Laughter and games echo from the courtyard of Aziza’s Place, a stark contrast to where the children came from; Steung Meanchey, Phnom Penh’s municipal dumpsite and city slums. Children and families dig through trash for items that can be recycled for money. Up until July 2009 over 1,100 tons of rubbish, including medical waste, was disposed here daily. Since that time, the landfill has been relocated 15 kilometers outside of the city. This has been devastating to the scavenging community who are now forced to make the long and expensive trek to the new landfill, or to scavenge on the streets. As it is, picking trash yields no more than $1.50 per day, an insufficient amount to feed a family. Life at the dumpsite is a tragic story of neglect for humankind. The people who dwell in these ruthless conditions are exposed to an extremely hazardous and toxic environment.

The future for children picking trash is grim. Families at Steung Meanchey are so destitute that they depend on their children’s income to sustain their livelihood. Along with being required to work, illegitimate fees to attend public school contribute to the obstacle of receiving an education. Girls are amongst the most vulnerable population affected by these horrific conditions; for them, a path of exploitation is a looming reality. Income from garbage picking does not provide parents with sufficient money to feed and house their children. Therefore, most families must forego basic necessities such as health care and education.

Aziza’s Place addresses these problems through four key program areas: healthy lifestyles, access to public school and supplemental education, community development, and visual arts and sports. Aziza’s Place is a vehicle moving children away from the pervasiveness of poverty in Cambodia. Where they would otherwise be picking trash or spending their lives on the street, they now have a chance to live, learn, and be carefree as all children are entitled. As they go from childhood to adulthood, Aziza’s Place graduates will seize a place in their community as educated, creative, and dignified individuals.