school early on the day of the rice drop and helped set it all up, removing all the desks from one of the classrooms for the women to sit at, and also to free up the room for the kids to play in. We then put out the grass mats for the women and babies to sit on while waiting for their turn. You’ll see from the pictures that ‘my’ classroom had been converted to the rice holding area. (I just hope that the smell of the fish sauce disappears by Monday!).

The day was even more humid and unbearable than usual, particularly after lugging desks. (This will explain my disgusting ‘sweaty Betty’ look!). The heavens opened, just as the poor people lined up at the front gate. They had to wait patiently in the rain while their ID was checked before moving under cover.

You’ll see from the pictures that the age of the villagers ranges significantly. I was surprised to see so many elderly women, many caring for their grandchildren. My guess is that their daughters have died or are working as karaoke girls, and therefore the care of the grandchildren has been left to the grandmothers.

See this picture of the mother with the brand new baby? It’s the Cambodian’s belief that new mothers must wear a woolen hat or beanie for the first three months of their child’s life to keep their breast milk warm. This poor woman must have been expiring!

I felt quite uncomfortable photographing this scene of incredible poverty.  It must be humiliating for these people to turn up each month to receive handouts, dependent on the charity of others, yet they were so gracious and friendly.  Many of the mothers got a real kick out of having their children photographed, pushing them toward me, proud I suppose that I thought they were worthy and beautiful enough to be photographed.  This is really heartbreaking stuff.