A Change of Guard

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Friday 19 November 2010

Lives of Cambodian Street Children Changed by 'The Altruist'

By Linda Lowen,
Women's Issues Guide
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To find out more about The Altruist:
The Altruist Kickstarter campaign
The Altruist film
M'Lop Tapang's website

Thursday November 18, 2010
When Camille Hardman, a TV and film producer working in both the US and Australia, reconnected with her childhood friend John McGinley, little did she know that her life would be irrevocably altered by something he'd experienced while on vacation.

"The Pedophilia Capital of the World"
In 2003 McGinley was 30 years old, an investment banker on holiday in the beachside town of Sihanoukville in Cambodia, when he witnessed a disturbing incident involving a pedophile and a street child under the age of 12. He hadn't realized he was vacationing in what was a known haven for pedophiles, regarded by many journalists and NGOs as "the pedophilia capital of the world."
The experience so appalled McGinley that he couldn't continue his career as a derivatives trader in Europe. He left his job, returned to Cambodia and -- working with other concerned members of the local community -- helped found M'Lop Tapang, an organization dedicated to protecting children from sexual predators, drunk and exploitative family members, glue sniffing, street crime and violence.
Documenting The AltruistBy the time Camille Hardman reconnected with McGinley, he'd already achieved some success at ridding the streets of Sihanoukville of pedophiles. She was so moved by his dedication to protecting the street children of Cambodia that she decided to film a documentary about his efforts.
Over the course of 5 years, Hardman has shot 80 hours of footage which has been edited down to a three hour version of a documentary she's calling The Altruist. To fully tell the children's stories but to protect their identities, they're adding animation to the film. Also needed in this complex post-production phase: additional editing, sound mixing, a musical score, and color correction.
Editing for TVHardman's goal is to edit The Altruist down to a one-hour TV documentary, a format she's had success with in the past. Her previous documentary Big Dreamers has been shown on the Documentary Channel USA, ABC TV Australia, QANTAS Inflight Entertainment, and Australia Network.
For The Altruist to enjoy the widest viewership possible, Hardman has launched a fundraising campaign at Kickstarter to help her realize her goal of turning the story of John McGinley and M'Lop Tapang into a TV documentary. She's hoping to raise $18,888 by Sunday, December 12.
M'Lop Tapang's ChildrenA fundraiser for a film about an organization raising funds to protect Cambodian street children may seem a convoluted way to get the word out. But storytelling remains the most effective way to involve potential donors and communicate the importance of M'Lop Tapang's work.
Of the 2500 children served by M'Lop Tapang (MT), 90% have experienced some form of violence in their lives and 10% have endured sexual abuse. The majority of offenders are from the local community and are known to their victims.
Statistics are helpful, but stories move us to action. Without MT, the little girls described below would have ended up as nothing more than a grim statistic.
Three Motherless GirlsFour-year-old Srey Kim and her two older sisters (6 and 9) lived with a violent, alcoholic father who raised them after the death of their mother. Her oldest sister, Srey Mom, lives elsewhere with their grandmother. The three youngest girls were beaten, neglected, and not allowed to attend school. Instead, they were expected to do housework and gather wild vegetables to sell to bring in income for the family.
A neighbor who witnessed the father's drunkenness and abuse toward his daughters called the MT ChildSafe 24 hotline, which sent social workers and a counselor to the family's home. With the cooperation of local officials, they were able to take the children to MG for assessment, counseling and forensic examinations, which showed the girls had been sexually abused by their father. Charges were brought against him and he is now serving jail time.
"Safe and Respected"Since their removal from the home, life has gotten better for the family. According to MT staff member Maggie Eno:
All three girls are at the MT education center, studying and stay in our night shelter. They have regular contact with their older sister, Srey Mom and their granny, whom they will eventually be reintegrated with.
Srey Kim was very withdrawn and found it hard to join in with other children at first, but with the support from our counseling team and social workers, she has grown into a confident, happy little girl....She can be seen daily skipping around the playground with her friends, and loves learning traditional dance and doing drawing. Her sisters all doing well in our education program and feel confident and safe.
Srey Kim wants to be a dance teacher when she grows up. She says MT makes her feel safe and respected and she loves having so many friends to play with every day.
Every child deserves to "feel safe and respected," but many around the world don't. With the help of altruists, that can change. John McGinley is one. Camille Hardman is another. How about you?

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