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Just past seven in the morning, as the Thai border guards lift the long pole that separates the Cambodian side of Poipet from the Thai side of Aranyaprathet, a steady stream of little feet begins to cross the border.
Every day, around 800 Cambodian children travel from their poor villages to beg, scavenge and work in Aranyaprathet. Some are as young as seven.
Traipsing after tourists and carrying goods across the border, they're able to earn 80 baht (US$2) or more each day.
It's often more than their parents earn, and certainly enough money for family or guardians to justify keeping them out of school.
“As soon as they wake up, their parents will rush them off to go out and earn some money,” says Mrs Rattanaporn, a staff member at World Vision’s drop-in centre in Aranyaprathet. “It’s no life for a child.”
The centre is open from 8am to 8pm. It provides a welcome haven where homeless and working children can have a meal for free, take a nap, play games and attend classes.
Formal schooling is out of the question for most of them, either because their family relies on the income they provide, or because they believe themselves that earning money is more important.
But for the 40 or 50 children who spend time in the centre each day, lessons are fun and flexible.
“I like coming here because I can play and I have many friends,” says Song, a 12-year-old Cambodian girl. “It’s a long way for me to walk here, but I am happier here than at home. All my brothers and sisters go out and work.”
Children like Song learn basic skills of reading, writing and maths, and spend time drawing and colouring. There are also sessions on health care, child rights, trafficking and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Many of them have never been taught basic life skills like how to cross the road safely, go to the toilet hygienically or protect themselves from thieves. At the centre they're told what they need to know to live safe and healthy lives, and encouraged to tell others.
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A guitar lightens the mood and lifts the spirits near the children's mobile library
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Recently, a few of the children attached a vendor's cart to a bicycle to create a mobile library for working children. If their friends could not take time out to visit the centre, then they would take the centre to their friends.
World Vision provide the educational and cartoon books for the cart, and accompany the children each day to help with their reading, sing songs with them, or organise races and games.
The most popular spot for the cart is near the border crossing, where children passing through can stop to browse, play and chat together.
For children who are used to living with little or no attention paid to them, the festive atmosphere lifts their spirits and makes them feel as though they belong somewhere.
Mrs Ratannaporn says that the children can be awestruck by very simple acts of kindness.
“Some will come and tell me they are sick, then I’ll give them food or medicine. I help them to bathe, wash or brush their hair. At home they have water, but no shampoo, soap or powder. I treat them for lice and cut their fingernails and toenails.”
"Many have never experienced this in their lives before."
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