Long awaited repair for slum walkways now completed! - by Sophon

Shaky platforms, broken walkways and protruding nails, these are commonly spotted as one walks on the wooden platform in the slum community. Kids and adults have fallen off the walkways and in 2008, the walkway broke as a group of student volunteers were walking on them. Although no one was hurt from the fall, one student lost his shoes and the rest saw themselves landed on a pool of filthy trash underneath. It was unbearable.


On 21 January 2010, a group of 12 student volunteers from Eckerd College, USA led by Professor Nancy visited this community Riverkids has been working with.

With a donation of USD500.00 from the team, 20 men from the community gathered with their community head, and led by Riverkids’ staff, Mr Theany and Mr. Chin Chea, repair works for the walkways quickly started.


After 2 days of hard work under the sun’s scorching heat, the previously broken and shaky walkway is now laid with planks of sturdy wood. Everyone, young and old (if they’re still fit!), including their pets can now run along without hesitation or feeling insecure.

Nothing is more heart-warming to see the grateful smiles on the faces of the families in the community. They never cease to thank us every time we walk by.

Besides repairing the walkway, the volunteers raised funds to buy painting materials to paint the Community Clinic at Riverkids Family House! Our clinic now looks brighter and more cheerful to the kids!

The staff of Riverkids and the kids and parents from the community would like to say, “Thank you Professor Nancy and students from Eckerd College for your kind donation you raised on your own and for repairing the walkway at the community!”