The Creativity of Hope

A billboard at the top of the road leading down to the beach at Sihanoukville on Cambodia’s south coast offers an insight into the situation for many of the country’s youth – “Sihanoukville does not tolerate child sex tourists.”

Further down the same road enthusiastic children congregate around the doors of the Cambodian Children’s Painting Project (CCPP) which was established by British professional artist Roger Dixon in 2003 and two years ago American national Felix Brooks-Church became the project’s manager. 

“Creativity contributes to the development of the whole child,” said Mr Brooks-Church.

“It can develop thinking and problem solving skills, fine motor coordination, emotional release and expression. It also gives the children an opportunity to develop social skills and language in a nurturing, and supportive environment,” he said.

Mr Brooks-Church said the problems of prostitution and paedophilia are unfortunately widespread in Sihanoukville.

We have had a few cases in the last few years of some of our kids being abused, so child protection is the main concern. We feel if you can not offer a child protection, there is no sense in offering them any other services,” he said.

Mr Brooks-Church said Sihanoukville’s economy was experiencing a huge boom and that: “More money equals more tourists and in turn, more problems.”

Searching for a happy equilibrium between tourism and safety for the children is what the project is seeking. “We try to educate the tourist on what to do and how to really help these children. Buying from them on the beach creates a market, but is not the best means of support.”

Exhibits

Over half of the 13,000 paintings and sketches produced by the children over the past five years have been purchased by tourists and through international galleries.

“We exhibit internationally all the time. So far it’s been one of our biggest fund raising methods,” explained Mr Brooks-Church who has been involved with community based volunteering programmes in America for the past 10 years. A recent CCPP exhibition in Australia raised nearly $7000. The project has set the goal of raising $30,000 next year.

“In the future, we would like to offer trade schooling for some of the older children, preparing them for a career,” said Mr Brooks-Church. Among the challenges faced by many of the town’s children are a lack of access to clean drinking water, shelter, education and medical care.

“We would also like to support the families more, perhaps through a micro-loan scheme. At the heart of our work is the belief that education and knowledge is the antidote to poverty and exploitation.”