Riverkids Weekly Meeting Report: 9 August

At our weekly meeting on 9 August, Riverkids staff gathered to discuss issues relating to the children, families and staff of Riverkids. At the meeting were Phy Sophon, Khin Pheakdey, Yim Sophal, Som Ritthy, Un Sopheak, Lim Theany and Tep Sothearith.

Over at Churten House, there were a number of incidences involving children’s health. One boy had been ill for a week, and was taken to the hospital by social workers. Another boy had gone to his home town for a visit and contracted a fever while he was there. Because of that, he returned to Riverkids. Yet another boy is living with HIV. His mother, naturally worried about his health, wanted him to have time off school in the afternoons so he could rest, and switched his school hours to the morning but neglected to inform his teacher. Nevertheless Riverkids accepted the switch—he now attends school in the mornings only, and, as a result of this change in schedule, will spend each month with a different teacher.

A couple of other issues relating to children at Churten House were addressed. A student had been away from school for a week, and social workers will visit him at home to hopefully take him back. And it was reported that another student, who had been sent by his father to live with his stepmother, has been enrolled at state school by his stepmother.

At Steven House three issues were dealt with. A girl had missed school for a week, and Riverkids heard that she had been assaulted by her brother. Social workers will be in touch with her and her parents to try and resolve this. Another student, a boy, was also away from school for a week. In his case, it was due to a suspected mental illness, and Riverkids has been trying to contact organizations that assist people with mental illness to help him. Lastly for Steven House, Riverkids are drawing up a holiday schedule for the upcoming state school three-month break. This schedule will allow Riverkids children who are at state school to attend Riverkids during the school break while also leaving them time to help their families.

Blum House has had problems with three children not attending school. One, a girl, has told her teacher that she no longer wants to go to school, and spends most of her time playing; and the others, two siblings, have been told by their mother to stop coming to school. In the girl’s case, Theany will be working closely with her and her parents to keep her in school, and for the siblings social workers are hoping to persuade their parents to allow them to return to school.

Good news in the Get Ready Girls’ programme. Six children have been sponsored by the programme to study English in a centre outside of Riverkids.

Riverkids is continuing to help the families that it works with. We gave a mother with a newborn milk for her baby and a place to live to help her escape the violence that often erupts in her family. And we are seeking help from other NGOs for these two families: a boy from the old Riverkids project who was hit severely on the head by his mother when he didn’t come to school, and a mother with five children who wants help for her 15-year old son. Two of her children are already studying at Riverkids. We also managed to assist two Muslim families at Chrouy Chang Va who approached Riverkids for help with their four children—we will register the children at the state school of their district in the next academic year. Our social workers also paid a visit to another Riverkids family as the mother had a fever, as part of Riverkids’ ongoing effort to stay in touch with the families in its community. And Riverkids is encouraging three children to join its football programme, and is offering to provide uniforms and shoes.

Some updates on Riverkids staff. Ritthy is preparing the paperwork necessary to enroll children into state school, while two teaching teams have been created: Hang Sokenthea, from Get Ready Girls and the kindergarten, will work with teacher Kunthea, while Sopharith will pair up with teacher Thida. Lastly, Ritthy and Kunthea will be attending a workshop on childcare at Chap Dai on 12 and 13 August.

—Yim Sophal, Administrative Officer