borrowing orphans

[Soi Dog]

Al Jazeera just did a story about the Cambodian orphanage "industry". Nothing too shocking here except for the part where a couple of undercover journalists walk into one place off the street and tell the orphanage director they want to take a few orphans out for a day trip. 5 minutes later they are given their picks from an orphan line-up and off they go, no questions asked...no chaperone.

Of course there is the standard scene where they cut to night shots of Phnom Penh hostess bar's flashing neon signs with funky music added for 'the extra creepy effect', while they drag out the old, tired line about Cambodia being a "Western peadophile's playground"

They do get in a good shot or two in at the NGO directors taking a million dollars of profit from the $3 million taken in by gullible(but well meaning) volunteers who pay to help out at orphanages... money which is obviously needed to improve conditions at the run down buildings.

Here it is in print (summary) and video...

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peo ... 38171.html

[andyinasia]

That's a really outstanding report. Can't find the link to the video to download.

[Jessb52]

It's a really good report. Worth watching.

[vladimir]

' Having volunteered in Cambodia for the past three years, Australian Demi Giakoumis was surprised to learn how little of the up to $3,000 paid by volunteers actually goes to the orphanages.'

With all due respect to those who do know, I still don't understand why anyone would pay $3000 to volunteer, and I don't accept teh line that it takes an equivalent value in time to train such people to do what a lot of people could/would probably do out of compassion and empathy.

Wasn't there a guy talking about training Cambodians to fly? How much would that cost? I suppose one does need extensive training:

'OK the trash goes over there, and then you cook the rice, and the dishes get done, now we move to advanced level, teaching them how to play volleyball.'

Seriously, I'm pretty sure no volunteer gets allowed anywhere near the complex accounting proceudres required to secure (hide?) the dosh or the involved marketing inherent in designing transparent adverts for websites like camhr.com

So, can someone tell me, what does cost $3000, because I could do almost 1.5 month-long CELTA courses with accommodation and grub for that. I'm assuming the training must be complex and given by highly-qualified and experienced trainers, and there must be a certificate worth something at the end, maybe SUCKER, diploma in Semi-Unsupervised Cambodian/ Khmer Enterprising Relationships.

I may be wrong.

[the_purple_turtle]

'
I may be wrong.

You? Surely not Vlad?

[vladimir]

It has happened once before, I know you're shocked to hear it, but it's true!

[Soi Dog]

I forgot to mention the female British reporter who askes the teary eyed 11 year old girl (abandoned by her parents and staying in an orphanage) "how does it feel to know that your family doesn't want you?"

How the hell do you think it feels you feckless c*nt? I guess you needed a shot of a crying orphan girl and couldn't find one handily so you orchistrated one?

[ken svay]

That is a pretty good report apart from the shots of a riverside massage joint which is probably straight as a die.
That lighthouse place was near my house in prek pra and i wrote about it years ago after stewie and I visited-SCAM.
It was the place where the manager complained that the kids got no protein despite having dozens of chooks and geese.He explained that there were two kinds of chickens,one type that lays eggs for eating and the other type that lays eggs for babies-one of the funniest things I had ever heard in cambodia.
The western pedo thing was overdone as usual,its khmers who buy children from orphanages for brothels.
Is SISHA aware of this,they seem to not be too keen to investigate this crime.

[Username Taken]

'
I may be wrong.

You? Surely not Vlad?

Vlad wrong? No!

Most probably mistaken.