Download - Friends International

ABBREVIATIONS 

ADB 

ATS 

CCASVA 

CRC 

CSCN 

DT 

FI 

GE 

GO 

ILO 

IO 

IOM 

KM 

KT 

MDG 

MS 

MLT 

NACD 

NGO 

NSDP 

PAC 

SCP 

SLC 

SLF 

SWC 

UN 

UNDP 

UNICEF 

WVC 

WHO 

Asian Development Bank 

Amphetamine Type Stimulants 

Cambodian Children against Starvation 

and Violence 

Convention on the Rights of the Child 

Cambodian Street Children Network 

Damnok Toek 

Friends-International 

Goutte d’Eau 

Governmental Organisation 

International Labour Organization 

International Organisation 

International Organization for Migration 

Kalyan Mith 

Krousar Thmey 

Millennium Development Goals 

Mith Samlanh 

M’Lop Tapang 

National Authority for Combating Drugs 

Non-Governmental Organisation 

National Strategic Development Plan 

Plan of Action for Children 

Street Children Profile 

Street Living Children 

Street Living Family 

Street Working Children 

United Nations 

United Nations Development Programme 

United Nations Children’s Fund 

World Vision Cambodia 

World Health Organisation 

CSCN 

2 CSCN Street Children Profile 2009

PREFACE – CSCN STREET CHILDREN PROFILE 2009 

This Cambodian Street Children Profile (SCP) 2009 is the second annual publication 

of a research project conducted by the Cambodian Street Children Network (CSCN), 

prepared and compiled by Friends-International (FI). The research for the profile was 

carried out in six Cambodian locations - Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Neak Loeung, 

Sihanoukville, Kampong Cham and Poipet – selected on the basis of the size of the 

street children/youth population or areas imposing explicit risks. Aiming to provide the 

CSCN members and donors with information about the current street children/youth 

situation in Cambodia, this Profile seeks to acquire information on the approximate 

amount, basic demographics, background characteristics, and needs of Cambodian 

street children/youth. 

To facilitate the collection of data for the profile, three complementary methods have 

been applied. The first seeks to provide a General Overview of issues impacting directly 

or indirectly on the street children/youth population. The second method assembles a 

Snapshot Survey and the final a Questionnaire Survey. By combining three different 

methodologies and the application of both primary and secondary data to the analysis, 

it has been possible to generate information about the Cambodian street children/youth 

with reasonable accuracy. Additionally, this year, for the first time, the SCP 2009 sums 

up the findings in five central discussion topics. 

For further information about the CSCN network and their work to support street 

children, please contact: 


Phnom Penh Head Office 

House 71, Street 174, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 

Tel: (+855) 23 986601 

Email: info@friends-international.org 

www.friends-international.org 

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CSCN Street Children Profile 2009 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................5 

Presentation of the Cambodian Street Children Network ............................................ 6 

Purpose of the Cambodian Street Children Profile 2009 ............................................ 8 

Defining Street Children/Youth ................................................................................. 9 

Data Collection and Methods ................................................................................ 10 

FRAME I: GENERAL OVERVIEW ............................................. 17 

General Overview of Cambodia .......................................................................... 17 

Street Life of Cambodian Children/Youth............................................................... 18 

Educational Levels ................................................................................................. 19 

Gender Issues ..................................................................................................... 20 

Health and HIV/AID............................................................................................... 20 

Unsafe Migration Patterns and Human Trafficking................................................... 21 

Substance Abuse ................................................................................................ 22 

Legal and Human Rights Issues.............................................................................. 23 

FRAME II: SNAPSHOT SURVEY .............................................. 25 

Total Number of Street Children/Youth Counted .................................................... 26 

Location Specific Overview of Street Children by Category ..................................... 27 

FRAME III: QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY .................................... 29 

General Findings of the Questionnaire Survey ........................................................ 30 

Phnom Penh ...................................................................................................... 32 

Siem Reap .......................................................................................................... 47 

Neak Loeung...................................................................................................... 61 

Sihanoukville ....................................................................................................... 75 

Kampong Cham .................................................................................................... 89 

Poipet................................................................................................................... 103 

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DISCUSSION OF CROSS-CUTTING TENDENCIES ........................5 

Theme I: Migration Patterns of Cambodian Street Children/Youth ............................... 6 

Theme II: Poverty and Migration as Main Reasons for Street Life ................................ 8 

Theme III: Educational Status – Enrolment versus Completion Rates........................... 9 

Theme IV: Scavenging and Begging as Main Income Generating Activities ................ 10 

Theme V: Problems on the Streets – Bong Thom, Violence and Health ...................... 10 

CONCLUSION & CONTEXTUALISING REMARKS.......................17 

APPENDIX I: PRESENTING THE CSCN MEMBERS......................... 25 

LIST OF REFERENCES .................................... ..........................29 

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INTRODUCTION 

Since 1991, when more than two decades of conflict and isolation ended, Cambodia 

has made important steps towards ensuring peace, improving the economic 

performance and putting in place policies aimed at securing marginalised groups 

in both rural and urban areas. On a political level, the Cambodian government has 

demonstrated a long-term commitment by drawing up a comprehensive reform agenda 

aimed at achieving the United Nations’ (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 

which is embedded in the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) 2006–2010 1 . 

Moreover, the Government ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 

1992 and subscribed to the Summit Declaration and Plan of Action in February 1993, 

making Cambodia accountable for the implementation of the CRC and the global 

Plan of Action for Children (PAC). But progress is fragile. Cambodia remains an aiddependent 

country with governance systems in need of further reinforcement and 

with limited public sector institutional capacity slowing down the pace of achieving the 

MDG and PAC targets related to general human development and children’s rights. 

Given the limited capacity of the Government to address these social issues, several 

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), donors and agencies have clustered in 

the country in order to provide adequate support for the declared policies and plans. 

Set against this national policy-institutional frame, there are still many highly prevalent 

prob-lems faced by underprivileged children in Cambodia. According to the Street 

Children Profile (SCP) 2008 snapshot survey, 5,622 street living/working children/youth 

were counted in six major Cambodian cities in one day 2 . This number, however, is just 

an indicator of the actual situation. While the problem of street children predominantly 

is an urban phenomenon - most street children appear concentrated in Phnom Penh, 

Kampong Cham, Poipet and Siem Reap - the actual number of street children in 

Cambodia is not very well known. Several factors serve to explain this uncertainty such 

as migration, seasonal fluctuations, and changing economic and political circumstances. 

Compared to the situation of Cambodian street children/youth drawn up in the SCP 

2008, both national and international circumstances may have impacted on the 

tendencies identified in this 2009 profile. At the national level, the alarming number of 

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forced evictions of the urban poor and the confiscation of farmers’ land in the countryside 

has relocated thousands of people and their families to areas without means of earning 

a livelihood 3 . The consequences of violating families’ access to proper housing are 

closely linked to the vulnerability of children in terms of health, education and the risk of 

exploitation 4 . In turn this also might have led to a growing number of children migrating 

alone to bigger towns to seek work for shorter or longer periods in order to support 

their families. Regarding international conditions potentially affecting the composition 

of street children/youth, the effects of the global economic crisis has inevitably hit 

the Cambodian economy, particularly as it is narrowly concentrated on the garment, 

tourism, and construction industries 5 . Without a formal social welfare system, there has 

been concern that the economic crisis will reverse the positive economic trends and 

push greater numbers of Cambodian children into poverty, thereby increasing their risk 

of ending on the streets 6 . ‘The current financial crisis will only make problems worse 

and it is expected that vulnerabilities among children and youth will drastically increase 

in the coming years as a result of this 7 ’. 

Having outlined the specific setting for the Cambodian Street Children Profile 2009, the 

forth-coming study by the Cambodian Street Children Network (CSCN) aims to make 

projections on the current situation of street children in six central locations in Cambodia 

– Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Neak Loeung, Sihanoukville, Kampong Cham and Poipet. 

Presentation of the Cambodian Street Children Network 

The Cambodian Street Children Network (CSCN) was officially co-founded by Friends- 

International (FI) and Mith Samlanh (MS) in April 2007, and invited the main Cambodian 

NGOs working with street children to join it. The main criteria for selecting the CSCN 

members was the duration they had been working with street children and the fact that 

they all run direct services - they are not advocacy or funding NGOs only. The CSCN 

thus aims to enhance the collaboration between NGOs working within the field of street 

children in Cambodia, and the network’s activities centre on the three-fold objective: 

i. To establish a platform for networking, coordinating services and exchanging 

knowledge in order to develop best practices; 

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ii. To conduct collective research between the CSCN members in order to steadily 

improve the data available on Cambodian street children; 

iii. To build the capacity of the CSCN members to systematically gather and record 

information on Cambodian street children. 

The CSCN currently consists of the following seven members (a detailed presentation 

of each CSCN member is found in Appendix I): 

• Damnok Toek (Goutte d’Eau) (DT) 

• Kaliyan Mith (KM) 

• Mith Samlanh (MS) 

• Krousar Thmey (KT) 

• M’Lop Tapang (MLT) 

• World Vision Cambodia (WVC) 

• Cambodian Children Against Starvation and Violence (CCASVA) 

In 2007, the seven members of the CSCN commenced a coordinated effort to gather 

information about children living and/or working on the streets of Cambodia. The 

outcome of this study, the SCP 2008, was the first in a series of annual reports to 

be produced by the CSCN. The SCP 2008, with its extensive quantitative analysis, 

moreover provided the broadest study ever conducted on Cambodian street children. 

Analysing the detailed information on street children in six central cities in Cambodia 

thus provided the first basis for identifying nationwide tendencies on topics such as 

migration, education, gender issues, trafficking, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. 

For the compilation of this second edition of the profile, SCP 2009, the seven members 

of the CSCN were once more involved in the collection of questionnaires in the same 

six locations, providing the basis for comparative analysis of the previous year’s data. 

Moreover, building on the experiences from the Cambodian SCP 2008, this year’s 

edition adds a more in-depth analysis of the data. Also, it adds a chapter suggesting 

topics for discussion, based on the identified general and cross-cutting tendencies, in 

the CSCN members’ work teams. 

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Purpose of the Cambodian Street Children Profile 2009 

The overall purpose of the SCP 2009 is to gather information in order to improve 

knowledge of, analyse and understand the ongoing changes of the target group 

– Cambodian Street Children and Youth. However, based on the methodological 

challenges of compiling such information (will be further elaborated in the forthcoming 

sections); it is only possible to make projections of the composition, number and 

practices of Cambodian street children.0 

The main objectives of the SCP 2009 are based on the following four topics: 

i. Acquire information on the approximate amount, basic demographics, 

background characteristics, and needs of street children/youth in six 

central towns in Cambodia; 

ii. Provide information of street children/youth primarily to the CSCN 

members, but also to donors, the Government and other stakeholders; 

iii. Harmonise monitoring indicators, allowing better project design and 

implementation for the individual CSCN members; 

iv. Reinforce a common CSCN advocacy strategy. 

Defining Street Children/Youth 

There is no set definition of what constitutes a Street Child. The challenge has thus 

been to develop a suitable definition to apply in the CSCN study of Cambodian street 

children that as well is applicable for comparing with other studies on the issue. The UN 

has defined the term Street Children to include ‘any boy or girl… for whom the street 

in the widest sense of the word… has become his or her habitual abode and/or source 

of livelihood, and who is inadequately protected, supervised, or directed by responsible 

adults’. However, this definition needs to be specified towards the great number of 

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Cambodian children working and/or living with their families on the streets facing the 

same potential risks. To overcome this definitional limitation, the 3-fold definition of 

street children developed by UNICEF is applied, distinguishing between: Street Living 

Children (SLC), Street Working Children (SWC) and Children of Street Living Families 

(SLF): 

Street Living Children: 

‘Children/youth who have cut ties with their families and live alone on the streets’ 

Street Working Children: 

‘Children/youth who spend all or most of their time working on the streets to provide 

an income for their families or for themselves, but who return to a caregivers home at 

night’ 

Children of Street Living Families: 

‘Children who live with their family on the streets’ 

The 3-fold definition of street children applied in the CSCN study is thus ‘not based 

on the social or economic backgrounds of the children, or the types of activities they 

perform (which are mostly viewed as survival behaviours for living), but rather on the 

physical contact with the street setting as compared to their contact with their families’ 8 . 

Another important aspect to consider when defining the CSCN target group is age. The 

term Street Children is usually applied to children under the age of 18. However, given 

the age distri-bution of the children/youth the CSCN members target through various 

outreach activities, it has been necessary to expand the definition to the age group from 

0-24 years. In order not to be confused with the age-terminology adopted by most other 

studies on street children, the term Street Children/Youth will henceforth be applied 

referring to the 0-24 year olds 9 . 

Methodologically, applying such a broad definition on street children/youth both in terms 

of categories and the age span inevitably impacts on the outcome of both the snapshot 

and questionnaire survey. This is particularly true regarding the snapshot survey, as 

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the number of street children/youth who qualify for being counted is higher than if the 

conventional definition of street children is applied. This is, however, a reflection of the 

CSCNs ambition to push for a general revision of the definition, as many NGOs working 

with street children end their activities when the children turn 18 years of age - even 

when further support is needed. 

Finally, inconsistent usage of the street children definition between NGOs and others 

working with the topic has an impact on understanding the various dimensions of 

problems relating to street children, and in consequence their exact magnitude. As the 

SCP 2009 primarily is com-piled for internal usage and the method applied each year 

is consistent, there is no methodo-logical hindrance to comparing the data from the 

different years. 

Data Collection Methods 

To facilitate the collection of data about street children/youth in six Cambodian 

locations, this study is comprised of three main analytical frames, each based on a 

specific methodological approach. Frame I seeks to provide a general overview of 

issues and official statistics relevant to support the analysis of the data derived from 

Frame II and Frame III, assembling a snapshot survey and a questionnaire respectively. 

By combining three different methodologies and the application of both primary and 

secondary data to the analysis, it has been possible to generate information about the 

street children/youth with reasonable accuracy. 

The six locations where the two different surveys were carried out - Phnom Penh, Siem 

Reap, Neak Loeung, Sihanoukville, Kampong Cham and Poipet – were selected on 

the basis of the size of the street children population or areas involving explicit risks to 

the children. Moreover, the locations represent areas that are either highly populated, 

attract tourism or are migration hubs such as the Thai and Vietnamese borders. A final 

criterion for selecting the locations is directed by where the CSCN members operate, 

so as to provide a specific knowledge of the street children/youth populations of each 

site. What follows is a brief description of each location, though a more elaborated 

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presentation will be conducted in the chapter analysing the questionnaire results. 

Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia and also a major centre for economic 

activity – conse-quently being the main migration destination and attracting the biggest 

group of street children in Cambodia. 

Siem Reap is the primary tourist destination in Cambodia given its proximity to the 

Angkor temples, which has led to a growing street child population who make a living 

out of begging, selling to tour-ists and other related activities. 

Neak Loeung is a major transit town, where people and goods move from the Prey 

Veng and Svay Rieng provinces on their way to Phnom Penh. Neak Loeung is moreover 

located on the route from Phnom Penh to Vietnam. Several children are working at the 

ferry terminal, hoping to finally move on to Phnom Penh. 

Sihanoukville is another site attracting several foreign tourists each year due to its 

location on the south coast. The tourism attracts children to work on the beaches either 

selling souvenirs, food, massages or begging. As the number of tourists coming to 

Sihanoukville has risen considerably in the last years, so has the number of young 

street living and working children. 

Kampong Cham is the most populated province in Cambodia. The town of Kampong 

Cham has accordingly become a migration destination. Poor families with young 

children migrate to the town with notions of prosperity, only to find high unemployment 

rates and few housing options – in-creasing the prospect of children either working or 

living on the streets. 

Poipet is the major border crossing town with Thailand and has shown rapid growth in 

a space of a few years based on cross-border trade, smuggling and the local casino 

industry. These well-paid industries have attracted families and whole communities, 

who come in search of a better liveli-hood. 

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Frame I: General Statistical Overview 

Following the issues covered in the questionnaire survey (Frame III), it has been 

possible to divide the content of this secondary data review into relevant themes such 

as: Education; Gender Issues; Migration/Trafficking; HIV/AIDS; Substance Abuse; and 

Legal Issues. Still, it is necessary to clarify the criteria for document selection as the 

topic of street children and related issues have drawn severe attention, resulting in a 

vast production of reports and discussion papers on definitional and impact issues. 

The collection of data (documents and statistics) was primarily derived from official 

publications of International Organisations (IOs) (e.g. UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, ADB, ILO, 

Amnesty International); the Governmental Organisations (GOs); NGOs; and research 

papers. In addition, discussing the findings in the selected secondary data with key 

personal of the CSCN network with knowledge of each theme, added to the validity 

of the information compiled. Moreover, statistics from multiple sources were compiled 

in order to cross-check the validity of a specific source. Using this method is a way to 

eliminate the biases often seen in official reports of IOs, GOs and NGOs wishing to 

convey the best/worst results in order to show positive results or to attract funds. 

Frame II: Snapshot Survey 

A snapshot survey is a periodic count that produces primary data estimating the number 

of street children/youth on one specific day in one geographical area. This second 

analytical frame, Frame II, contains the information attained in a snapshot survey of 

street children/youth in six central Cambodian locations carried out on December 20 th , 

2007. In this years’ edition of the SCP, data from the SCP 2008 snapshot survey have 

thus been reapplied. By only conducting the survey every second year the idea is to 

create a sufficient time gap for comparing and unfolding changing tendencies. The 

quantitative snapshot survey was completed by staff of each of the seven CSCN member 

organisations, who were briefed in advance on the methodology. The guidelines for the 

snapshot survey were: 

• Introduce yourself to the child/youth and briefly explain the purpose of the 

SCP 2009; 

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• Short interviews; 

• Do not force the child/youth to answer; 

• Ask if the child/youth has met another CSCN staff on the day of the 

snapshot survey; and 

• Avoid special events days and weather conditions potentially influencing 

the number of children/youth on the streets. 

All street children/youth who were met in the six locations were interviewed briefly 

in order to acquire information on the categorical identity of the street children/youth 

(SLC, SWC, SLF). Most of the street children/youth were already known to the CSCN 

staff whereas others were identified using criteria such as appearance, language, and 

assessment of their activities - scav-enging, begging, selling books etc. Also, some 

of the street children/youth who had already been counted were used to help identify 

additional street children/youth. In order to avoid overlapping of the counting, the 

children were asked if they had met another CSCN staff on the day of the snapshot. 

Moreover, the locations were divided into zones each covered by CSCN staff to facilitate 

the complete coverage. 

However, estimating the exact number of street children is difficult both due to the 

transitory lifestyle they lead and to the relatively open method applied. There are 

therefore certain inac-curacies to be expected from the snapshot survey. Elaborating 

on these inaccuracies, the pur-pose of the snapshot survey is not to compile a 

comprehensive census, but only to observe trends in the street living/working children/ 

youth population. 

Frame III: Questionnaire Survey 

The final analytical framework, Frame III, constitutes the main collection and processing 

of primary data. The purpose of the questionnaire survey is to acquire detailed information 

about street children/youth that were registered at the CSCN centres between the 1 st 

January 2008 and 31 st December 2008. 1881 questionnaires were sent out to the 

CSCN member organisations in the six locations and 1,549 completed forms were 

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eturned. Based on several years of experience of Friends-International in assembling 

questionnaires for the Phnom Penh SCP, the standard frame for the CSCN profile was 

set. In addition, each CSCN member provided input into the development of an extended 

questionnaire suited to revealing information on street children/youth in the six specific 

locations. The content was thus adjusted to the geographical context and the services 

provided by each CSCN member, and based on feedback and recommendations from 

social workers, beneficiaries and previous SCP editors. Before conducting the survey, 

the CSCN assigned staff were trained in the use of the questionnaire and data collection 

techniques. The following CSCN questionnaire guidelines were introduced: 

• All questionnaires have to be completed by CSCN social workers/case 

managers; 

• Selected CSCN staff have sufficient time to conduct the questionnaires; 

• Information should only be attained about children/youth who are well 

known to the CSCN staff; 

• Only children/youth who arrived in the CSCN centres between 1 st January 

2008 and 31st De-cember 2008; 

• Only information about children/youth between 0-24 years of age; 

• Information should be taken from existing files/forms/knowledge not 

directly from the chil-dren/youth; 

• If there is uncertainty about answering a question do not create 

information - keep the box blank and move on to the next question. 

Several methodological challenges are necessary to address when conducting a 

questionnaire survey about street children/youth. As accepting what street children/ 

youth say as fact often is associated with uncertainties 10 , the CSCN social workers 

were appointed as intermediaries to fill out the questionnaires. For this reason it has 

only been possible to conduct closed-ended questionnaires about the street children/ 

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youth, as opposed to open-ended ones 11 , and then accept the answers as if they were 

factual. This method of using standardised questionnaires is, however, not open to any 

unanticipated findings. Despite this limitation, there is still a great value in using the 

quantitative data produced by the closed-ended questions, particularly for the purpose 

of this study – to make comparisons between groups of street children/youth, locations 

and years. Moreover, the qualitative touch is added when analysing the data, as 

possible reasons for changing tendencies have been discussed with CSCN members 

with expertise on the given topic. 

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FRAME I: GENERAL OVERVIEW 

CAMBODIA BACKGROUND INFORMATION & STATISTICS 

In order to support the analysis of the primary data derived from the snapshot and 

question-naire survey of Cambodian street children/youth, there is a need to investigate 

the broader context of issues impacting on the street living/working population so as 

to understand and analyse the survey findings of the SCP 2009. Multiple areas of 

concern prove relevant in this respect and can be divided into direct and indirect causes 

influencing the street children/youth population 12 . Direct causes for why a child ends 

up on the street include: substance abuse, neglect, family breakdown, child abuse etc. 

Indirect causes are of more structural nature such as poverty, unplanned migration, lack 

of access to education etc. Moreover, it is also necessary to consider local complexities 

of both economic and political character that indirectly has an impact on the children/ 

youth addressed in this profile. Hence, the location specific information will be presented 

in the analysis of the questionnaire survey in Frame III. The content of the chapter is 

structured as a synthesis of secondary data sources aiming to identify tendencies of 

the Cambodian population in general, as well as direct and indirect causes possibly 

impacting on the street children/youth population. 

General Overview of Cambodia 

Cambodia, with a total population of 14.6 million, has a remarkably young demographic 

struc-ture with 41.6 percent of the population being under 18 years of age 13 . A 

combination of severe decimation of the population during nearly three decades of war 

and civil conflict, a post-war boom and the low average life expectancy 14 , are reasons 

behind the unbalanced demography. Adding to this, an annual population growth of 

1.75 percent 15 (higher than that of Southeast Asia as a whole 16 ) and a decline in early 

mortality keeps this population disparity at quo. 

Regarding poverty, there is statistical consensus indicating that around 30-35 percent 

of the population have expenditure levels below the income poverty line, struggling 

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17

to survive on less than 1 dollar a day. Around half of these people live in extreme 

poverty, a tendency which is especially pervasive in the rural areas of Cambodia. Amid 

the global financial crisis, the Asian Development Bank estimated that an additional 

2 million people in Cambodia may have been thrust into poverty as the cost of food, 

fuel and other commodities have risen 17 . Consequently, an increasing number of 

Cambodian women and children have been seeking work in the informal sector in order 

to survive - for lower wages, poorer conditions, and greater risk of sexual exploitation 

and trafficking. 

Street Life of Cambodian Children/Youth 

The majority of street children/youth in Cambodia, like in most countries, live in the 

capital and big cities as they are 

considered to have better economic and 

employment opportunities by migrants 

from the provinces 18 . The reality is that 

they usually live in appalling conditions 

with no protection and often no record 

of their existence. While the street 

children/youth phenomenon generally 

is seen as urban, there is an increasing 

tendency in the rural areas in Cambodia. The impact of street life on children/youth in 

Cambodia is considerable. Unstable lifestyles, lack of medical care and inadequate 

living conditions increase young people’s susceptibility to exploitation, substance abuse, 

chronic illness, sexual violence and sexually transmitted diseases 19 . 

Based on the 2008 snapshot survey 5,622 street children/youth were counted in six 

Cambodian locations, however, based on rough estimations of the CSCN members, 

these figures could be up to four times higher 20 . Responding to the magnitude of 

the street children/youth problem and underprivileged children in general, a growing 

number of institutions and orphanages have been set up by both NGOs and government 

agencies – arguing that institutionalising street children/youth is for their own good. 

However, replacing children and removing them from families or family networks is not 

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necessarily in the best interest of the child, and might weaken family structures and 

existing community support networks even more. Rather, the efforts should be aimed 

at reintegrating the children/youth to become actively involved in the development of 

their society. Recently, the Cambodian government has drafted policies, a Praka about 

the ‘Functioning of the Child Welfare System’ implemented by the Ministry of Social 

Affairs, Veteran’s Affairs and Youth Rehabilitation so as to address the growing issue 

of institutionalising children 21 . 

Educational Levels 

According to statistics from UNICEF, there has been considerable progress in Cambodia 

towards the attainment of universal primary education as a result of the government’s 

commitment to achieve the UN MDGs. From 1997 to 2007 the net primary school 

enrolment rate increased from 76 

percent to 93.3 percent, and there has 

been a general improvement of the 

quality and affordability of education 22 . 

Despite the high enrolment rates, 

many children repeat grades and it 

takes on average more than 10 years 

to complete primary school, with less 

than half of all students progressing 

beyond grade six 23 . Also, there 

remains significant gender inequality in education, with girls still suffering higher dropout 

rates. The literacy rate for the youth (15-24 years of age) is 90 percent for male and 

83 percent for female 24 . 

For secondary education, the net enrolment rates are remarkably lower with 33 

percent of males and 28 percent of females attending. The limited opportunities for 

higher education and vocational training in Cambodia have created a large pool of 

unskilled workers seeking employ-ment. The lack of viable employment opportunities 

consequently encourages migration to seek employment elsewhere, often resulting 

in irregular and uninformed internal and cross-border movements. Another great 

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challenge for Cambodia is to expand employment opportunities fast enough to absorb 

the 250,000 young people who are reaching working age and entering the employment 

market each year. The labour force in the group aged 20 to 24 grew an estimated 66 

percent between 1997 and 2001, and the number of youth in the labour force age 15 to 

19 years increased by 58 percent 25 . 

Gender Issues 

The Cambodian Constitution of 1993 guarantees equal rights and legal protection to men 

and women in all areas of society. Additionally, national laws and government initiatives 

promote the empowerment of women, although in most cases their implementation 

remains poor 26 . Despite this legal framework, there are significant areas of gender 

disparity in Cambodia, par-ticularly in educational attainment and income. Also, 

Cambodian women lack adequate legal protection as a result of a general weakness 

in the judicial system, together with their low social status in the society. Cambodian 

cultural/religious beliefs and the subordination of women and girls consequently play a 

critical role in perpetuating gender discrimination 27 . 

The paid employment market in Cambodia employs only 16 percent of the economically 

active population; 19 percent of men and 14 percent of women. Men, more so than 

women, are moving into a wider range of better-paid positions outside the agriculture 

sector. For women, the options are largely limited to the garment industry or the informal 

sector. Men earn around 30 percent more for equivalent work 28 . Consequently, women 

are also disproportionately vulnerable in economic terms, particularly in female-headed 

households 29 . In rural areas an estimated one in four households are headed by a 

woman, and in Phnom Penh one in three 30 . 

Health and HIV/AIDS 

While youth generally is a life period associated with relatively good health, the nature of 

con-tinuous exposure to the streets and the associated lifestyles makes street children/ 

youth vul-nerable to a range of health issues which are not typically experienced by 

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other young people. According to WHO, factors which might contribute to vulnerability 

include: malnutrition; poor hygiene/sanitation; lack of shelter; violence; and emotional/ 

social deprivation 31 . 

Another important health issue is HIV/AIDS; however, Cambodia is one of the few 

countries that have seen declining HIV prevalence reducing the adult rate (15-49 years 

of age) from 3 percent in 1997 to 0.8 percent in 2008 32 . Cambodia’s HIV/AIDS epidemic is 

spread primarily through heterosexual transmission and revolves largely around the sex 

trade. Significantly, a low prevalence rate in the general population masks far higher prevalence 

rates in certain sub-populations, such as injecting drug users, people in prostitution, men who 

have sex with men, karaoke hostesses and beer girls, and mobile and migrant populations. 

As a consequence of the high HIV/AIDS prevalence during the 1990s the number of 

AIDS or-phans has increased in Cambodia at a proportional rate in the recent years. 

Children/youth whose parents are living with HIV often experience many negative 

changes in their lives even before they are orphaned. Eventually, they suffer the death 

of their parent(s) and the emotional trauma that results. They may then have to adjust 

to a new situation, with little or no support, and are at risk of ending up on the streets. 

In response, the National HIV/AIDS Authority of Cambodia has shifted the focus of 

its prevention efforts from young adults to children. 2008 statistics show an increase 

in rates of antiretroviral use among children and mother-to-child transmission of the 

virus. 

Unsafe Migration Patterns and Human Trafficking 

Migration within Cambodia is primarily internal, rural-urban, and the movement is 

usually to-wards more prosperous areas. 

According to the National Institute of 

Statistics of Cambodia, 35 percent of the 

Cambodian population are migrants 33 . 

Although migrants are conventionally 

thought of as adults or families, several 

street children/youth are lone migrants. It 

is observed that youth (aged 15-24) form 

CSCN 


21

the largest section of migrants at 30 percent 34 . The children/youth may migrate to cities 

of their own volition to seek work, to escape poor family relations, or are sent by parents 

to find work. In several cases, they regularly remit money home to their families. An 

estimated 1.5 million rural people depend upon migrant remittances (mostly from women) 

as their major source of income 35 . 

Unsafe migration patterns and the depth of poverty in Cambodia consequently make the 

chil-dren/youth more vulnerable to trafficking. Human trafficking in Cambodia is far from 

a ho-mogenous phenomenon - trafficking networks in Cambodia range from small-scale 

ad hoc activities to large-scale and well-organised operations 36 . Although a new antitrafficking 

law was passed in 2008, exploitation continues. Trafficking is predominantly 

directed towards women for commercial sexual exploitation and children and women for 

domestic work, though, men are increasingly being targeted and singled out for forced 

labour. Some children are trafficked for commercial begging groups, although these 

may be younger and destined to later move into sex work. Cambodia has been a noted 

destination for child sex tourism. Although this problem is receiving increased attention, 

inadequate legislation and enforcement mechanisms, as well as endemic poverty, have 

meant that child prostitution continues. 

Source provinces for domestic migration and trafficking in Cambodia are usually 

highly popu-lated rural areas in close proximity to urban/tourist centres, especially 

those susceptible to economic downturn such as that caused by severe droughts 

and flooding. Provinces commonly perceived by the NGO community in Cambodia as 

source provinces are Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Kandal, Takeo, Battambang and 

Phnom Penh (particularly from urban slums). 

Substance Abuse 

The use of substances 37 by street children/youth in Cambodia, although functional in 

some circumstances, increases health risks and often leads to exposure to violence and 

exploitation 38 . Drugs are functionally used by the street children/youth to keep awake 

for work, to anaesthe-tise physical or emotional pain, to diminish hunger etc. The drugs 

used are usually those which are most readily available and cheap, and, once involved, 

there is a risk that the children/youth, voluntarily or under duress, become part of the 

CSCN 


traffic, distribution and sale of drugs. There 

is a correlation between poverty, substance 

abuse and street life. In several cases drug 

use is the cause of a child/youth ending 

up on the streets, as the drug addict and 

his/her family are challenged by increased 

diversion of already limited resources to 

finance the purchase of substances and as 

the substance use often creates arguments 

between parents and their children. In other cases substance abuse by parents is the 

cause of children/youth coming onto the street – either to work or to live. 

A 2008 survey conducted by Fl and Mith Samlanh on substance use in Phnom Penh 

indicated that 41.8 percent (85.3 percent male; 14.7 percent female) 39 of street children/ 

youth were using substances. The survey moreover points to particular high usage of 

Amphetamine Type Stimulants 40 (ATS). This outcome is supported by a 2007 report 

by the Secretariat of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), stating that 

substance abuse in Cambodia is strongly linked with methamphetamine tablets (Yama) 

and youth populations. According to NACD, methamphetamine users in Cambodia 

account for 81 percent of all illicit drug users and over 80 percent of these are below 

the age of 25 41 . Other substances commonly used by the street population in Cambodia 

include alcohol (33.9 percent); glue or solvent sniffing (21.1 percent); and heroin 

smoking or injecting (19.8 percent) 42 . 

Incarceration 

Street children/youth in Cambodia are more susceptible of being placed in prisons, 

detention centres, or other forms of incarceration, which may further compromise the 

likelihood of their reintegration into community life. Moreover, in a number of cases the 

justice system and incarceration has been used inappropriately to remove children from 

the streets, and since Cambodia lacks a system of juvenile justice this in turn increases 

their vulnerability 43 . Marginalized populations groups are often arrested and detained in 

Government centers. Several organisations member of the CSCN are working regularly 

CSCN 


23

in detention centers to provide support children and youth. Recent research concerning 

children in Cambodian prisons highlights that the majority of them are held in pretrial 

detention, have little or no access to education programs, have inadequate food 

and health care, are subject to violence and are generally not separated from adult 

prisoners 44 . Subsequent to their release from prison, children are highly susceptible 

to further conflict with the law given the lack of rehabilitation and education support 

provided to young people while detained. 

Relocations 

The increasing issue regarding the right to land and housing and relocation of population, 

has seriously impacted on the street children/youth population. The rate and scale of 

land confis-cation and forced evictions has risen remarkably in recent years, caused 

by development and so-called beautification projects, including slum clearance 45 and 

construction of roads and other infrastructure. 

According to the Phnom Penh based NGO, Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT): ‘... between 

1990 and 1996, an estimated 3,100 families were displaced in Phnom Penh, between 

1997 and 2003, 9,200 families were displaced, and between 2004 and 2008, 14,300 

families were displaced. In total, at least 26,600 Phnom Penh families, approximately 

133,000 residents or eleven percent of the city’s population of 1.2 million, have been 

evicted since 199046 ’. On the national level, precise figures are not prevalent, however, 

‘the rate of forced evictions appears to have increased in conjunction with, inter alia, the 

granting of concessions over vast tracts of land to private investors. Rural landlessness, 

often also caused by forced evictions, rose from 13 percent in 1997 to between 20 and 

25 percent in 2007 47 ’. Evictions have had a significant impact on a large number of 

children whose families have been forced to move outside of Phnom Penh (or other 

main cities), having to leave their homes and to stay in remote locations, to find new 

employments when possible, new sources of income, schools for their children... 

CSCN 


FRAME II: SNAPSHOT SURVEY 

PRESENTING THE RESULTS OF THE CSCN PROFILE 2008 

Conducted on the 20 th of December 2007, the purpose of the snapshot survey was 

to provide basic information on Cambodian street children/youth, including a rough 

estimation of the number. In one day, a total of 5,622 street children/youth ranging in 

age from 0 to 24 years were counted and briefly interviewed for the survey by staff of 

the seven CSCN member NGOs (CCASVA, Damnok Toek (Goutte d’Eau) (DT), Kaliyan 

Mith (KM), Mith Samlanh (MS), M’Lop Tapang (MLT), Krousar Thmey (KT) and World 

Vision (WV)). Initially presented in the Street Children Profile 2008, the quantitative 

based information still serves as an important indicator for the 2009 profile. However, 

ad hoc counts made by Phnom Penh based CSCN members estimate that there can be 

as many as 2,000 street living children, 15-20,000 street working children and a variable 

number of children of street living families depending on seasonal migration (100 to a 

few hundred families) in the capital only. The snapshot survey was carried out in the six 

locations of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Neak Loeung, Sihanoukville, Kampong Cham 

and Poipet. 

CSCN 


25

Total Number of Street Children/Youth Counted in 2008 

3000 

24 

Gender 

Male 

Female 

Transexual 

Number of Children 

2000 

1000 

1,097 

2,092 

38 

1 

3 

0 

Phnom 

Penh 

309 

90 328 

228 278 190 

Siem Reap Poipet Neak 

Loeung 

153 

303 

Kompong 

Cham 

220 

268 

Kompong 

Som 

Out of the 5,622 street children/youth counted in the six Cambodian locations, Phnom 

Penh accounted for 57.2 percent, Siem Reap 9.6 percent, Neak Loeung 9.2 percent, 

Sihanoukville 8.7 percent, Kampong Cham 8.1 percent, and Poipet 7.2 percent. Though 

these figures are not in direct proportion to the number of citizens of each location, 

there is still a strong indication that the majority of the Cambodian street children/youth 

population is located in the capital city. 

The distribution of gender identified in the snapshot survey 2008 shows a majority of 

male at 59.7 percent, female 39.1 percent and transsexual 1.2 percent. These figures, 

however, do not indicate the location specific tendencies as these vary depending on the 

specific context. Poipet for instance witness a particular high prevalence of transsexuals 

at 9.3 percent of the 406 street children/youth counted, which can be explained by the 

demands of the entertainment/casino business and the proximity to Thailand, where 

transgender culture is more exposed. Both Siem Reap and Neak Loeung have higher 

female prevalence than male at 57.5 and 63.3 percent respectively. On a general note, 

it is necessary to point out that the result of the snapshot survey only seeks to make 

projections of the street children/youth situation. 

CSCN 


Location Specific Overview of Street Children by Category 2008 

SLC SWC SLF TOTAL 

Phnom Penh 

Siem Reap 

NeakLoeung 

Sihanoukville 

Kampong Cham 

Poipet 

TOTAL 

578 (18 %) 2.088 (65 %) 547 (17 %) 3.213 

32 (6 %) 499 (93 %) 6 (1 %) 537 

5 (1 %) 508 (98 %) 5 (1 %) 518 

5 (1 %) 447 (91 %) 39 (8 %) 491 

9 (2 %) 443 (97 %) 5 (1 %) 457 

55 (14 %) 336 (83 %) 15 (3 %) 406 

684 4,321 617 5,622 

When the street children/youth were met during the snapshot survey they were 

interviewed briefly on age and were categorised within the 3-fold definition of: Street 

Living Children (SLC); Street Working Children (SWC); or Children of Street Living 

Families (SLF). The outcome is re-viewed in the table above showing a total of 12.2 

percent SLC, 76.9 percent SWC and 10.9 per-cent SLF. The general tendency identified 

across all locations is that the majority of street chil-dren/youth falls into the category 

of SWC, thus spending all or most of their time working on the streets to provide an 

income for their families or for themselves - but return to par-ents/caregivers home at 

night. Phnom Penh in particular has a high percentage of families living on the streets 

with their children, SLF, which can be partially explained by the ongoing evictions of 

poor people, migration and the relatively higher living costs in the city. Moreover, the 

number of SLC in Phnom Penh and Poipet stand out from the overall tendency. Similar 

analytical perspectives as to that of the SLF can be applied. 

Of the total number of SLC counted, 82 percent were male; 16 percent female; and 2 

percent transsexual. Of these 7 percent were under the age of 10; 16 percent between 

10 and 14; and 77 percent teenagers over 14 years. The figures identified in the 

snapshot survey shows a majority of the SLC being above 14 years. Moreover, the 

gender distribution within the SLC category reveals an outstanding number of males, 

CSCN 


27

eflecting the vulnerability of both young children and females living alone on the streets 

and the likelihood that they (females) will be channelled into forced labour or prostitution. 

Moreover, cultural patterns in Cambodia can explain the lack of acceptance of females 

living on the streets. 

Regarding the SWC there is almost an even male to female ratio at 57 percent and 

42 percent respectively. The age distribution is evenly spread over the three age 

categories: 29 percent were under the age of 10; 41 percent between 10 and 14; and 30 

percent teenagers over 14 years. The SLF male to female ratio unfolds similar trends at 

56 percent and 43 percent. How-ever, the number of children under the age of 10 living 

with their families on the street is no-ticeably higher than the other age categories at 44 

percent - against 26 percent between 10 and 14; and 30 percent over 14 years of age. 

A possible explanation of this trend could be the dependency relation between a young 

child and its parents, whereas older siblings of SLF might seek other livelihoods. 

CSCN 


FRAME III: QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY 

ANALYSIS OF THE CSCN PROFILE 2009 STATISTICAL OUTCOME 

The questionnaire survey 2009 is based on information collected on street children/ 

youth re-ceiving services at one of the CSCN centres within the period 1st of January 

2008 and 31st of December 2008. The method applied in the data analysis process 

of the survey is based on a multiple approach. Both the reviewed information from 

analytical frame I, the snapshot results from analytical frame II and the results of the 

2008 CSCN SCP are applied and compared in order to unfold feasible tendencies of the 

Cambodian street children/youth population. Moreover, specific analytical disparities 

have been consulted with the CSCN members. 

Overview of Questionnaire Distribution on Location/CSCN Member 2009 

DT KM KT MS WV MLT CCASVA TOTAL 

Phnom Penh 

Siem Reap 

Neak Loeung 

Sihanoukville 

Kampong Cham 

Poipet 

- - 286 706 30 - 23 1.045 

- 120 18 - - - - 138 

60 - - - - - - 60 

- - - - - 122 - 122 

- - - 67 - - - 67 

40 - 77 - - - - 117 

TOTAL 100 120 381 773 30 122 23 1.549 

A total number of 1.549 questionnaires were filled out by the CSCN member staff in 

the same six Cambodian locations as the snapshot survey. Of these Phnom Penh 

accounted for 67.5 percent, Siem Reap 8.9 percent, Sihanoukville 7.9 percent, Poipet 

CSCN 


29

7.5 percent, Kampong Cham 4.4 percent and Neak Loeung 3.8 percent. The distribution 

of questionnaires thus follows similar trends as the snapshot survey, with the majority of 

forms completed in Phnom Penh. 

General Findings of the Questionnaire Survey 2009 

This section, presenting the general findings of the questionnaire survey 2009, aims at 

analysing the results that are directly comparable to those of the snapshot survey and 

the questionnaire survey of the CSCN profile 2008. The analysis of the general findings 

will thus focus on the 3-fold categorisation of street children/youth, male to female ratio 

and gender distribution. Methodologically, this serves to cross check the accuracy of the 

data of the 2009 survey and observe annual changes. 

Total by Category 

7% 

12% 

50% 

SLC SWC SLF 

Of the total 1,549 questionnaires completed, 50 

percent (774) of the street children/youth felt into 

the category SWC; 31 percent (472) SLC; and 12 

percent (187) SLF. 7 percent did not provide any 

information or were categorised as young migrants 

31% 

or referral NGO. The detailed questionnaire survey 

thus points to a similar distribution of categories 

as in the questionnaire survey of the CSCN profile 

2008 (51 percent SWC; 32 percent SLC; 17 

percent SLF). However, there is a much higher 

No Info prevalence of SLC than identified in the snapshot 

survey (12.2 percent). One explanation for this outcome is the rela-tively higher number 

of questionnaires filled out in Phnom Penh (67.5 percent), where the SLC phenomenon 

is most prevalent, compared to the children/youth counted in the snapshot survey. Of 

the SLF there is statistical consent, meaning that the group of SWC of the questionnaire 

survey has decreased in proportion with the growth of the SLC group. 

Regarding the gender distribution of the street children/youth population addressed in 

the questionnaire survey, 70.8 percent (1096) were male, 29.1 percent (451) female 

and only 0.1 percent (1) transsexual. Distributed on each category the male to female 

CSCN 


atio for SLC are 84.5 percent (399) male and 15.5 percent (73) female – indicating 

similar trends as observed in the snapshot survey. For the SWC, 66.1 percent (511) are 

male and 33.9 percent (262) female, showing an increase of the male ratio. And finally 

for the SLF category, there is 66.3 percent (124) male and 33.7 percent (63) female, 

indicating a slightly increase of the male prevalence. 

The age distribution of the street children/youth 

participating in the CSCN questionnaire survey 

2009 has been divided into five groups. In the 

category between 0 to 5 years of age a total 

of 3 percent (41) were identified; 17 percent 

(269) were between 6 and 9; 33 percent (514) 

between 10 and 14; 22 percent (336) between 

15 and 18; and 23 percent (359) above the age 

of 18. 29 children/youth were not able to inform 

the CSCN social workers about their age, which 

Total Age Distribution 

2% 3% 

17% 

23% 

22% 

33% 

0-5 6-9 10-14 15-18 18+ No Info 

often occurs in the street population (cases where the birth of a child has not been 

registered or the personal documents have been lost / taken away). According to these 

figures, the majority of street children/youth are thus between the age of 10 to 14, 

closely followed by the 15-18 and 18+ category. The average age of the children/youth 

who responded to the question (1,520) was 14.3 years. The mode age, referring to the 

highest fre-quency, is 10 years, and the median age 14 years. 

To sum up, the CSCN questionnaire survey 2009 reveals that the major trend of the 

street chil-dren/youth participating are male, working on the streets and are in their midteenage 

years. What follows is a more in-depth presentation of the findings of the location 

specific question-naire survey. The data analysis is conducted by comparing this year’s 

result with the ones from last year, both the 2008 snapshot - and questionnaire survey. 

Moreover, the location specific results are compared to the 2009 average and draws on 

the information derived in the secon-dary data review of Frame I. Finally, each section 

is launched with an introduction to the specific location emphasising characteristics 

relevant to understand the analytical outcome. 

CSCN 


31

PHNOM PENH Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, has grown to become the centre of economic 

activi-ties, hence being the commercial, political and cultural hub of the country. 

Located on the banks of where the Tonlé Sap, Mekong and Bassac rivers meet, Phnom 

Penh has a population of around 2 million people, making it the most populous city in 

Cambodia. Like most other Asian cities, Phnom Penh is in the midst of rapid change, 

with double-digit economic growth rates in recent years triggering an economic boom. 

Consequently, the city has developed into the major migration destination in Cambodia, 

which is reflected in the relatively high numbers of children living and/or working in the 

streets. The negative impacts of the international economic crisis particularly hit Phnom 

Penh and according to ILO around 28,819 garment workers and 15,000 construction 

workers have been retrenched since early 2008. Accordingly, there has been an 

increase in the youth unemployment given that these sectors are primarily made up of 

workers between the ages of 15-24 years. 

The Phnom Penh questionnaire survey 2009 was conducted by the CSCN members 

Mith Sam-lanh (706), Krousar Thmey (286), World Vision (30) and CCASVA (23). A total 

of 1,045 question-naires were filled out about children/youth accessing their services. 

Of these 73.2 percent (765) were male, 26.7 percent (278) female, and 0.1 percent (1) 

transsexual. 

CSCN 


Children/Youth Registered by NGO – Phnom Penh 2009 

800 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

Transexual 

600 

511 

400 

200 

215 

194 

70 

0 0 1 

0 

0 

FI - Mith Samlanh - PP Krousar Thmey World Vision CCASVA 

Gender/Age Distribution of Children/Youth Registered – Phnom Penh 2009 

400 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

Transexual 

300 

200 

200 

279 

150 

100 

100 

22 

82 

67 

52 

52 

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 

Under 6 6 to 9 10 to 14 15 to 18 Over 18 No Info 

CSCN 


33

This graph illustrates the number of street children/youth registered in Phnom Penh 

in 2008 and does therefore not include the children registered earlier who were still 

receiving support in 2008. The questionnaire survey in Phnom Penh let to an interesting 

result regarding the age distribution with a majority of street children/youth over the 

age of 18. However, there is a feasible explanation for this tendency. Since most of the 

questionnaires were filled out by the CSCN member MS (67 percent), and MS being 

the only NGO in Phnom Penh offering services to the age group 18-24, it has become 

referral NGO – thus the place where older street youth are being directed. Moreover, 

according to the FI Safe Migration Program, there are a lot of migration cases of young 

people over 18 years, whose mission to seek new opportunities in the capital fails. For 

the remainder of the age groups, the distribution follows the same trend as the average 

of all locations, with a majority in the 10 to 14 category closely followed by the 15 to 18. 

The average age of the street children/youth in Phnom Penh is 15.2 years, one year 

higher than the total average. 

The gender distribution identified in the survey of the four CSCN NGOs is comparable 

to that of the total questionnaire survey with 73.2 percent male and 26.7 female. 

According to staff from MS, this can be seen as a reflection of the cultural tradition 

where females are expected to stay at home. Moreover, life on the streets entails higher 

risks for females and they are often being channelled into to the prostitution industry 

after staying short time on the streets. 

CSCN 


Breakdown of Street Children/Youth Cases by Category – Phnom Penh 2009 

500 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

Transexual 

400 

300 

352 

242 

200 

100 

113 

113 

59 

56 

0 0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

Street Living 

Children 

Street Working 

Children 

Street Living 

Families 

young migrants Referral NGO 

The data analysis based on the 3-fold distribution on street children/youth categories 

indicates changing trends compared to last year CSCN profile and to the general trend 

of this year. The questionnaire survey 2009 points to an increased number of children/ 

youth living in the streets, from 35 percent in 2008 to 43 percent in 2009, making the 

SLC the main category of street children/youth in Phnom Penh. The SWC has equally 

decreased from 47 percent in 2008 to 37 percent in 2009. The number of SLF has 

remained on the same level at 18 percent. Phnom Penh thus accounts for a SLC 

population more than 10 percent higher than the average of the CSCN survey. 

According to the CSCN members conducting the survey in Phnom Penh, the shift of 

categories is predominantly caused by the severe evictions taking place in the last 

couple of years. As stated in Frame I, 14,300 poor families have been evicted from 

2004-2008 to communities far from the city centre like And Hong. Removing the means 

of livelihood from these families has forced them to send children/youth to the streets 

in Phnom Penh to earn money. As a result of this, the children/youth live on the streets 

and only come back to the communities between twice a week and once a month. The 

economical crisis is another factor explaining the increase of SLC, and the intensification 

of street clean-ups initiated by the Cambodian Government. 

CSCN 


35

Origin of Families – Phnom Penh 2009 

300 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

Transexual 

200 

212 

100 

115 

80 

82 

79 

35 34 

39 

30 

36 

19 

24 

27 

23 19 18 15 10 

21 

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Phnom Penh 

Kandal 

Prey Veng 

Kampong Cham 

Takeo 

Svay Rieng 

Kampong Speu 

Kampong Chhnang 

Vietnam 

Battambang 

Banteay Meachey 

Kampong Thom 

Kampot 

Pursat 

Sihanoukville 

No Information 

Other 

Siem Reap 

The survey on original residence of the street children/youth, intended to provide 

information on the origins and degree of geographical mobility among the street 

population in Phnom Penh. From the provided answers collected by the CSCN 

members it has been possible to determine that a significant number of children/youth 

on the streets of Phnom Penh originated in other parts of the country, with the highest 

numbers coming from Kandal (14.8 percent), Prey Veng (11.1 percent) and Kampong 

Cham (10.4 percent). The majority, however, originate from Phnom Penh, comprising 

27.8 percent. The figures showing the province of origin of street children/youth in 

Phnom Penh are relatively consistent with the previous year’s survey. Kandal, due to its 

close proximity to the capital; Prey Veng, as it is a rural province regularly affected by 

droughts and floods thus generating migrations; and Kampong Cham, due to its highly 

populous and rural character. 

CSCN 

Another trend characterising the Phnom Penh survey on origin is the breadth of 

the source provinces, thus indicating the attraction of the capital as main migration 

destination in Cambo-dia. Since the survey of 2008, there has also been an increase in 

migrants from neighbouring countries, particularly from Vietnam (from 7 to 26 children/ 

youth). According to MS, the majority of these are injecting drug users in the Boeung 

Trabek and Phsar Touch Area. 


Reasons for Living and/or Working on the Streets – Phnom Penh 2009 

600 

500 

400 

300 

587 

200 

100 

208 

0 

193 190 

129 

48 

16 7 1 

PovertyUnemployment 

Migration 

DrugUse 

Friends 

FamilyIssues 

Orphan 

EnjoyStreetLife 

DivorceOrSeparatedParents 

ChildTrafficking 

NoInformation 

Poverty appears to be the main reason for why children/youth end up living or working 

on the streets – both in the location specific context of Phnom Penh, by comparing 

to last years results, and reflecting the general results of the CSCN questionnaire 

survey. Out of the total questionnaires in Phnom Penh, more than half of the children/ 

youth (56.2 percent) describe their situation as a consequence of poverty. Additionally, 

as poverty encourages the movement of people, a correlation which is identified in 

the graphs, the second most answered reason for working or living on the streets is 

migration (19.9 percent). According to the CSCN members in Phnom Penh, poverty as 

a consequence of unemployment has increased as several factories (particularly in the 

garment sector) have closed down – both due to the international financial crisis and 

because of competitive disadvantages compared to other countries in the region. 

86 

The abuse of drugs and other substances is the third most common reason for ending up 

on the streets at 18.5 percent – a trend that has more than tripled from the CSCN SCP 

2008. As revealed in analytical Frame I, a recent survey conducted by MS concludes 

that particularly the increased usage of ATS such as Yama has added to this trend. 

Of the total SLC population in Phnom Penh, the MS survey moreover finds that 41.8 

percent are using substances. 

CSCN 


37

Level of Education upon Arrival at the CSCN Centre – Phnom Penh 2009 

400 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

Transexual 

300 

231 

200 

100 

0 

83 

74 

82 

77 

49 

61 

39 

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Never 

been 

to 

school 

26 

35 

125 

The Phnom Penh questionnaire survey regarding educational levels reveals a severe 

disparity compared to the national enrolment and completion rates identified in Frame 

I. The graph illustrates the grade reached by street children/youth who have already 

attended school (grade 1 to 12). Of the children/youth above the age of 6, 26.7 percent 

have never been to school. This figure considerably differs from the national primary 

school net enrolment rate at 93.3 percent. Several factors serve to sustain this trend. 

According to the CSCN members in Phnom Penh, considerable numbers of street 

children/youth do not posses personal documents as they have not been registered 

in the first place or the documents have stayed in the source province from which they 

have migrated. In order to enrol in primary school, corruption money thus has to be paid, 

as non-registered children are not allowed to receive education. Such costs are enough 

of an incentive for the parents not to send their children to school. Other costs such as 

uniform, material and books are additional decisive factors. 

The completion rate of lower secondary education shows similar negative trends in the 

Phnom Penh street children/youth population. Although 549 youth were aged 15 and 

over, only 37 of them or 6.7 percent have managed to complete grade 9. Regarding 

higher secondary education, only 1.6 percent have completed grade 12. 

CSCN 


Time Spent on the Streets before Registration – Phnom Penh 2009 

300 

250 

66 

Category 

SLC 

SWC 

SLF 

YM 

NGO 

200 

150 

90 

100 

67 

67 

168 

65 

42 

50 31 

46 45 

24 

12 

30 37 32 18 18 

26 

0 0 0 1 0 5 0 0 6 

Under two Between Between One year Two years Three Over three No 

weeks two weeks two and six 

years years Information 

and one months 

month 

The trend regarding how long the children/youth spend on the streets before getting 

registered at one of the CSCN service centres in Phnom Penh points to a majority 

of less than one year. More precisely 47.8 percent of the children/youth spent less 

than one year, 22.5 percent spent one year or more, and 29.7 percent were not able 

to provide information on the matter. The fact that the children/youth spend relatively 

short periods of time on the streets consolidates the positive contributions of the CSCN 

outreach efforts. However, there appears to be a need to target the category of SLC 

spending more than one year on the streets. 

According to the CSCN members’ analysis, a feasible explanation of why one third of 

the chil-dren/youth were unable to provide any information is because a lot of them 

have difficulties evaluating the time that they have spent on the streets. A suggestion to 

overcome this meth-odological problem is to use event based time benchmarks such as 

the P’chum Ben or Chaul Chnam (Khmer New Year). 

CSCN 


39

People the Child/Youth Lived With – Phnom Penh 2009 

600 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

Transexual 

500 

400 

379 

300 

200 

226 

100 

157 

98 

0 0 

0 

0 

0 1 

Family or 

caregivers 

(adult) 

Peers (friends or 

brothers and 

sisters only) 

Alone 

Other No information 

61 

84 

The data analysis of the survey outcome regarding who the street children/youth live 

with exposed a rather interesting result. Despite that most of the children/youth in the 

Phnom Penh questionnaire survey were categorised as SLC, the majority stated to be 

living with their family. More precisely, of the total number of questionnaires filled out 

in Phnom Penh 51.4 percent responded that they were living with family or caregivers; 

11.7 percent were living with peers; 7 percent lived alone; and, finally, 29.9 percent 

were unable to provide the information. At a first glance this disparity imposed the need 

to review the validity of the data collected. However, looking into the new tendency 

of children/youth living on the streets momentarily as a result of the forced evictions 

validates the correlation. Moreover it explains the relatively high number of instances 

where no information was provided. 

According to the Phnom Penh CSCN members, another reason for the high number of 

instances where no information was provided is the emergence of the new category of 

young migrants at risk. The children/youth who fell into this category often never lived 

on the streets, but were referred directly to a supporting NGO by the one of the CSCN 

members outreach workers straight after their arrival in Phnom Penh. 

CSCN 


Work Undertaken by the Children/Youth – Phnom Penh 2009 

500 

400 

300 

462 

200 

246 

100 

202 

0 

Scavenger 

Beggar 

102 

CarPark 

100 

ConstructionWorker 

81 

ShoeShinner 

79 

Stealing 

51 

VendorSeller 

33 

Porter 

31 25 23 

Farmer 

FactoryWork 

HouseWorker 

18 

SexWorker 

3 

Sewing 

2 

CutTheGrass 

1 

Laundry 

0 

HandFance 

NoInformation 

Several street children/youth in Phnom Penh provided multiple answers to the question 

on what activities were undertaken on the streets in order to make a livelihood – thus 

working in more than one area. The most common work undertaken is scavenging, at 

44.3 percent of the total questionnaires, followed by begging at 23.5 percent. Activities 

such as working at a car park, construction work, shoe shining and stealing were other 

frequent answers, all at around 9-10 percent of the total. 

The trend identified in this years profile is a rather immense increase of both scavenging 

and begging activities comparing to the CSCN profile 2008 where these were at 27 

percent and 11 percent respectively. The number of street children/youth having to 

beg to provide an income has more than doubled in one year. The data analysis of the 

reasons why the children/youth end on the streets revealed an increase of poverty/ 

unemployment as the main cause. There is thus an analytical foundation indicating the 

correlation between the annual level of poverty and the activities the street children/ 

youth involve themselves in to make a living. This corresponds with the explanations 

attained from the CSCN members in Phnom Penh, who points to poverty, inflation and 

unemployment as the main reasons for the increased number of begging/scavenging 

street children/youth. 

CSCN 


41

Services Accessed by the Children/Youth – Phnom Penh 2009 

500 

400 

300 

474 

200 

397 

318 

315 

100 

0 

ResidentialCenter 

RemedialEducation 

MedicalServices 

VocationalTraining 

192 

DrugPrograms 

179 

DropInCenter 

136 

HivAidsServices 

85 

SupportToFamily 

85 

DirectReintegratio 

41 

NoInformatio 

CSCN 

The street children/youth participating in the questionnaire survey all received one or 

more service provided by the CSCN members. The majority answered that they have 

been staying at one of the residential centres in Phnom Penh (45.4 percent), followed 

by remedial education (38 percent), medical services (30.4 percent) and vocational 

training (30.1 percent). Despite remedial education (teaching skills aiming to reintegrate 

into public school) being the second most common service provided, there has been 

a decrease from 66 percent in the CSCN SCP 2008 to 38 percent in 2009. According 

to MS the age distribution of street children/youth in Phnom Penh with a majority in 

the 18+ category is a factor serving to explain this trend, as more emphasis is being 

placed on providing vocational training (technical training aiming to reintegrate into 

employment or self-employment), which has gone up from 25 to 30.1 percent in the 

same period. The outcome of the medical services provided indicates positive results 

with an immense decrease of health related problems as discussed in the previous 

section. The low number of responses providing no information moreover indicates that 

the CSCN programmes reach the target group. In the CSCN SCP last year 42 percent of 

the children/youth registered were directly reintegrated after a few days of counselling, 

however, this year only 8.1 percent. MS states that they have been more cautious of 

reintegrating the children/youth immediately as there is a higher risk that they will return 

to the streets if no capacity building services have been received. 


Summary: Main Findings of the PHNOM PENH Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Gender 

Distribution 

1,045 questionnaires were filled out in Phnom Penh. Of these, 

73.2 percent (765) were male, 26.7 percent (278) female, and 0.1 

percent (1) transsexual. 

Age Distribution 

The average age of the street children/youth in Phnom Penh is 

15.2 years. The majority are in the 18+ category. 

Street Children 

Category 

Divided in the 3-fold street children/youth categories, SLC 

accounted for 43 percent, SWC 37 percent and SLF 18 percent. 

Following the recent years land evictions a new sub-category of 

street living has appeared. These children are living alone on the 

streets but are going back on irregular basis to their home in the 

relocation sites outside of Phnom Penh”. 

Origin/Migration 

Majority originate from Phnom Penh, comprising 27.8 percent, 

followed by the provinces Kandal (14.8 percent), Prey Veng (11.1 

percent) and Kampong Cham (10.4 percent). 

Reason 

for Street Life 

The three major reasons for living on the streets are poverty at 

56.2 percent, migration at 19.9 percent and substance abuse at 

18.5 percent. 

Education 

Of the street children/youth above the age of 6, 26.7 percent 

have never been to school. Of those 15+, only 6.7 percent have 

completed grade 9, and 1.6 percent grade 12. 

Pre-Registration 

Time 

The time spent on the streets before reintegration revealed that 

47.8 percent of the children/youth spent less than one year, 22.5 

percent spent one year or more, and 29.7 percent were not able 

to provide information. 

Lived With 

51.4 percent responded that they were living with family or 

caregivers; 11.7 percent were living with peers; 7 percent lived 

alone; and, finally, 29.9 percent were unable to provide the 

information. 

CSCN 


43

Work 

Undertaken 

The most common work undertaken is Scavenging at 44.3 

percent, followed by Begging at 23.5 percent. Car park, 

Construction Work, Shoe Shiner and Stealing were all at around 

9-10 percent of the total. 

Main Problems 

Most problems faced by the Phnom Penh street children/youth 

popula-tion were related to either Bong Thom (27.8 percent) or 

Drugs (25.6 percent). 

Services 

Accessed 

The majority of the street children/youth have been staying at 

one of the Residential Centres in Phnom Penh (45.4 percent), 

followed by Remedial Education (38 percent), Medical Services 

(30.4 percent) and Vocational Training (30.1 percent). 

CSCN 


SIEM REAP Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Over the last few years there have been pockets of growth and economic development 

in Cambodia - one of these being Siem Reap town located in north-western Cambodia. 

The town is situated on the north-east edge of the largest fresh water lake in South East 

Asia, Tonle Sap Lake. Due to its close proximity to the Angkor Wat temple complex, Siem 

Reap town has developed into the major tourism centre of Cambodia. Moreover, as the 

infrastructure in Cambodia has improved during the last decade, the number of tourists 

visiting the town has increased exponentially. This influx of visitors has transformed the 

town into a booming tourism centre and there is an emergence of a new middle class 

of Cambodians who are starting to have disposable income available to spend at local 

businesses. However, an economy narrowly focused on tourism makes it vulnerable to 

sudden changes such as the international economic crisis. The surrounding province of 

Siem Reap remains one of the poorer areas in Cambodia, making Siem Reap town the 

key domestic migration destination of this region. 

The Siem Reap questionnaire survey 2009 was conducted by the CSCN members 

Kaliyan Mith and Krousar Thmey. A total of 138 questionnaires were filled out about 

children/youth accessing their services. Of these 73 percent (100) were male and 27 

percent (38) female. 

CSCN 


45

Children/Youth Registered by NGO - Siem Reap 2009 

120 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

100 

80 

88 

60 

40 

20 

0 

32 

FI - Koliyan Mith 

12 

6 

Krousar Thmey 

Gender/Age Distribution of Children/Youth Registered – Siem Reap 2009 

60 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

50 

40 

43 

30 

33 

20 

10 

9 

14 

12 

12 

7 

6 

0 1 

6 to 9 

10 to 14 15 to 18 Over 18 No Info 

CSCN 


The gender/age distribution graph only illustrates the number of street children/youth 

regis-tered in the Siem Reap CSCN centres in 2008 and does therefore not include 

children/youth registered before this year but still receiving support while the survey 

was conducted. The questionnaire survey in Siem Reap revealed a similar tendency 

comparing to last year’s result regarding the distribution of age, with a majority of street 

children/youth in the 10 to 14 age category (39.8 percent) closely followed by the 15 to 

18 category (32.5 percent). The average age of the street children/youth in Siem Reap 

is 14.2 years – the age distribution based on category and average thus follows the 

same trend as the average of the six Cambodian locations. 

The gender distribution identified in the Siem Reap survey is in line with that of the total 

ques-tionnaire survey with 72.5 percent male and 27.5 female. However, the male to 

female ratio diverges from the Siem Reap snapshot survey results where a majority 

(57.5 percent) were female. 

Breakdown of Street Children/Youth Cases by Category – Siem Reap 2009 

100 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

80 

60 

69 

40 

20 

29 

23 

0 


7 

Street Living Children 

1 

Street Living Families 

CSCN 


47

The Siem Reap data analysis, based on the 3-fold distribution of street children/youth 

catego-ries, indicates changing trends compared to last year’s CSCN profile and to 

the general trend of this year. The questionnaire survey 2009 points to an increasing 

number of children/youth living in the streets from 12 percent in 2008 to 21.7 percent in 

2009. The categories of SWC and SLF have equally decreased from 75 percent in 2008 

to 71 percent in 2009, and from 13 percent in 2008 to 5 percent this year respectively. 

Despite having a SLC population accounting for around ten percent less than the total 

average, the Siem Reap street children/youth population follow the general changing 

tendency, with more children/youth living on the streets – similar to the results revealed 

in the Phnom Penh analysis. 

According to the CSCN members conducting the survey in Siem Reap, the shift of 

categories is predominantly caused by the change of services provided as the CSCN 

organisations increasingly target SLC. Consequently more SLC have been registered, 

not necessarily meaning an increase of children living on the streets. However, there 

has been a general economic slowdown in Siem Reap caused by the financial crisis. 

This factor inevitably has affected the number of tourists visiting Angkor Wat and Siem 

Reap and thus the means of livelihood for several families. 

CSCN 


Origin of Families – Siem Reap 2009 

100 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

80 

60 

69 

40 

20 

23 

10 

0 

Siem Reap 

5 

Kampong Cham 

2 


1 

Battambang 

0 1 2 0 0 0 0 

Thailand 

Phnom Penh 

Pursat 

Kampot 

Sihanoukville 

Svay Rieng 

Takeo 

4 

Other 

The survey on original residence of the street children/youth, intended to provide 


population in Siem Reap. From the provided answers collected by the two CSCN 

members it has been possible to deter-mine that the majority of the street children/ 

youth originated from Siem Reap at 66.7 percent – an increase from 56 percent in 2007. 

The major domestic migration source provinces were Kampong Cham at 10.9 percent, 

Banteay Meanchey at 5.1 percent and Battambang at 2.9 per-cent. The figures showing 

the province of origin of street children/youth in Siem Reap are rela-tively consistent with 

the previous year’s survey. 2.9 percent of the street children/youth came from Bangkok, 

but these children were Cambodian who migrated to Thailand before returning to Siem 

Reap. 

The migration trends identified in the Siem Reap survey thus indicate a rather limited 

migrant population, which moreover corresponds with the CSCN members’ effort to 

provide information on safe ways to migrate and to redirect young migrants to their 

destination of origin. 

CSCN 


49

Reasons for Living and/or Working on the Streets – Siem Reap 2009 

120 

100 

80 

60 

111 

40 

20 

0 


42 

31 

27 

12 11 10 

5 2 4 


DrugUse 


Orphan 

FamilyIssues 


Migration 

Analysing the data, poverty appears to be the main reason for why children/youth end 

up living or working on the streets – both in the location specific context of Siem Reap, 

by comparing to last years results, and reflecting the general results of the CSCN 

questionnaire survey. Out of the total questionnaires in Siem Reap 80.4 percent of the 

street children/youth explain their situation as a consequence of poverty, an increase 

from 50 percent in last years’ CSCN profile. Additionally, as poverty encourages the 

movement of people, a correlation which is identified in graphs, the second most 

answered reason for working or living on the streets is migration (30.4 percent). According 

to the CSCN members in Siem Reap, poverty as a consequence of unemployment 

has increased as a result of the general economic downturn in Cambodia leaving an 

increasing number of people without job opportunities. Moreover, the tourism industry 

has experienced a decreasing number of visitors to the area. Other frequent reasons 

for street life in Siem Reap are related to familiarly issues. A remarkably low number 

of the street children/youth population in Siem Reap indicated that the use of drugs or 

other substances were the reason for them living on the streets. This suggests that 

substance abuse is primarily an urban phenomenon, given the accessibility of drugs in 

a large city. 


NoInformation 

CSCN 


Level of Education upon Arrival at the CSCN Centre – Siem Reap 2009 

30 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

25 

20 

17 

22 

15 

15 

18 

10 

5 

0 

7 

1 

4 

2 

10 

3 

8 

0 

4 

7 

2 

5 

8 

2 

6 

0 

7 

3 

3 

8 

1 

12 

8 

Have 

never 

been to 

school 

The Siem Reap questionnaire results regarding educational levels reveal a severe 

disparity compared to the national enrolment and completion rates identified in Frame I. 

The graph illustrates the grade reached by street children/youth who already attended 

school (grade 1 to 12). Of the children/youth above the age of 6, 77.5 percent of the street 

children/youth have attended school. Though a minor decline is identified compared to 

last years’ result, this figure considerably differs from the national primary school net 

enrolment rate at 93.3 percent. Several factors serve to sustain this trend. According 

to the CSCN members in Siem Reap the main obstacle for parents to send their child 

to school are the additional costs this may lead to in terms of uniform, materials and 

books. Moreover, the fact that the child is unable to provide an income for the family 

while attending school is an additional decisive factor. 

According to the survey there appears to be a positive trend regarding the number 

of enrol-ments in primary school, potentially reflecting the efforts put forward by the 

Cambodian gov-ernment to achieve the universal primary education goals set out in 

the UN MDGs. However, despite the average age of the Siem Reap street children/youth 

being 14.2 years of age, the average grade completion rate is only 3.3 years (not including 

the children/youth that never went to school) – indicating the need to not just focus on the 

enrolment rate but also the com-pletion rate of the Cambodian educational system. 

CSCN 


51

Time Spent on the Streets before Registration – Siem Reap 2009 

80 

11 

Category 

SLC 

SWC 

SLF 

60 

40 

61 

20 

7 

4 

14 

3 

11 

2 

0 0 

0 

3 

4 

0 0 

0 

Under two 

Between One year Two years Three years 

weeks 

two and six 

months 

Between 

two weeks 

and one 

month 

Over three 

years 

The analysis of how long the children/youth spend on the streets before getting 

registered at one of the CSCN service centres in Siem Reap points to a majority of 

one year or less. More precisely, 74.6 percent of the children/youth spent less than one 

year and 21.7 percent spent one year or more with very limited cases in the 2+ year 

category. Comparing this result to the previous year’s profile reveals a decrease in the 

number of children/youth who spend one year or more on the streets (from 39 percent). 

This positive trend consolidates the impact of the CSCN outreach efforts in Siem Reap 

to reintegrate the street children/youth. 

CSCN 


People the Child/Youth Lived With – Siem Reap 2009 

120 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

100 

80 

60 

77 

40 

20 

27 11 

0 

Family or caregivers 

( adults) 

1 


brothers and sisters 

only) 

1 

Alone 

9 

No information 

In Siem Reap the majority (75 percent) of the street children/youth live with family or 

caregiv-ers, a tendency which corresponds with the predominant emergence of children/ 

youth in the SWC category. This indicates a similar tendency when comparing to last 

years result. Regarding the number of children/youth who live with peers, there has 

been a severe decline in this category from 22 percent in 2008 to 7.2 percent in 2009. 

However, there appears to be an equivalent increase in the category no information 

from none to 14.5 percent. Comparing this change with the outcome of the Phnom Penh 

data analysis, there has been a similar increase in the number of children/youth unable 

to provide the information on who they live with. 

CSCN 


53

Work Undertaken by the Children/Youth – Siem Reap 2009 

100 

80 

60 

93 

40 

20 

39 

0 

Scavenger 

Beggar 

18 


15 

VendorSeller 

6 

Farmer 

6 

Stealing 

5 4 2 2 2 1 1 

Sewing 

Laundry 

SexWorker 

FactoryWork 

CarPark 

Porter 

HouseWorker 

1 

ShoeShinner 

7 

NoInformation 

Several street children/youth in Siem Reap provided multiple answers to the question 

of what activities were undertaken on the streets in order to make a livelihood – thus 

working in more than one area. The most common work undertaken is scavenging at 

67.4 percent of the total questionnaires, followed by begging at 28.3 percent. Activities 

evolving around street vending or construction work were other frequent answers at 

10.9 percent and 13 percent respectively. Comparing the trends of this years’ Siem 

Reap questionnaire survey to last year there has been a small decrease of children/ 

youth engaging in scavenging activities from 75 percent in 2008 to 67.4 percent in 

2009. A similar tendency applies for begging activities. However, from a methodological 

perspective, it is necessary to be a bit cautious when making such comparative analysis 

between the two years as this years’ survey entailed more possible answers to the 

street activity question. However, there appears to be statistical equivalence between 

the two years. 

It has been well established that in addition the large number of tourists visiting Siem 

Reap and the Angkor temple complex, the local sex tourism industry has also been 

developing at a similar rate. Conversely, the data analysis shows that only 1.4 percent 

of the street children/youth are sex workers. Analysing this tendency, it appears that most 

sex workers are outside the target group of this report. However, it is necessary to keep in 

view the stigma associated with sexual topics which might impact on the survey outcome. 

CSCN 


Main Problems Faced on the Streets – Siem Reap 2009 

70 

60 

50 

40 

70 

30 

58 

20 

10 

0 

HealthProblems 

21 

BongThom 

18 17 

RoadAccident 

Violence 

14 

12 

PrisonDetentionExperience 

DrugProblems 

4 

BloodSelling 

1 

SexSelling 

NoInformation 

One category of street related problems – health - particularly stands out when analysing 

the Siem Reap data. In this year’s CSCN profile health related issues accounted for 42 

percent com-paring to only 13 percent last year. Consulting the CSCN members in Siem 

Reap they explain this change due to polluted water in the river. As a consequence, 

health problems such as skin infections and the transmission of typhoid have occurred. 

Another factor determining this result is an outburst of dengue fever in the region. The 

second most frequent answer was related to Bong Thom at 15.2 percent, thus only 

indicating a minor increase from last years’ result from 13 percent. On the positive side, 

less street children/youth in Siem Reap appear to experience violence while being on 

the streets, with a decreasing figure from 18.3 percent in 2008 to 12.3 percent in 2009. 

Another interesting result is the number of street children/youth who have experienced 

prison detention, with an increase from only 1 percent in 2008 to 10.1 percent in 2009. 

Elaborating on this data, there appears to be a correlation with the increasing cases 

of incarcerations of ‘undesirable’ people (amongst these street children) initiated by 

the Cambodian government in recent years as revealed in the legal issues section of 

Frame I. 

CSCN 


55

Services Accessed by the Children/Youth – Siem Reap 2009 

140 

120 

100 

80 

60 

129 

40 

80 

78 

70 

66 

20 

44 

38 

10 8 

0 1 


DrugPrograms 


DropInCenter 



more service provided by the Siem Reap CSCN members. The majority answered that 

they have been receiving medical services (93.5 percent), followed by drug programs 

(58 percent), HIV/AIDS services (56.5 percent), drop in centre (50.7 percent) and 

residential centre (47.8 percent). Elaborating on this survey outcome indicates a 

general broad service coverage provided by the Siem Reap CSCN members. With the 

exception of medical services, the rest of the major services provided follow a similar 

trend as found in the 2008 profile. As a response to the increasing health problems 

identified in the previous graph, health services are being provided to almost all of the 

street children/youth in Siem Reap. 




DirectReintegration 

NoInformation 

The drug programs, being the second most offered service, appears to have a positive 

preven-tive effect when comparing to the low drug usage among the street children/ 

youth in Siem Reap revealed in the previous graph analysis. 

CSCN 


Summary: Main Findings of the SIEM REAP Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Gender 

Distribution 

138 questionnaires were filled out in Siem Reap. Of these, 73 

percent (100) were male and 27 percent (38) female. 


The average age of the street children/youth in Siem Reap is 

14.2 years. The majority are in the 10 to 14 years category (39.8 

percent). 


Category 


accounted for 21.7 percent, SWC 71 percent and SLF 5 

percent. 


Majority originate from Siem Reap, comprising 66.7 percent, 

followed by the provinces Kampong Cham (10.9 percent), 

Banteay Meanchey (5.1 percent) and Battambang (2.9 percent). 

Reason 


The major reasons for children/youth living on the streets in Siem 

Reap are poverty at 80.4 percent and migration at 30.4 percent. 

Only 7.2 percent answered substance abuse. 

Education 


have never been to school. Despite the average age of the Siem 

Reap street children/youth being 14.2 years of age, the average 

grade completion rate is only 3.3 years. 


Time 


74.6 percent of the Siem Reap children/youth spent less than 

one year, 21.7 percent spent one year or more. 

Lived With 

In Siem Reap, 75 percent responded that they were living with 

family or caregivers; 7.2 percent were living with peers; 2.9 

percent lived alone; and, finally, 14.5 percent were unable to 

provide the information. 

CSCN 


57

Work 

Undertaken 


percent, followed by Begging at 28.3 percent. Street vending or 

construction work were other frequent answers at 10.9 percent 

and 13 percent respectively. 

Main Problems 

Most problems faced by the Siem Reap street children/youth 

population were related to Health Problems (42 percent), Bong 

Thom (15.2 percent) and Violence (12.3 percent). The number 

who experienced prison detention increased from 1 percent last 

year to 10.1 percent. 

Services 

Accessed 

The majority of the street children/youth have been receiving 

medical services (93.5 percent), drug programs (58 percent), 

HIV/AIDS services (56.5 percent), drop in centre (50.7 percent) 

and residential centre (47.8 percent). 

CSCN 


NEAK LOEUNG Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Neak Loeung town, Prey Veng province, is located about 70 kilometres south east 

of Phnom Penh. Being in near proximity to the eastern side of the Mekong River, it 

moreover constitutes the main Mekong crossing point between Vietnam and Cambodia. 

For this reason, the town attracts several rural people living in either Prey Veng or Svay 

Rieng province – among the poorest provinces in Cambodia. Poverty, unemployment, 

malnutrition and lack of education are therefore widespread in the region. Additionally, 

the town is annually hit by flooding and droughts. Taking both the geographical, climate 

and demographic conditions into consideration, Neak Loeung remains a transit hub of 

families or single children either looking for additional daily income or waiting to migrate 

to Phnom Penh. 

The Neak Loeung questionnaire survey 2009 was conducted by the CSCN member 

Damnok Toek (Goutte d’Eau). A total of 60 questionnaires were filled out about children/ 

youth accessing their services. Of these 45 percent (27) were male, and 55 percent 

(33) female. 

Children/Youth Registered by NGO – Neak Loeung 2009 

60 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

50 

27 

40 

30 

20 

33 

10 

0 

Goutte d’Eau - Neak Loeung 


CSCN 

59

Gender/Age Distribution of Children/Youth Registered – Neak Loeung 2009 

25 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

20 

10 

15 

12 

10 

4 

14 

5 

10 

7 

1 

0 

6 to 9 

10 to 14 

15 to 18 

2 

No Info 

The data analysis illustrated on the graph shows the number of street children/youth 

registered in Neak Loeung in 2008 and does therefore not include the children/youth 

registered in the years before and still receiving support in 2008. The questionnaire 

survey in Neak Loeung revealed a similar tendency compared to last year’s result 

regarding the distribution of age, with the majority of street children/youth in the 10 to 14 

age category (40 percent), closely followed by the 6 to 9 age category (36.7 percent). 

The 15 to 18 category accounted for 18.3 percent and 5 percent of the street children/ 

youth were not able to inform about their age. The average age of the street children/ 

youth in Neak Loeung is only 10.9 years, the lowest of all the Cambodian CSCN 

survey locations, being more than 3 years under the total average. However, the age 

distribution based on category follows the same trend as the average with a majority in 

the 10 to 14 category. 

Moreover, the gender distribution identified in the Neak Loeung survey also shows a diverging 

result from the general survey with a majority of female street children/youth at 55 percent 

compared to 45 percent male. This indicates a similar gender distribution comparing to last 

years questionnaire survey. However, the 2008 snapshot results emphasised this tendency 

further with only 190 male out of the 518 street children/youth counted (36.7 percent). 

CSCN 


Breakdown of Street Children/Youth Cases by Category – Neak Loeung 2009 

60 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

50 

40 

23 

30 

20 

30 

10 

0 


4 

2 

Street Living Families 

The Neak Loeung data analysis based on the 3-fold distribution on street children/youth 

categories indicates a similar distribution compared to last years CSCN profile, with the 

majority of children/youth working in the streets. The questionnaire survey 2009 points 

to 89.8 percent of the children/youth working in the streets, making SWC the main 

category in Neak Loeung. This year the SLF category accounted for 10 percent and 

none of the children/youth were living on the streets, but were returning to caregivers at 

night. Comparing the SLF category to last years survey, there has been a remarkable 

decrease in the number of families living in the streets, from 47 percent in 2008 to only 

10 percent in 2009. The rather limited number of both SLC and SLF differs from the 

average of the CSCN survey. 

Analysing the results against the 2008 snapshot results a similar distribution on street 

chil-dren/youth categories is identified. According to Damnok Toek (Goutte d’Eau), the 

CSCN member conducting the survey in Neak Loeung, the main cause of the relatively 

small SLC and SLF categories is the ‘cleaning up’ of the streets initiated by the local 

authorities. As a result, the majority of the street population in Neak Loeung are working 

children/youth, as the others are kept in detention or other forms of incarceration. 

CSCN 


61

Origin of Families – Neak Loeung 2009 

60 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

50 

40 

22 

30 

20 

31 

10 

0 

Prey Veng 

5 

0 


1 

Kampot 

1 

Phnom Penh 

The survey on the original residence of the street children/youth intended to provide 

informa-tion on the origins and degree of geographical mobility among the street 

population in Neak Loeung. From the provided answers collected by the CSCN member 

Damnok Toek (Goutte d’Eau), the data reveals a very limited number of the street 

children/youth who originated in other parts of the country – a reverse trend compared to 

most of the other questionnaire survey locations. The majority thus originate from Prey 

Veng province, comprising 88.3 percent. The second most common source province is 

Banteay Meanchey at 8.3 percent. The figures showing the province of origin of street 

children/youth in Neak Loeung are consistent with the previous year’s survey. 

Elaborating on the migration trend identified in the survey, the general demographic 

and eco-nomic characteristics in Neak Loeung province serve to explain why it is not 

an attractive migra-tion destination. Moreover, Neak Loeung is more of a transit hub of 

people waiting to migrate to Phnom Penh rather than a destination in itself. 

CSCN 


Reasons for Living and/or Working on the Streets – Neak Loeung 2009 

60 

50 

40 

30 

52 

20 

10 

11 

3 

0 

3 

2 

1 

Poverty FamilyIssues Friends Orphan Migration NoInformation 

Unemployment 


up living or working on the streets – both in the location specific context of Neak Loeung, 


questionnaire survey. Out of the total questionnaires in Neak Loeung 86.7 percent of 

the street children/youth explain their situation as a consequence of poverty. Compared 

to last year’s CSCN profile this indicates an increase from 2008, where only 61 percent 

of the street children/youth related their situation to poverty. The second most answered 

reason for working or living on the streets is family issues at 18.3 percent. Less profound 

reasons are friends and being orphaned both at 5 percent. 

The data analysis reveals an interesting result regarding migration comparing to the 

other CSCN survey locations. In the other analyses there appear to be a correlation 

between poverty and migration as main reasons for street life; in Neak Loeung, despite 

being a migration transit hub, only 3.3 percent of the street children/youth population 

explain their situation as a consequence of migration. 

CSCN 


63

Level of Education upon Arrival at the CSCN Centre – Neak Loeung 2009 

40 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

30 

18 

20 

10 

19 

6 

0 

1 

5 

2 

1 

3 

1 

4 

2 

5 

1 

6 

1 

7 

2 

2 

Have 

never 

been to 

school 

The Neak Loeung questionnaire results regarding school enrolment and educational 

levels revealed a positive trend when compared to the national enrolment and 

completion rates identified in Frame I. The bar graph illustrates the grade reached by 

street children/youth who already attended school (grade 1 to 12). Of the street children/ 

youth above the age of 6, 93.3 percent of them have attended school - exactly matching 

the national primary school net enrolment rate. Moreover, the data analysis illustrates a 

positive trend regarding enrolments in primary school and especially in grade 1 and 2, 

potentially reflecting the efforts put forward by the Cambodian government to achieve 

the universal primary education goals set out in the UN MDGs. However, the average 

grade completion rate is only 1.6 years (excluding the children/youth that never went to 

school). Despite the fact that the Neak Loeung street children/youth population have the 

lowest average age of the CSCN survey, this still indicates the need to not just focus on 

the enrolment rate but also the completion rate. 

Consequently, the completion rate of lower secondary education shows a negative 

trend in the Neak Loeung street children/youth population. Although 18.3 percent were 

aged 15 or above none of them have managed to complete grade 9, only one has 

completed grade 7, 6 and 5. 

CSCN 


Time Spent on the Streets before Registration – Neak Loeung 2009 

30 

Category 

SWC 

SLF 

20 

SWC 

10 

SWC 

SWC 

SWC 

0 SLF SLF 

Between 

two weeks 

and one 

month 

Between 

two and six 

months 

One year 

SLF 

Two years 

SWC 

SLF 

Three years 

SWC 

SLF 

Over three 

years 

SLF 

No 

Information 


registered at the Damnok Toek (Goutte d’Eau) service centre in Neak Loeung points 

to a notable result, with a majority of the children/youth spending around one year on 

the streets before reintegration. The general result of the data analysis reveals that 8.3 

percent of the children/youth spent less than one year, 80 percent spent one year or 

more, and 11.7 percent were not able to provide information on the matter. The fact 

that the children/youth spend relatively long periods of time on the streets indicates a 

persistent need for them to provide an income for their families, given that the majority 

of them are SWC. 

Comparing the result to last year’s survey there has been an increase in the percentage 

of children/youth who spend more than one year on the streets, from 34 percent as 

identified in the SCP 2008 to 80 percent this year. This result reflects a general need to 

target the street children/youth population in Neak Loeung. 

CSCN 


65

People the Child/Youth Lived With – Neak Loeung 2009 

50 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

40 

22 

30 

20 

26 

10 

1 

6 

4 

0 

Family or caregivers ( adults) 

1 

Peers (friends or brothers 

and sisters only) 


The analysis of data regarding who the street children/youth live with exposed a rather 

interesting result in Neak Loeung as the majority of the children/youth were not able 

to provide this information, more precisely 80 percent of them. Of the total number of 

questionnaires filled out in Neak Loeung, 11.7 percent responded that they were living 

with family or caregivers and 8.3 percent that they were living with peers. Compared 

to last years’ CSCN profile, 83 percent answered that they were living with family or 

caregivers in 2008. None of the children/youth in the Neak Loeung questionnaire survey 

answered that they were living alone; this validates the data collected on category, 

where none of them were categorised as SLC. 

The most striking result of this survey is thus the high prevalence of no information 

provided. Assumedly, the questionnaire survey would have revealed a much higher 

number of chil-dren/youth living with family or caregivers as 89.8 percent felt into the 

SWC category, meaning that they would return to family or caregivers at night. However, 

the remaining number of SWC might be found among the 80 percent who were not able 

to provide any information on who they lived with. The fluctuating lifestyle of street 

populations in general, might be the explanation for why it is difficult to provide just one 

answer to the question. 

CSCN 


Work Undertaken by the Children/Youth – Neak Loeung 2009 

50 

40 

30 

49 

20 

10 

19 

0 

6 

5 

3 2 2 

2 

2 

1 

1 

2 

Beggar 

Farmer 

Laundry 

Stealing 

CarPark 

Porter 

Scavenger 

VendorSeller 

CutTheGras 

HouseWorker 

FactoryWork 

NoInformation 

Most of the street children/youth in Neak Loeung provided multiple answers to the 

question of what activities were undertaken on the streets so as to make a livelihood – 

thus working in more than one area. The most common work undertaken is scavenging 

at 81.7 percent of the total questionnaires, followed by begging at 31.7 percent. Activities 

revolving around vend-ing/selling were other frequent answers at 10 percent. The trend 

identified in this year’s profile reveals a rather immense increase of both scavenging 

and begging activities compared to the CSCN profile 2008, where these were at 46.1 

percent and 7.8 percent respectively. 

Regarding the tendency for vending/selling activities in Neak Loeung, there has been a 

decrease from 20 percent in the 2008 CSCN profile to 10 percent this year. In the 2008 

CSCN profile, the relatively high number of street children engaging in vending activities 

compared to other provinces was explained by the flow of people in transit through 

Neak Loeung due to the ferry crossing. It appears that this year vending/selling activities 

have been replaced by begging. According to CSCN member Damnok Toek (Goutte 

d’Eau), begging had become the most rewarding source of income especially with a 

growing number of buses and vehicles passing through from/to Vietnam. Begging is 

not only a growing phenomenon among street children/youth in Neak Loeung, but also 

among elderly and disabled people. Finally, another trend that characterises the street 

life in Neak Loeung is the breadth of activities that the street children/youth engage in 

to make a livelihood. 

CSCN 


67

Main Problems Faced on the Streets – Neak Loeung 2009 

30 

20 

29 

10 

18 

0 

11 

Violence 

10 


8 

5 

DrugProblems 

3 


BongThom 

RoadAccident 

NoInformation 

Most problems faced by the Neak Loeung street children/youth population were related 

to Bong Thom (30 percent), violence (18.3 percent), health (16.7 percent) and road 

accidents (13.3 percent). However, just under half of the street children/youth (48.3 

percent) in Neak Loeung were not able to provide any information on the problems they 

were faced with on the streets. 

As the results on the main problems faced on the street from last year’s CSCN survey 

have not been published it is not possible to conduct a comparative analysis of the two 

years. 

CSCN 


Services Accessed by the Children/Youth – Neak Loeung 2009 

60 

50 

40 

30 

52 

20 

10 

0 

7 


6 


6 


2 

2 

1 

NoInformation14 

DropInCenter 

DrugPrograms 


The Neak Loeung street children/youth participating in the questionnaire survey all 

received one or more service provided by Damnok Toek (Goutte d’Eau). However, the 

majority of the children/youth were not able to provide any information on the matter 

(86.6 percent). The service centre of Damnok Toek (Goutte d’Eau) is the only one in 

Neak Loeung and functions as a day drop-in and residential center providing vocational 

training, health and day care. The majority, 11.7 percent, answered that they have been 

staying at the residential centre, closely followed by vocational training and medical 

services, both at 10 percent. 

In the last year’s survey, 85 percent of the street children/youth mentioned receiving 

remedial education services to prepare the reintegration into public school, this year 

none of the chil-dren/youth mentioned remedial education. Regarding vocational 

training which aims to reinte-grate youth into employment in the regular labour market 

or self-employment, there has been a decrease from 25 percent in the SCP 2008 to only 

10 percent this year. 

CSCN 


69

Summary: Main Findings of the NEAK LOEUNG Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Gender 

Distribution 

60 questionnaires were filled out in Neak Loeung. Of these, 45 



The average age of the street children/youth in Neak Loeung is 

10.9 years. The majority are in the 10 to 14 years category. 


Category 


accounted for 0 percent, SWC 89.8 percent and SLF 10.2 

percent. 

Origin/Migration Majority originate from Prey Veng province comprising 88.3 

percent. The second most common source province is Banteay 

Meanchey at 8.3 percent. Generally low migration rate. 

Reason 


The two major reasons for living on the streets are poverty at 

86.7 percent and family issues at 18.3 percent. Less profound 

reasons are friends and being orphaned, both at 5 percent. 

Education 


have never been to school. Of those 15+, none of the children/ 

youth have completed grade 9. Despite the low average age, the 

average grade completion rate is only 1.6 years. 


Time 

The time spent on the streets before reintegration revealed 

8.3 percent of the children/youth spent less than one year, 80 



Lived With 

I11.7 percent responded that they were living with family or 

caregivers; 8.3 percent that they were living with peers; 0 percent 

lived alone; and, finally, 80 percent were unable to provide the 

information. 

CSCN 


Work 

Undertaken 


percent, followed by Begging at 31.7 percent. Activities evolving 

around vend-ing/selling were other frequent answers at 10 

percent. 

Main Problems 

Most problems faced by the Neak Loeung street children/youth 

popula-tion were related to Bong Thom (30 percent), violence 

(18.3 percent) and health (16.7 percent). Half of the street 

children/youth (48.3 percent) were not able to provide any 

information. 

Services 

Accessed 

The majority of the street children/youth have been staying at 

one of the Residential Centres in Neak Loeung (11.7 percent), 

followed by vocational training and medical services both at 

10 percent. 86.6 percent of the children/youth were not able to 

provide any information. 

CSCN 


71

SIHANOUKVILLE Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Sihanoukville, the third largest city in Cambodia, is located on the coast 185 

kilometres south-west of Phnom Penh by the Gulf of Thailand. The economy of this 

growing Cambodian urban location centres on its port for import and exports to the 

national economy. Additionally, a fast growing tourism industry has helped to improve 

infrastructures and construction in general in Sihanoukville and its province, with the 

help of both foreign and national investments. As the number of tourists coming to 

Sihanoukville has risen, so has the number of migrants with no-tions of prosperity. 

However, these are often met by high unemployment rates and few housing options, 

increasing the risk of children having to either live or work on the streets. Adding to this 

problem, widespread land evictions in wider Sihanoukville have left several hundred 

poor families both home - and landless. 

The Sihanoukville questionnaire survey 2009 was conducted by the CSCN member 

M’Lop Tapang. A total of 122 questionnaires were filled out about children/youth attending 

their ser-vices. Of these 59 percent (72) were male and 41 percent (50) female. 

Children/Youth Registered by NGO – Sihanoukville 2009 

120 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

100 

80 

72 

60 

40 

20 

50 

CSCN 

0 

M’lopTapang 


Gender/Age Distribution of Children/Youth Registered – Sihanoukville 2009 

60 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

50 

40 

32 

30 

17 

20 

21 

10 

23 

20 

7 

0 

0 

Under 6 

6 to 9 

10 to 14 

15 to 18 

This and the forthcoming graphs only reveal information about street children/youth 

registered in Sihanoukville in 2008 and does therefore not include the children 

registered earlier who were still receiving support in 2008. The questionnaire survey in 

Sihanoukville let to an interesting result regarding the age distribution with a remarkable 

increase of the 15 to 18 years category. CSCN member M’Lop Tapang explains this 

increase due to the growing number of young migrants heading towards Sihanoukville. 

The distribution of age, however, has the majority of street children/youth in the 10 to 14 

age category (45.1 percent) followed by the 15 to 18 age category (30.3 percent), 6 to 9 

age category (23 percent), and finally under 6 years (1.6 percent). Despite an increase 

of the 15 to 18 years category from 18.1 percent in 2008 to 30.3 percent in 2009, the 

average age of the street children/youth in Sihanoukville remains relatively low at 12.3 

years – the age distribution based on category and average is thus two years less than 

the average of the six Cambodian locations. 

The gender distribution identified in the Sihanoukville survey reveals an almost even male 

to female ratio with 59 percent male and 41 female. The gender distribution identified in 

the sur-vey is thus equal to that of the total snapshot survey, though differing from the total 

of ques-tionnaire survey where 70.8 percent were male and only 29.1 percent female. 

CSCN 


73

Breakdown of Street Children/Youth Cases by Category – Sihanoukville 2009 

120 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

100 

80 

69 

60 

40 

20 

43 

4 

0 2 

Street Working Children Street Living Children Street Living Families 

The Sihanoukville data analysis based on the 3-fold distribution on street children/ 

youth categories indicates a similar distribution compared to last years CSCN profile, 

with a majority of children/youth working in the streets. The questionnaire survey 2009 

points to 93 percent of the children/youth working in the streets, making the SWC the 

main category in Sihanoukville. The SLC category accounted for 5 percent and the SLF 

category for only 2 percent. The rather limited number of both SLC and SLF differs from 

the average of the CSCN survey. 

Despite several hundred families having been evicted in and around Sihanoukville in 

2008 (according to COHRE), this is not evident in the questionnaire data – as presumably 

more chil-dren/youth would be in either the SLC or SLF category. Arguably, the evictions 

in Sihanoukville have not had the same profound consequences on the street children/ 

youth population as in Phnom Penh. However, the snapshot data from Sihanoukville 

indicates a higher number of SLF, at 8 percent of the total number counted. 

CSCN 


Origin of Families – Sihanoukville 2009 

30 

25 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

20 

17 

16 

15 

10 

11 

5 

0 

13 

Sihanoukville 

10 

Takeo 

4 

Kampot 

8 

3 

Kandal 

7 

1 

Svay Rieng 

2 

4 

Kampong Cham 

1 

5 

Prey Veng 

3 

1 

Phnom Penh 

4 

0 

2 1 1 1 1 

0 

Vietnam 

Kampong Thom 


Battambang 

Kampong Chhnang 

Kampong Speu 

Thailand 

1 

3 

Other 

The survey on original residence of the street children/youth intends to provide 

information on their origins and the degree of geographical mobility in the Sihanoukville 

street population. From the answers collected by M’Lop Tapang, it has been possible 

to determine that a signifi-cant number of children/youth on the streets of Sihanoukville 

originated in other parts of the country or from neighbouring countries, with the highest 

numbers coming from Takéo (21.3 percent), Kampot (12.3 percent) and Kandal (9 

percent) – all due to their close proximity to Sihanoukville. Most of the street children/ 

youth, however, originate from Sihanoukville province itself, comprising 24.6 percent 

of the total. This is an interesting tendency as only 1.8 percent of the children/youth 

originated in Sihanoukville in the 2008 questionnaire survey. The remaining analysis of 

province of origin data is congruent with the previous year’s survey. 

Another trend characterising the Sihanoukville survey on origin is the breadth of the 

source provinces, highlighting the attraction of the port town as one of the main migration 

destination in Cambodia. Since the survey of 2008, there has also been an increase in 

migrants from neighbouring countries, particularly from Vietnam, which comprises 3.3 

percent of the total. 

CSCN 


75

Reasons for Living and/or Working on the Streets – Sihanoukville 2009 

120 

100 

80 

60 

103 

40 

20 

0 


19 

Migration 

16 


14 


10 

FamilyIssues 

1 

DrugUse 

1 

Orphan 

Analysing the data on why children/youth end up on the streets, poverty appears to be 

the main reason – both in the location specific context of Sihanoukville, by comparing 

with last years results, and reflecting the general results of the CSCN questionnaire 

survey. Out of the total questionnaires in Sihanoukville 84.4 percent of the street 

children/youth explain their situation as a consequence of poverty, an increase from 75 

percent in last year’s CSCN profile. Additionally, as poverty encourages the movement 

of people, a correlation which is identified in graphs, the second most answered reason 

for working or living on the streets is migration (15.6 percent), closely followed by friends 

(13.1 percent) and enjoying street life (11.5 percent). 

A feasible explanation of why poverty has increased is the general economic downturn 

in Cambodia, leaving an increasing number of people without job opportunities. 

Moreover, the tourism industry has experienced a decreased number of visitors to the 

area. A remarkably low number of the street children/youth population in Sihanoukville 

(0.8 percent) indicated that the use of drugs or other substances were the reason they 

were living on the streets. 

CSCN 


Level of Education upon Arrival at the CSCN Centre – Sihanoukville 2009 

40 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

30 

24 

20 

15 

12 

10 

8 

5 

2 

13 

0 

8 

1 

9 

2 

6 

3 

4 

4 

7 

5 

3 

2 

6 

2 

1 

7 

0 

8 

Have 

never 

been to 

school 

In Sihanoukville, the questionnaire results regarding educational levels reveal a severe 

disparity compared to the national enrolment and completion rates identified in Frame I. 

The graph illustrates the grade reached by street children/youth who already attended 

school (grade 1 to 12). Of the children/youth above the age of 6, 69.7 percent of the 

street children/youth have attended school. Though an increase is identified compared 

to last years’ result where a mere 16 percent of the children/youth had attended school, 

this figure considerably differs from the national primary school net enrolment rate at 

93.3 percent. According to CSCN member M’Lop Tapang, this is a reflection of the migrant 

status of the majority of the street children/youth – often the parents migrated with the aim 

of their children making an income in the tourism zone, thus neglecting their educational 

needs. The completion rate of lower secondary education shows similar negative trends in 

the Sihanoukville street children/youth population, as only one student has completed grade 

9. Regarding higher secondary education, none of them have completed grade 12. 

Analysing the survey data, there appears to be a positive trend regarding the number of 

enrol-ments in primary school, potentially reflecting the efforts put forward by the Cambodian 

gov-ernment to achieve the universal primary education goals set out in the UN MDGs. 

However, despite the average age of the Sihanoukville street children/youth being 12.3 

years of age the average grade completion rate is only 2.9 years (not including the children/ 

youth that never went to school) – indicating the need is to not just focus on the enrolment 

rate but also the completion rate of the Cambodian educational system. 

CSCN 


77

Time Spent on the Streets before Registration – Sihanoukville 2009 

40 

1 

Category 

SLC 

SWC 

SLF 

30 

2 

20 

2 

36 

0 

1 

10 

16 20 

20 

0 

13 

0 

1 

0 

Under two 

weeks 

6 

0 

Between 

two weeks 

and one 

month 

1 

Between 

two and six 

months 

0 

One year 

0 

Two years 

0 

Three years 

1 

Over three 

years 

The trend in Sihanoukville regarding the time spent on the streets before getting 

registered at the CSCN service centre (M’Lop Tapang) points to an interesting result 

when compared to the results of the other Cambodian locations. A majority of the street 

children/youth spend one year or more on the streets and a relatively high number in 

the 3+ category. More precisely, 22.1 percent of the children/youth spent less than one 

year and 77.9 percent spent one year or more. In the 2008 CSCN profile only 51 percent 

of the children spend one year or more. According to CSCN member M’Lop Tapang, 

this tendency reflects the fact that the majority of the children/youth are working on the 

streets. 

CSCN 


People the Child/Youth Lived With – Sihanoukville 2009 

120 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

100 

80 

65 

60 

40 

20 

45 

0 

3 

0 

2 

Family or caregivers Peers (friends or 

Alone 


( adults) brothers and sisters 

only) 

In Sihanoukville a majority of 90.2 percent of the street children/youth live with family or 

care-givers, a tendency which corresponds with the predominant emergence of children/ 

youth in the SWC category. This indicates a similar tendency when compared to last 

years result. The number of children/youth who live with peers accounts for 5.7percent 

of the total, and only 2 children lived alone (1.6 percent). 

CSCN 


79

Work Undertaken by the Children/Youth – Sihanoukville 2009 

100 

80 

60 

40 

95 

20 

16 

15 

0 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1 

Beggar 


Stealing 

Scavenger 

VendorSeller 

FactoryWork 

ShoeShinner 

HouseWorker 

Most of the street children/youth in Sihanoukville provided multiple answers to 

the question on what activities were undertaken on the streets in order to make a 

livelihood – thus working in more than one area. The most common work undertaken 

is scavenging at 77.9 percent of the total questionnaires, followed by vending at 13.1 

percent and begging at 12.3 percent. Comparing the trends of this year’s Sihanoukville 

questionnaire survey to last year, there has been a decrease of children/youth engaging 

in scavenging activities from 90 percent in 2008 to 77.9 percent in 2009. A congruent 

increase is identified for begging activities from 5.5 percent in 2008 to 12.3 percent in 

2009. However, from a methodological perspective, it is necessary to be a bit cautious 

when making such comparative analysis between the two years as this year’s survey 

entailed more possible answers to the street activity question. 

Regarding the number of street children/youth engaging in vending activities, and 

keeping the large number of tourists visiting Sihanoukville in view, the number appears 

less than what would be expected from this specific location. 

CSCN 


Main Problems Faced on the Streets – Sihanoukville 2009 

80 

60 

40 

71 

20 

32 

24 

16 

0 

5 

2 

3 


Violence 

DrugProblems 

BongThom 

RoadAccident 

SexSelling 

NoInformation 

The majority of street children/youth in Sihanoukville provided multiple answers to the 

question of what problems they faced on the streets. One category - health - particularly 

stands out when analysing the questionnaire data. In this years CSCN profile, health 

related issues accounted for 58.2 percent. The second most frequent answer was 

related to violence at 26.2 percent, closely followed by Bong Thom related problems at 

19.7 percent. Analysing this data, there appears to be a correlation between the role of 

the Bong Thom and the level of violence experienced. However, unlike the Phnom Penh 

analysis, the level of drug related problems often associated with gang activities appear 

at a moderate level at only 4.1 percent. 

Another interesting result is the number of road accidents involving street children/ 

youth. Out of the total 13.1 percent have experienced traffic related injuries. 

CSCN 


81

Services Accessed by the Children/Youth – Sihanoukville 2009 

100 

80 

60 

40 

87 

79 

76 

20 

33 

0 

6 

4 






DrugPrograms 

The street children/youth participating in the Sihanoukville questionnaire survey all 

received one or more services. The majority answered that they have been receiving 

medical services (71.3 percent), followed by support to families (64.8 percent), remedial 

education (62.3 percent) and vocational training (27 percent). 

Despite remedial education (teaching skills aiming to reintegrate into public school) 

being one of the most common services provided, there has been a decrease from 

93 percent identified in the CSCN SCP 2008 to 62.3 percent in 2009. However, the 

changes identified in the age distribution of street children/youth in Sihanoukville, with 

a growing 15 to 18 years category, serves to explain this trend. In order to facilitate 

training services to this older category, more emphasis has been placed on vocational 

training (technical training aiming to reintegrate into employment or self-employment), 

which was not previously supplied by CSCN member M’Lop Tapang. 

CSCN 


Summary: Main Findings of the SIHANOUKVILLE Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Gender 

Distribution 

122 questionnaires were filled out in Sihanoukville. Of these, 59 



The average age of the street children/youth in Sihanoukville is 

12.3 years. The majority is in the 10 to 14 years category. 


Category 


accounted for 5 percent, SWC 93 percent and SLF 2 percent. 


Majority originate from Sihanoukville comprising 24.6 percent, 

followed by the provinces Takéo (21.3 percent), Kampot (12.3 

percent) and Kandal (9 percent). 

Reason 



84.4 percent, migration (15.6 percent), friends (13.1 percent) and 

enjoy street life (11.5 percent). 

Education 


have never been to school. Of those 15+, only one student has 

completed grade 9. Regarding higher secondary education, none 

of them have completed grade 12. The average grade completion 

rate is only 2.9 years. 


Time 


22.1 percent of the children/youth spent less than one year and 

77.9 percent spent one year or more. 

Lived With 

90.2 percent of the street children/youth responded that they 

were living with family or caregivers; 5.7 percent were living with 

peers; and 1.6 percent lived alone. 

Work 

Undertaken 

The most common work undertaken is Scavenging at at 77.9 

percent of the total questionnaires, followed by vending at 13.1 

percent and begging at 12.3 percent. 

CSCN 


83

Main Problems 

Most problems faced by the Sihanoukville street children/youth 

popu-lation were related to health, accounting for 58.2 percent, 

violence at 26.2 percent and Bong Thom at 19.7 percent. 

Services 

Accessed 

The majority of the street children/youth have been receiving 

medical services (71.3 percent), support to families (64.8 

percent), remedial education (62.3 percent) and vocational 

training (27 percent). 

CSCN 


KAMPONG CHAM Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Kampong Cham is the capital of the province with the same name and the third largest 

city in Cambodia, with a population of 65,000 people. Kampong Cham province is the 

most densely populated in Cambodia, with over 2 million people, and at the same time 

one of the poorest. With its location by the Mekong River and relatively close proximity 

to Phnom Penh and Viet-nam, Kampong Cham has always been an important trade, 

transportation and migration hub. The economy of the province centres primarily on 

agricultural related activities such as rubber and cashew nut plantations, fishing and rice 

farming. Kampong Cham, given its poverty and heavily populated area, has become 

one of the busiest migration source provinces, commencing unsafe migration patterns 

and trafficking of both children and adults. 

The Kampong Cham questionnaire survey 2009 was conducted by the CSCN member 

Mith Samlanh. A total of 67 questionnaires were filled out about children/youth accessing 

their services. Of these 46 percent (31) were male and 54 percent (36) female. 

Children/Youth Registered by NGO – Kampong Cham 2009 

60 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

31 

40 

20 

36 

0 

FI - Mith Samlanh - PP 


CSCN 

85

Gender/Age Distribution of Children/Youth Registered – Kampong Cham 2009 

25 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

20 

14 

15 

8 

8 

10 

1 

5 

11 

10 

8 

7 

0 

6 to 9 

10 to 14 

15 to 18 

Over 18 

The data analysis illustrated on this graph shows the number of street children/youth 

registered in Kampong Cham in 2008 and does therefore not include the children 

registered earlier who were still receiving support in 2008. The questionnaire survey in 

Kampong Cham revealed a similar tendency comparing to last year’s result regarding 

the distribution of age, with a majority of street children/youth in the 10 to 14 age category 

(35.8 percent) followed by the 6 to 9 category (28.4 percent). The 15 to 18 and 18+ years 

categories accounted for 23.9 and 11.9 percent respectively. The average age of the 

street children/youth in Kampong Cham is 13.1 years, one year less than the average of 

the six Cambodian locations. However, the age distribution based on category follows 

the same trend as the average, with a majority in the 10 to 14 category. 

The gender distribution identified in the Kampong Cham survey shows an interesting 

result, with a majority of female street children/youth at 53.7 percent compared to 46.3 

percent male. However, comparing to last years results, the male to female ratio has 

become more even with an increase of male from 36.8 percent. 

CSCN 


Breakdown of Street Children/Youth Cases by Category – Kampong Cham 2009 

60 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

30 

40 

20 

34 

0 1 

1 


The Kampong Cham data analysis based on the 3-fold distribution on street children/ 

youth categories indicates a similar distribution compared to last years CSCN profile, 

with the majority of children/youth working in the streets. The questionnaire survey 2009 

points to 95.5 percent of the children/youth working in the streets, making the SWC the 

main category in Kampong Cham. In 2008 there were only SWC in the Kampong Cham 

survey. This year, the SLC category accounted for 3 percent and the SLF category 

for only 1.5 percent. The rather limited number of both SLC and SLF differs from the 

average of the CSCN survey. 

CSCN 


87

Origin of Families – Kampong Cham 2009 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

60 

30 

40 

20 

34 

0 1 

1 

Kampong Cham 

Prey Veng 

Svay Rieng 

The survey on original residence of the street children/youth is intended to provide 


population in Kampong Cham. From the provided answers collected by the CSCN 

member Mith Samlanh, the data reveals a very limited number of the street children/ 

youth who originated in other parts of the country – a reverse trend compared to the 

other questionnaire survey locations. The majority thus originate from Kampong Cham 

province, comprising 95.5 percent. The figures showing the province of origin of street 

children/youth in Kampong Cham are consistent with the previous year’s survey. 

Elaborating on the migration trend identified in the survey, the general demographic and 

eco-nomic characteristics in Kampong Cham province serve to explain why it is not an 

attractive migration destination – being a highly populous and relatively poor province 

of Cambodia. However, Kampong Cham is one of the most frequent migration source 

provinces, as identified in frame I, which corresponds with the data of the questionnaire 

survey. In order to prevent unsafe migration, Mith Samlanh in Kampong Cham has 

initiated projects particularly addressing migration related issues. 

CSCN 


Reasons for Living and/or Working on the Streets – Kampong Cham 2009 

60 

50 

40 

30 

55 

20 

10 

0 

11 10 

8 

3 3 3 4 


DrugUse 


FamilyIssues 

Migration 



up living or working on the streets – both in the location specific context of Kampong 

Cham, by comparing to last years results, and reflecting the general results of the CSCN 

questionnaire survey. Out of the total questionnaires in Kampong Cham, 82.1 percent of 

the street children/youth explain their situation as a consequence of poverty. Compared 

to last year’s CSCN profile, this indicates a decrease as all of the street children/youth 

related their situation to poverty in 2008, though this is still the most notable reason this 

year. Additionally, as poverty encourages the movement of people, a correlation which 

is identified in the graphs, the second most answered reason for working or living on 

the streets is migration (16.4 percent), closely followed by family issues (14.9 percent) 

and friends (11.9 percent). 


NoInformation 

According to Mith Samlanh in Kampong Cham, poverty as a consequence of 

unemployment has increased as a result of the general economic downturn in Cambodia, 

leaving an increasing number of people without job opportunities. 

CSCN 


89

Level of Education upon Arrival at the CSCN Centre – Kampong Cham 2009 

12.5 

4 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

10 

3 

7.5 

11 

4 

7 

5.0 

10 

8 

2.5 

0 

1 

3 

2 

5 

3 

3 

4 

1 

1 

5 

0 

2 

6 

1 

7 

Have 

never 

been to 

school 

The Kampong Cham questionnaire results regarding educational levels reveals 

disparities when comparing to the national enrolment and completion rates identified 

in Frame I. The graph illustrates the grade reached by street children/youth who have 

already attended school (grade 1 to 12). Of the children/youth above the age of 6, 82.1 

percent of the street children/youth have attended school. Despite the fact that the 

Kampong Cham enrolment rate differs from the national primary school net enrolment 

rate by more than ten percent (national rate is 93.3 percent), the survey still reveals 

one of the highest enrolment rates of all the CSCN locations. Several factors serve to 

sustain this trend. 

The graph illustrates a positive trend regarding enrolments in primary school and especially 

in grade 1 and 2, potentially reflecting the efforts put forward by the Cambodian government 

to achieve the universal primary education goals set out in the UN MDGs. However, the 

average grade completion rate is only 2.5 years (excluding the children/youth who had 

never been to school) – indicating the need to not just focus on the enrolment rate but 

also the completion rate. The completion rate of lower secondary education shows similar 

negative trends in the Kampong Cham street children/youth population. Although 35.8 

percent were aged 15 or above none of them have managed to complete grade 9, only 

one has completed grade 7, and two has completed grade 5 and 6. 

CSCN 


Time Spent on the Streets before Registration – Kampong Cham 2009 

20 

0 

0 

Category 

SLC 

SWC 

SLF 

15 

1 

10 

19 

18 

0 

13 

5 

7 

1 

3 

0 0 

2 2 

0 0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Under two 

weeks 

Between two 

weeks and 

one month 

One year Two years Three years Over three 

years 

1 

No 

Information 


registered at the Mith Samlanh service centre in Kampong Cham points to a notable 

result, with a relatively high share of the street children/youth spending more than 

three years – 26.9 percent. The general result of the data analysis reveals that 16.4 

percent of the children/youth spent less than one year, 61.3 percent spent one year 

or more, and 22.4 percent were not able to provide information on the matter. The fact 

that the children/youth spend relatively long periods of time on the streets indicates a 

persistent need for them to provide an income for their families, given that most of them 

are SWC. 

Comparing the result to last year’s survey, there has been an increase in the percentage of 

children/youth who spend more than one year on the streets from 53 percent to 61.3 percent. 

This result reflects a general need to target the street children/youth population in Kampong 

Cham. Also, the Mith Samlanh project is only in its initiating phase as it was launched being 

launched in July 2005. According to the CSCN member analysis, a feasible explanation 

of why almost one in four of the children/youth were unable to provide any information is 

because a lot of them have difficulties evaluating the time that they spent on the streets. 

CSCN 


91

People the Child/Youth Lived With – Kampong Cham 2009 

50 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

40 

22 

30 

20 

10 

24 

5 

3 

0 

2 

2 

1 

Family or 

caregivers ( 

adults) 


brothers and 

sisters only) 

Alone 

Other 

7 


In Kampong Cham the majority (68.7 percent) of the street children/youth live with family 

or caregivers, a tendency which does not entirely correspond with the predominant 

emergence of children/youth in the SWC category (95.5). It was assumed that the 

questionnaire survey would have revealed a higher number of children/youth living with 

family or caregivers. However, the remaining number of SWC might be found among 

the 17.8 percent who were not able to provide any information on who they lived with. 

The fluctuating lifestyle of street populations in general might be an explanation for why 

it is difficult to provide just one answer to the question. Also, despite having parents, 

these might not live in near proximity to the city centre of Kampong Cham where most 

street children related activities take place. The number of children/youth who live with 

peers accounts for 7.5 percent of the total, and only 4.5 percent of the children/youth 

lived alone. 

Compared to last years result, all of the street children/youth participating in the 2008 

survey were living with their families. 

CSCN 


Work Undertaken by the Children/Youth – Kampong Cham 2009 

30 

25 

20 

15 

27 

10 

20 

5 

0 

Farmer 

Beggar 

Scavenger 

11 

8 

7 7 7 

6 

3 3 3 3 

2 

1 1 


NoInformation 

ShoeShinner 

CarPark 

SexWorker 

Stealing 

Sewing 

Laundry 

FactoryWork 

VendorSeller 

Porter 

HouseWorker 

Most of the street children/youth in Kampong Cham provided multiple answers to the 

question of what activities were undertaken on the streets in order to make a livelihood – 

thus working in more than one area. The most common work undertaken is scavenging, 

at 40.3 percent of the total questionnaires, followed by begging at 29.9 percent. Activities 

revolving around farming or construction work were other frequent answers at 16.4 

percent and 11.9 percent respectively. Comparing the trends of this year’s Kampong 

Cham questionnaire survey to last year, there has been a minor decrease of children/ 

youth engaging in scavenging activities from 47.3 percent in 2008 to 40.3 percent in 

2009. The tendency for begging activities remains at the same level. Regarding street 

children/youth engaging in laundering activities this year’s survey reveals a notable 

result with a decrease from 28 percent of the total in 2008 to only 5.3 percent this 

year. 

A general trend that characterises the street life in Kampong Chang is the breadth of 

activities that the street children/youth engage in to make a livelihood. Moreover, some 

activities (farming, factory work...) are not only linked to the informal economy unlike the 

other questionnaire locations. 

CSCN 


93

Main Problems Faced on the Streets – Kampong Cham 2009 

40 

30 

20 

34 

10 

19 

14 13 

0 

4 

4 

1 


Violence 

DrugProblems 

BongThom 

RoadAccident 

SexSelling 

NoInformation 

In Kampong Cham one category of street related problems – health – particularly stands 

out when analysing the survey data. In this year’s CSCN profile health related issues 

accounted for 50.7 percent, compared to only 8.8 percent last year. According to Mith 

Samlanh in Kampong Cham, this tendency is a reflection of the long periods that the 

street children/youth spent on the streets (see analysis of time spent) – most issues are 

caused by bad hygiene such as skin infections etc. The second most frequent answer 

was related to violence at 20.9 percent, closely followed by Bong Thom at 19.4 percent 

- both interrelated categories. Comparing these figures to last year there has been 

a positive trend regarding the number of violence cases from 35.1 percent in 2008, 

however, problems associated with Bong Thom has gone up, although not equally as 

much, from 12.3 percent in 2008. The number of street children/youth using drugs or 

other substances remains at the same relatively low level as last year at 7 percent. 

More than one in four of the street children/youth (28.4 percent) in Kampong Cham 

were not able to provide any information on the problems they were faced with on the 

streets. 

CSCN 


Services Accessed by the Children/Youth – Kampong Cham 2009 

30 

25 

20 

15 

26 

10 

15 

5 

12 

12 

6 

0 

3 

2 

2 

1 

DropInCenter 




DrugPrograms 




NoInformation 


more service provided by the CSCN member Mith Samlanh. The service centre of Mith 

Samlanh is the only one in Kampong Cham and functions as a day drop-in centre 

providing life skills education, non-formal education, case management support and basic 

health services. The majority answered that they have been receiving medical services 

(38.8 percent), followed by remedial education (17.9 percent), direct reintegration (17.9 

percent) and drug programs (9 percent). With the exception of medical services, the 

rest of the major services provided follow a similar trend when compared to the results 

of the CSCN 2008 profile. 

CSCN 


95

Summary: Main Findings of the KAMPONG CHAM Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Gender 

Distribution 

67 questionnaires were filled out in Kampong Cham. Of these, 46 

(31) percent were male and 54 percent (36) female. 


The average age of the street children/youth in Kampong Cham 

is 13.1 years. The majority are in the 10 to 14 years category. 


Category 


accounted for 3 percent, SWC 95.5 percent and SLF 1.5 

percent. 


Majority originate from Kampong Cham province, comprising 

95.5 percent, followed by the provinces Prey Veng (3 percent) 

and Svay Rieng (1.5 percent). 

Reason 



82.1 percent, migration at 16.4 percent and family issues at 14.9 

percent. 

Education 



youth have completed grade 9. The average grade completion 

rate is only 2.5 years. 


Time 


16.4 percent of the children/youth spent less than one year, 61.3 



Lived With 


caregivers; 7.5 percent were living with peers; 4.5 percent lived 


information. 

CSCN 


Work 

Undertaken 

The most common work undertaken is scavenging at 40.3 

percent, followed by begging at 29.9 percent. Activities revolving 

around farming or construction work were other frequent answers 

at 16.4 percent and 11.9 percent respectively. 

Main Problems 

Most problems faced by the Kampong Cham street children/youth 

population were related to health, accounting for 50.7 percent, 

violence at 20.9 percent and Bong Thom at 19.4 percent. 

Services 

Accessed 

The majority of the street children/youth in Kampong Cham 

have been receiving medical services (38.8 percent), followed 

by remedial educa-tion (17.9 percent), direct reintegration (17.9 

percent) and drug programs (9 percent). 

CSCN 


97

POIPET Questionnaire Survey 2009 

The town of Poipet is located in the north-west of Cambodia in the Banteay Meanchey 

province. It comprises the principal border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia, 

and has developed rapidly in the last decade from being a small and sleepy town. Due 

to steady migration flows, its population has escalated with people hoping to make a 

living from cross-border related businesses. Moreover, Poipet attracts several tourists 

- Thai and other Asian nationals who gamble in the casinos, as its illegal in Thailand, 

or Western tourists in transit between Cambodia and Thailand on the way to/from 

Siem Reap. However, its reputation for offering a new start to the underprivileged is 

misleading and, in reality, economic opportunities for the uneducated and unskilled are 

scarce. The majority of Poipet’s residents are living at survival level, earning a dollar a 

day or less. This poverty has led Poipet to evolve into a hotbed of social issues at all 

imaginable levels such as smuggling, human trafficking, commercial/sexual exploitation 

of children, substance abuse, prostitution, violence and corruption. 

The Poipet questionnaire survey 2009 was conducted by the CSCN members Damnok Toek 

(Goutte d’Eau) and Krousar Thmey. A total of 117 questionnaires were filled out about chil-dren/ 

youth attending their services. Of these 86 percent (101) were male, and 14 percent (16) female. 

Children/Youth Registered by NGO – Poipet 2009 

80 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

60 

40 

68 

20 

33 

9 7 

CSCN 

0 

Krousar Thmey 

Goutte d’Eau - Poipet 


Gender/Age Distribution of Children/Youth Registered – Poipet 2009 

80 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

60 

40 

63 

20 

28 

12 

10 

4 

0 0 

6 to 9 

10 to 14 

15 to 18 

The data analysis illustrated on this graph shows the number of street children/youth 

registered in Poipet in 2008 and does therefore not include the children registered earlier 

who were still receiving support in 2008. The questionnaire survey in Poipet generally 

revealed a similar tendency comparing to last year’s result regarding the distribution of 

age, with a majority of street children/youth in the 10 to 14 age category (64.1 percent) 

followed by the 6 to 9 category (27.4 percent). However, the 15 to 18 category accounted 

for only 8.5 percent this year compared to 19.1 percent last year. The average age of 

the street children/youth in Poipet is 10.9 years, 3.4 years less than the average of the 

six Cambodian locations. However, the age distribution based on category follows the 

same trend as the average with a majority in the 10 to 14 category. 

The gender distribution identified in the Poipet survey shows an interesting result, with 

a majority of male street children/youth at 86.3 percent compared to 13.7 percent female. 

Compared to last years results, the male to female ratio is congruent with only a minor 

increase in the female street children/youth population from 11 percent. This is explained 

by the type of work available in the border region; as it mostly involves hard physical 

activity such as carrying goods across the border it primarily appears to young boys. 

CSCN 


99

Breakdown of Street Children/Youth Cases by Category – Poipet 2009 

100 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

80 

60 

78 

40 

20 

20 

13 

0 2 

1 


The Poipet data analysis based on the 3-fold distribution on street children/youth 

categories indicates a similar distribution compared to last year’s profile, with a majority 

of children/youth working in the streets. The CSCN questionnaire survey 2009 points 

to 77.8 percent of the chil-dren/youth working in the streets, making the SWC the main 

category in Poipet. The SLC cate-gory accounted for 18.8 percent and the SLF category 

for only 1.7 percent. The rather limited number of both SLC and SLF differs from the 

average of the CSCN survey, where these are at 31 and 17 percent respectively. 

The graph analysis of categories indicates a complete reverse trend when compared 

to last year’s profile, where the majority of the street children/youth were living in 

the streets, 95 percent in the SLC category to be exact. According to the two CSCN 

members conducting the survey in Poipet, the prime factor influencing this change is (as 

revealed in several other locations) the government initiated clean-ups. 

CSCN 


Origin of Families – Poipet 2009 

100 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

80 

60 

86 

40 

20 

10 

0 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 


Battambang 

Prey Veng 

Kampong Cham 

Sihanoukville 

Pursat 

Preah Vihear 

Siem Reap 

No Information 

The survey on original residence of the street children/youth is intended to provide 


population in Poipet. From the provided answers collected by the two CSCN members 

Kaliyan Mith and Damnok Toek, the data reveals a very limited number of the street 

children/youth who originated in other parts of the country – a rather surprising result 

considering the location specific characteristics as a main border town to Thailand. 

The majority thus originate from Banteay Meanchey province where Poipet is located, 

comprising 82.1 percent. Battambang and Prey Veng comprise the two main source 

provinces at 6.8 and 3.4 percent respectively. Compared to last years CSCN survey 

on province of origin, there has been an increase from 56 to 82.1 percent of the street 

children who had their original residence in Banteay Meanchey. 

CSCN 


101

Reasons for Living and/or Working on the Streets – Poipet 2009 

100 

80 

60 

94 

40 

20 

9 9 7 7 6 4 

0 1 0 0 


FamilyIssues 


Migration 



up living or working on the streets – both in the location specific context of Poipet, 


questionnaire survey. Out of the total questionnaires in Poipet, 80.3 percent of the street 

children/youth explain their situation as a consequence of poverty. Compared to last 

years CSCN profile this reason indicates a similar trend percentage wise (78 percent in 

the SCP 2008). What is notable though is how poverty as reason for street life stands 

out this year compared to other reasons. According to the CSCN partners in Poipet, 

poverty as a consequence of unemployment has increased as a result of the general 

economic downturn in Cambodia, leaving an increasing number of people without job 

opportunities. 

DrugUs 

Orphan 



NoInformation 

Other reasons for working or living on the streets in Poipet are family issues, friends, 

migration and drug use, all at around 5 to 7 percent of the total. 

CSCN 


Level of Education upon Arrival at the CSCN Centre – Poipet 2009 

50 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

40 

30 

39 

20 

10 

20 

17 

12 

9 

9 

4 

0 1 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 Never been 

to school 

The Poipet questionnaire results regarding educational levels reveal disparities when 

comparing to the national enrolment and completion rates identified in Frame I. The 

graph illustrates the grade reached by street children/youth who already attended 

school (grade 1 to 12). Of the children/youth above the age of 6, 83.8 percent of the 

street children/youth have attended school. Despite the fact that the Poipet enrolment 

rate differs from the national primary school net enrolment rate, with around ten percent 

(national rate is 93.3 percent), the survey still reveals a positive trend comparing to most 

other CSCN locations. 

The graph illustrates a positive trend regarding enrolments in primary school and 

especially in grade 1 and 2, potentially reflecting the efforts put forward by the Cambodian 

government to achieve the universal primary education goals set out in the UN MDGs. 

However, the average grade completion rate is only 2.1 years (excluding the children/ 

youth that never went to school) – indicating the need to not just focus on the enrolment 

rate but also the completion rate. The completion rate of lower secondary education 

indicates a negative trend which it typical of the entire survey. Of the 8.5 percent of the 

street children/youth aged 15 or above none of them have managed to complete grade 

9, 8, 7 or 6 and only 5 children/youth have completed grade 5. 

CSCN 


103

Time Spent on the Streets before Registration – Poipet 2009 

30 

0 

7 

Category 

SLC 

SWC 

SLF 

20 

3 

29 

7 

10 

16 

22 

3 

13 

1 

0 0 0 0 

0 

0 

Under two Between 

One year Two years Three 

weeks 

years 

two weeks 

and one 

month 

Between 

two and 

six months 

1 

2 

1 

0 

7 

0 

Over three No 

years Information 


registered at one of the CSCN partner centres in Poipet points to a notable result, with 

a relatively high share of the street children/youth spending less than one year. The 

general result of the data analysis reveals that 68.4 percent of the children/youth spent 

less than one year, 23.1 percent spent one year or more, and 8.5 percent were not able 

to provide information on the matter. This indicates a positive change from last year’s 

data analysis, where 66 percent of the street children/youth spend more than one year 

on the streets before getting reintegrated. 

The fact that the children/youth spend relatively short periods of time on the streets 

compared to other survey locations consolidates the positive contributions of the CSCN 

outreach efforts in Poipet. More so, this tendency can be explained due to the low 

number of children/youth living in the streets, as revealed in this year’s data analysis. 

CSCN 


People the Child/Youth Lived With – Poipet 2009 

100 

Sex 

Male 

Female 

80 

60 

78 

40 

20 

15 11 

0 0 

0 

0 1 

Family or 

caregivers 

(adults) 


brothers and 

sisters only) 

Alone 

Other No information 

In Poipet the majority (79.5 percent) of the street children/youth live with family or 

caregivers, a tendency which corresponds with the predominant emergence of children/ 

youth in the SWC category (77.8 percent). Regarding the number of children/youth who 

live with peers there has been a severe decline in this category from 28 percent in 2008 

to only 6.8 percent in 2009. However, there appears to be an equivalent increase in 

the category no information from none in 2008 to 10.3 percent in 2009. Comparing this 

change with the outcome of the Phnom Penh data analysis, there has been a similar 

increase in the number of children/youth unable to provide the information on who they 

live with. 

It would have been assumed that the data analysis would have revealed a higher 

number than 1.7 percent of the children/youth living alone, considering the SLC 

category accounts for 18.8 percent of street children/youth. However, the remaining 

number of SLC might be found among the 10.3 percent unable provide information on 

who they lived with. The fluctuating lifestyle of street populations in general might be an 

explanation for why it is difficult to provide just one answer to the question. Also, despite 

having parents, these might not live in near proximity to the city centre of Poipet where 

most street children related activities take place. 

CSCN 


105

Work Undertaken by the Children/Youth – Poipet 2009 

100 

80 

60 

98 

40 

20 

25 

0 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 

Scavenger 

Beggar 

CarPark 

Farmer 


HouseWorker 

Porter 

Sewing 

VendorSeller 

CutTheGrass 

FactoryWork 

Laundry 

SexWorker 

ShoeShinner 

Stealing 

HandFance 

NoInformation 

Some of the street children/youth in Poipet provided multiple answers to the question 

of what activities were undertaken on the streets in order to make a livelihood – thus 

working in more than one area. The most common work undertaken is scavenging at 

83.8 percent of the total questionnaires, followed by begging at 21.4 percent. Several 

other activities have been undertaken but only at a minuscule level. 

Comparing the trends of this year’s Poipet questionnaire survey to last year, there has 

been an increase of children/youth engaging in scavenging activities from 71 percent in 

2008 to 83.8 percent in 2009. The tendency for begging activities has decreased at a 

similar rate from 34.7 percent in 2008 to 21.4 percent in 2009. 

CSCN 


Main Problems Faced on the Streets – Poipet 2009 

100 

80 

60 

40 

81 

20 

0 

14 

Violence 

8 

BongThom 

6 5 



5 

DrugProblems 

3 

RoadAccident 

0 

SexSelling 

0 

BloodSelling 

NoInformation 

Most problems faced by the Poipet street children/youth population were related to 

violence (12 percent), Bong Thom (6.8 percent) and health (5.1 percent). However, 

more than two thirds of the street children/youth (69.2 percent) in Poipet were not able 

to provide any information on the problems they were faced with on the streets. This 

year’s survey generally provides limited information on these issues compared to last 

year, thus limiting the basis for a comparative data analysis between the two years. 

However, in the SCP 2008, health related problems were the main problem faced on 

the streets in Poipet, at 27 percent compared to only 5.1 percent this year. Regarding 

violence and Bong Thom related problems – both interrelated categories - there has 

been a similar decrease from 20 to 12 percent and 12.2 to 6.8 percent respectively. 

CSCN 


107

Services Accessed by the Children/Youth – Poipet 2009 

100 

80 

60 

97 

40 

82 

77 

20 

0 




1 


1 


1 

DrugPrograms 

0 


0 


0 

DropInCenter 

4 

NoInformation 

The street children/youth participating in the questionnaire survey all received one 

or more services provided by the CSCN partners in Poipet. The majority answered 

that they have been receiving remedial education (82.9 percent), closely followed by 

residential centre (70.1 per-cent) and the access to medical services (65.8 percent) – 

all at relatively high levels compared to the general result of the CSCN questionnaire 

survey. Despite remedial education (teaching skills aiming to reintegrate into public 

school) and residential services being the two most common services provided, there 

has been a decrease from 90 percent in the CSCN SCP 2008. 

The outcome of the medical services provided indicates positive results with an 

immense de-crease of health related problems as discussed in the previous section. 

The low number of no information moreover indicates that the CSCN programmes in 

Poipet reach the target group. 

CSCN 


Summary: Main Findings of the POIPET Questionnaire Survey 2009 

Gender 

Distribution 

117 questionnaires were filled out in Poipet. Of these, 86 percent 

(101) were male and 14 percent (16) female. 

Age Distribution The average age of the street children/youth in Poipet is 10.9 

years. The majority are in the 10 to 14 years category. 


Category 


accounted for 18.8 percent, SWC 77.8 percent and SLF 1.7 

percent. 


Majority originate from Banteay Meanchey province where Poipet 

is located, comprising 82.1 percent, followed by the provinces 

Battambang (6.8 percent) and Prey Veng (3.4 percent). Relatively 

low migration rate. 

Reason 



80.3 percent. Other reasons for working or living on the streets 

in Poipet are family issues, friends, migration and drug use, all at 

around 5 to 7 percent of the total. 

Education 



youth have completed grade 9. Despite the low average age, the 

average grade completion rate is only 2.1 years. 


Time 


68.4 percent of the children/youth spent one year or less, 23.1 

percent spent more than a year, and 8.5 percent were not able 


Lived With 


caregivers; 6.8 percent were living with peers; 1.7 percent lived 


information. 

CSCN 


109

Work 

Undertaken 


percent, followed by Begging at 21.4 percent. Several other 

activities have been undertaken but only at a minuscule level. 

Main Problems 

Most problems faced by the Poipet street children/youth 

population were related to violence (12 percent), Bong Thom (6.8 

percent) and/or health (5.1 percent). More than two thirds of the 

street children/youth (69.2 percent) were not able to provide any 

information. 

Services 

Accessed 

The majority of the Poipet street children/youth have been 

receiving remedial education (82.9 percent), closely followed 

by residential centre (70.1 percent) and the access to medical 

services (65.8 percent) – all at relatively high levels compared to 

the general result of the CSCN questionnaire survey. 

CSCN 


DISCUSSION OF CROSS-CUTTING TENDENCIES 

Elaborating on the outcome of the 2009 questionnaire survey data analysis, this chapter 

serves to present tendencies in the Cambodian street children/youth population that cut 

across all of the CSCN survey locations. Rather than presenting these tendencies as 

factual, they will be open to discussion given the limitations inherent to the survey method 

applied, as conversed in the introduction of this CSCN profile. Moreover, approaching 

the survey results as a discussion platform is a way of developing the network activities 

of the CSCN partners. The main cross-cutting tendencies have been divided into five 

themes: Theme I: Migration Patterns of Cambodian Street Children/Youth; Theme 

II: Poverty and Migration as Main Reasons for Street Life in Cambodia; Theme III: 

Educational Status – Enrolment versus Completion Rates; Theme IV: Scavenging 

and Begging as Main Income Generating Activities; and Theme V: Problems on the 

Streets – Bong Thom, Violence and Health. The themes have been derived through the 

process of analysing the data from each location and by comparing the summarised 

data presented at the end of each survey analysis. 

For more specific information on the analytical outcome for each CSCN survey location, 

see the summaries at the end of each section in the previous chapter. 

Theme I: Migration Patterns of Cambodian Street Children/Youth 

The migration pattern of the street children/youth population in Cambodia as identified 

in the 2009 questionnaire survey is, by and large, concentrated within the country’s 

borders. Gener-ally, the analysis of data from the six CSCN locations indicates that most 

of these internal movements are inter-provincial and only cover short-range distances, 

with the exception being Phnom Penh which attracts migrants from all over the country, 

as well as from neighbouring countries. The main migration destination is thus Phnom 

Penh, as most economic activities revolve in and around the capital city. From the data 

analysis, Sihanoukville appeared to be the second most popular migration destination, 

with only 24.6 percent of the street children/youth population originating in this province. 

The questionnaire results from Siem Reap placed this location somewhere between a 

CSCN 


111

migration source and destination as 66.7 percent originated in the province of Siem 

Reap. 

For the remaining CSCN questionnaire survey locations - Kampong Cham, Poipet and 

Neak Loeung - the majority (in all cases more than 80+ percent) originated in the same 

province as the location, indicating limited mobility and these being migration source 

provinces. This tendency is further supported when looking at the source provinces 

of the street children/youth population in Phnom Penh. The questionnaire results from 

Poipet led to a surprising result, as 82.1 percent originated in Banteay Meanchey 

province where Poipet is located – though an expected outcome would be (based upon 

the general characteristics of this location) that it would be a more popular migration 

destination. 

The method applied in the data collection, using closed-ended questionnaires, does not, 

how-ever, allow for an in-depth analysis of the reasons for migration. Moreover, as the 

number of questionnaire surveys filled out at each location is not entirely representative 

of the population in each place, the method is not tailored to specifically measure 

migration. Nevertheless, it is interesting to discuss some of the potential causes for 

migration in the context of the Cambodian street children/youth population – the following 

theme will elaborate further on the correlation between poverty and migration. 

Theme II: Poverty and Migration as Main Reasons for Street Life 

Generally, the data analysis of the CSCN questionnaire survey of street children/youth 

in Cam-bodia did not point to a single cause for why the children/youth end up on 

the street. The rea-sons for street life in Cambodia and the associated problems this 

may lead to thus appears to be multi-dimensional, as a combination of factors often 

leads to the phenomenon. However, across all survey locations there are two reasons 

that generally stand out – poverty and migration. In continuation of the discussion of 

migration patterns of the Cambodian street children/youth population above, it thus 

proves interesting to elaborate on the concept of poverty as a determinant of migration. 

Analysing the results from the CSCN locations, they all point to poverty as the main 

reason for why the children/youth end up on the streets, cited by more than 80 percent. 

CSCN 


For the majority of CSCN locations, migration is the second most frequent answer, with 

the exceptions being Neak Loeung and Poipet. 

From the questionnaire survey results it thus appears that poverty is likely to have an 

effect on migration; the question is how this relates to the Cambodian street children/ 

youth population. Two conflicting perspectives can be discussed in this regard. Does 

poverty provide the incentive for Cambodian street children/youth (alone or with their 

family) to migrate either as a strategy for livelihood diversification or out of destitution? 

Or, does poverty reduce the ability to migrate because the transfer costs involved (both 

in terms of financial and social costs) are too high? Both questions can be applied to 

each of the CSCN survey locations and does to certain extent provide an answer to 

some of the analytical disparities unfolded in this profile. For example, reflecting on the 

second question explains why the migration pattern of Cambodian street children/youth 

for the most part only covers short-range distances. 

Another interesting factor to elaborate on within the frame of the poverty/migration theme 

is the evictions of poor Cambodians in both urban and rural areas. In consequence 

of this situation these families can be said to be forced migrants. Phnom Penh and 

Sihanoukville in particular have been affected by such evictions. 

Theme III: Educational Status – Enrolment versus Completion Rates 

The results of the CSCN questionnaire survey show that the Cambodian street children/ 

youth generally have less access to education on both primary and secondary level 

when compared to the national average. There is a general tendency that street children/ 

youth are excluded from the educational system. Despite the fact that the net enrolment 

rates in primary school all show varying degrees of improvement, almost all CSCN 

locations are below the national average (Neak Loeung being the only exception). 

However, compared to last year’s results, there has been a general increase in the 

percentage of street children/youth enrolling in primary school. This might be a reflection 

of the pressure placed on the Cambodian Government as to make progress towards 

achieving the UN MDG on universal primary education. 

CSCN 


113

From the CSCN survey results it appears that one of the biggest challenges regarding 

education of street children/youth is to actually keep them in the system once enrolled. 

Despite the average age of the street children/youth participating in the questionnaire 

survey being 14.3 years, the average education completion rate of the children/ 

youth above the age of 6 is only 2.9 years - indicating high drop-out rates within the 

Cambodian street children/youth population. Consequently, this tendency impacts on 

the generally low enrolment rates in both lower and higher secondary education. Even 

with the extensive efforts offered by the CSCN partners in terms of remedial education, 

thus teaching skills aiming to reintegrate street children/youth into public school, the 

progress in combating the low completion rates still remains a challenge. In this regard 

it might be relevant to discuss: What are the main obstacles keeping the education 

completion rate of the Cambodian street children/youth population at a relatively low 

level? And, how can these obstacles be addressed so as to improve the average 

completion rate and level of education of the street children/youth? 

Theme IV: Scavenging and Begging as Main Income Generating Activities 

Once on the streets, the Cambodian children/youth engage in a wide array of activities 

in order to make a livelihood for themselves or their families. Across all the CSCN 

locations, one activity in particular stood out as income generator – scavenging. On 

average 65.9 percent of the street children/youth participating in the questionnaire 

survey make a living as scavengers, with the highest percentage in Poipet and Neak 

Loeung, at 83.8 and 81.7 percent respectively, and the lowest in Kampong Cham 

at 40.3 percent. Generally there has been an increase in the number of scavengers 

when comparing the results to the 2008 questionnaire survey. Several factors serve to 

explain this tendency, though central to these is the growing demand for recyclables in 

Cambodia (bottles, cans, cardboard etc.). Additionally, the economic boom in Phnom 

Penh and its fast growing number of inhabitants have also fuelled the trash trade and 

the demand for waste scavengers. 

According to Mith Samlanh in Phnom Penh, some 70 percent of the scavengers in the 

capital are children and they make one to two dollars per day for 14-16 hours of work. 

Moreover, waste scavenging is associated with great health risks and child scavengers 

CSCN 


in particular are vulnerable. Not being adequately equipped, they sort through waste, 

inhaling toxic fumes and using neither gloves nor shoes. Consequently, ailment 

symptoms such as infected wounds, headache and diarrhoea are common. Considering 

the great potential risks associated with scavenging activities, what measures should be 

taken into consideration so as to improve the health conditions or provide alternatives to 

children/youth engaging in waste scavenging activities? 

The second most frequent income generating activity cutting across all the CSCN survey 

loca-tions is begging, though not at the same high levels as scavenging. On average 

24.5 percent of the street children/youth participating in the questionnaire survey make 

a living as beggars, with the highest percentage in Neak Loeung and Kampong Cham 

at 31.7 and 29.9 percent respectively, and the lowest in Sihanoukville at 12.3 percent – 

which is a surprising result considering the high number of tourists visiting the coastal 

town. Generally there has been an increase in the number of begging street children/ 

youth when comparing the results to the 2008 questionnaire survey. Potentially, the 

financial crisis and its negative impacts on the Cambodian economy serve to explain 

this tendency. 

Theme V: Problems on the Streets – Bong Thom, Violence and Health 

Data analysis of the primary data collected in the questionnaire survey revealed an 

array of problems associated with street life in Cambodia. Despite the fact that no 

issues cut across all CSCN locations with the same frequency, certain categories were 

present in all surveys, though at various levels – these being problems associated with 

Bong Thom, violence and health issues. Despite not being equally prevalent, there 

are still some cross-cutting tendencies when compared to last year’s survey results. 

Generally, problems related to Bong Thom have increased in all of the CSCN locations 

including the more rural ones, whereas problems related to violence have decreased 

despite the correlation between the two categories. On average, 19.1 percent of the 

street children/youth participating in the survey experienced problems with Bong Thom, 

with the highest percentage in Neak Loeung and Phnom Penh at 30 and 27.8 percent 

respectively, and the lowest in Poipet at 6.8 percent. Regarding violence, the average 

CSCN 


115

ate experienced is 16.4 percent, with the highest percentage in Sihanoukville at 26.2 

percent and the lowest in Phnom Penh at only 8.5 percent – a surprising result for the 

capital city. Elaborating on this it proves interesting to discuss: Why has Bong Thom 

gained more influence, and what Bong Thom related activities are most disruptive on 

the Cambodian street children/youth population? 

Health issues are other general problems face by the street children/youth in all of 

the CSCN survey locations, with an average of 31.8 percent. However, this category 

revealed great differences across the locations - from only 5.1 percent in Poipet to 58.2 

percent in Sihanoukville - indicating various degrees of exposure to health problems 

but also in access to treatment. The only CSCN location that revealed a high level of 

problems associated with drug usage was Phnom Penh, indicating the availability and 

usage of drugs primarily being an urban phenomenon. 

CSCN 


CONCLUSION & CONTEXTUALISING REMARKS 

Before reaching any conclusions, it is necessary to acknowledge the limitations of the 

research method adopted in this CSCN Street Children Profile 2009 and hence the 

impacts on the analytical outcome. As all of the findings in this profile are based on 

primary data derived from the snapshot and questionnaire surveys, neither being entirely 

representative of the actual number of street children/youth, it has not been possible 

to reveal an exhaustive picture of the street children/youth phenomenon in Cambodia. 

Despite this methodological limitation, both the snapshot and questionnaire results have 

been useful indicators in order to make projections of the current situation. Considering 

these methodological limitations, the conclusion does not claim to represent a definitive 

understanding – this would require a much broader research agenda. 

The conclusion presented is primarily based on the analysis of the questionnaire survey 

data, as this represents the most up to date information. Moreover, the conclusion does 

not reflect the location specific outcomes, as these have been summarised at the end 

of each survey in analytical Frame III. Instead the conclusion aims to illustrate a broader 

and cross-cutting profile of Cambodian street children/youth. 

Profile of Cambodian Street Children/Youth 

Based on the results of the CSCN questionnaire survey 2009 it has been possible 

to draw up a profile of the Cambodian street children/youth population based on the 

information gathered by CSCN NGO partners in six locations – Phnom Penh, Siem 

Reap, Neak Loeung, Sihanoukville, Kampong Cham and Poipet. A total of 1,549 

questionnaires were filled out. 

In Cambodia, the majority, 50 percent, of the street children/youth fall into the category of 

Street Working Children, meaning that they have a base with either family or caregivers 

who they return to at night, as opposed to children/youth living on the streets. Just 

over 30 percent are Street Living Children, and 12 percent are children of Street Living 

Families. More than two thirds of the Cambodian street children/youth population are 

male, and the majority are in their early to mid-teenage years with an average age of 14.3 

CSCN 


117

years. Despite multiple factors leading to street life in Cambodia, poverty and migration 

appears to be the overarching reasons for why children/youth end up on the streets. 

In this year’s CSCN profile, poverty appears to be a more frequent reason than in the 

2008 survey, given the general down turn in the Cambodian economy caused by the 

international financial crisis. Regarding migration, unsafe patterns of migration and the 

depth of poverty in Cambodia consequently make the children/youth more vulnerable to 

trafficking and/or to end up living on the streets. The movement of the Cambodian street 

children/youth population is, by and large, concentrated within the country’s borders, 

inter-provincial and covers only short-range distances. The exception to this migration 

pattern is Phnom Penh, which attracts migrants from all over the country as well as from 

neighbouring countries. There appears to be a new group of migrants, forced migrants, 

caused by the extensive evictions of poor people carried out, particularly in Phnom 

Penh and Sihanoukville. 

Once on the streets, the Cambodian children/youth for the most part engage in 

scavenging and begging activities as to make a livelihood. Life on the streets generally 

impedes high risks and the main problems faced by the Cambodian street children/ 

youth population are related to Bong Thom, violence and health issues. Surprisingly, 

substance abuse appears on a moderate level in the 2009 questionnaire survey, except 

for in Phnom Penh where 18.5 percent of the children/youth explain their situation 

as a consequence of drug usage. However, this result might be influenced by the 

stigma associated with substance abuse, thus affecting the validity of the provided 

answers to the question. A growing problem faced by the Cambodian street children/ 

youth identified in all the 2009 survey locations are the clean-ups commenced by the 

Cambodian government placing the street children/youth in either detention centres, 

pre-trial detention or prisons. 

Compared to the results of last year’s CSCN profile, there has been a general increase in 

the percentage of street children/youth enrolled in primary school. Potentially reflecting 

the pres-sure placed on the Cambodian Government as to make progress towards 

achieving the UN MDG on universal primary education. However, the primary school 

enrolment rates of all CSCN locations are below the national average. The CSCN 

questionnaire survey results indicate that the main challenge regarding education of 

Cambodian street children/youth is to keep them in the school system once enrolled. 

The average education completion rate of the children/youth above the age of 6 is only 

2.9 years, indicating high drop-out rates considering that the average age of the street 

children/youth participating in the questionnaire survey being 14.3 years. 

CSCN 


APPENDIX I: PRESENTING THE CSCN MEMBERS 

CSCN 


119

DAMNOK TOEK (GOUTTE d’EAU) 

Questionnaire Location: Poipet & Neak Loeung 

Profile: 

Damnok Toek (Drop of Water in English and Goutte d’Eau in French) are two local 

organizations working with vulnerable Cambodian children and their families. The 

projects implemented aim at supporting vulnerable children and reintegrating them into 

an independent and productive life in their community. Goutte d’Eau first started to 

work in Cambodia in 1997. The non-governmental organization (NGO) was established 

in response to the needs of street children in the commune of Neak Loeung. Then it 

became a first local NGO in 2001 and a second one in 2003 based in Poipet on the Thai 

border. Damnok Toek takes care of more than 1,500 children per day with the support 

of up to 100 employees and three technical advisors. 

Objectives (of Goutte d’Eau): 

• Prevention of child-abuse, substance abuse and child trafficking (internal 

and cross-border trafficking); 

• Rehabilitation of under age substance abusers and traumatised children; 

• Integration of neglected children and street-children into Khmer society 

through non-formal education, vocational training and formal education; 

• Reintegration of trafficked and runaway children. 

CSCN 


Contact Details: 

Website: www.damnoktoek.org 

www.gouttedeau.org 

Email: 

poipet@gouttedeau.org 

neakloeung@gouttedeau.org 

CSCN 


121

KALIYAN MITH 

Questionnaire Location: Siem Reap 

Profile: 

Initiated in 2005, Friends-International’s Siem Reap project, Kaliyan Mith (meaning 

‘good friends’ in Khmer), provides a comprehensive range of services for vulnerable 

children, youth and their families. 

Project activities include providing outreach services to children and youth living on the 

streets; supporting young people detained in the Siem Reap Prison; the provision of 

temporary accommodation through the Transitional Home; providing a safe space for 

young people through the Drop In Centre; providing education and training; developing 

a community-wide child protection network through the ChildSafe initiative; supporting 

the children families through Home Based Production training with mothers to ensure 

the education of their children, developing a community wide child protection network 

through the ChildSafe initiative, and in 2009, initiating a new drugs project. 

Objectives : 

• Protecting street children and youth from all forms of abuse within the 

scope of the International Convention of the Rights of the Child; 

• Reintegrating street children and youth so they become actively involved 

in the develop-ment of their society; 

• Preventing street children and youth from engaging in risky behaviour 

and/ or dangerous situations that compromise their futures; 

• Improving the way organisations work by promoting innovative and 

effective approaches with the active participation of the children and youth; 

CSCN 


• Influencing all tiers of society to provide supportive environments and 

adopt positive behaviour changes 


Website: www.friends-international.org 

Email: 

info@friends-international.org 

CSCN 


123

MITH SAMLANH 

Questionnaire Location: Phnom Penh & Kampong Cham 

Profile: 

IMith Samlanh (meaning ‘Friends’ in English) is a local organization working with 

Cambodian street children, their families and the community to develop creative projects 

that effectively support the children to become in dependent and productive members 

of the community. 

Mith Samlanh was established in August 1994 as a non-religious organization working 

with street children in Phnom Penh. The non-governmental organization (NGO) was 

established in response to the needs of street children, their families and their community. 

The projects of Mith Samlanh aim to facilitate the children’s social reintegration into their 

families, the public school system, the workplace, and their culture. 

Objectives : 

• Protecting street children and youth from all forms of abuse within the 

scope of the International Convention of the Rights of the Child; 

• Reintegrating street children and youth so they become actively involved 

in the development of their society; 

• Preventing street children and youth from engaging in risky behaviour 

and/or dangerous situations that compromise their futures; 

• Improving the way organisations work by promoting innovative and 

effective approaches with the active participation of the children and youth; 

CSCN 


• Influencing all tiers of society to provide supportive environments and 

adopt positive behaviour changes. 


Website: www.mithsamlanh.org 


Email: 

info@mithsamlanh.org 

CSCN 


125

KROUSAR THMEY 

Questionnaire Location: Phnom Penh, 

Poipet & Siem Reap 

Profile: 

Since its creation in 1991, Krousar Thmey (meaning ‘New Family’ in English) has 

been a Cambo-dian organization assisting underprivileged children. Non political and 

non-religious, the organi-zation is state-approved in the United Kingdom, Switzerland 

and France. Krousar Thmey seeks to provide underprivileged children with emotional, 

social, educational, and material support that is appropriate to their environment. This 

assistance is designed to help these children develop into independent and responsible 

adults, while respecting their culture and traditions. Krousar Thmey’s programmes 

are designed to integrate these children into their culture and environment, and not to 

isolate them from it. Krousar Thmey has been committed to three kinds of activities in 

Cambodia: Education and Schooling Support; Child Welfare; and Cultural and Artistic 

Development 

Aiming at efficient long term development, Krousar Thmey advocates the responsible 

involve-ment of local partners. All projects are run by Cambodians for Cambodians: 

more than 1,100 children taken in charge directly by 360 locals and around 2,700 others 

receive financial or ma-terial support (schooling, uniform, cultural activities, etc.). 

Objectives : 

• To provide appropriate care for abandoned or orphaned children, for 

street children or for children who have been victims of child trafficking, 

so that these children can become autonomous and responsible adults. 

• To provide both educational and moral formation which are consistent 

with traditional Khmer customs and values. 

CSCN 



Website: www.krousar-thmey.org 

Email: 

info@krousar-thmey.org 

CSCN 


127

M’LOP TAPANG 

Questionnaire Location: Sihanoukville 

Profile: 

Since M’Lop Tapang was created in 2003 with the goal of giving street children of 

Sihanoukville access to learning tools, resources, and opportunities needed to build 

a better future. M’Lop Tapang offer regular meals, shelter, medical care, education, 

counselling, and protection from all types of abuse. Additionally, M’Lop Tapang works 

to increase awareness in the community about issues affecting street children. Today 

M’Lop Tapang works with over 2,000 street living and working children and their families 

at 9 centres in the Sihanoukville area. M’Lop Tapang work closely with schools, the 

police and local authorities to help make the community a safer place for all children. 

M’Lop Tapang strives to provide a safe haven for all of the street living and street working 

chil-dren of Sihanoukville, with the ultimate goal of reintegrating them into their families 

and com-munity. We believe that to reintegrate a child into a secure family environment 

is fundamental to their development and well-being. M’Lop Tapang is convinced that 

every child who has re-gained a sense of self-respect and returned to live with his or her 

family acts as an example to many others in the community. 

Objectives : 

• M’Lop Tapang strives to provide a safe haven for the street children of 

Sihanoukville. We offer care and support for any young person at risk. 

• Our mission is to provide positive options for street children. We offer 

access to educa-tion, life skills training and creative recreational activities, 

while also ensuring their pro-tection from all forms of abuse. Recognizing 

that each young person’s needs are unique, we work closely with every 

child and family to deliver the best possible care and services. 

CSCN 



Website: www.mloptapang.org 

Email: 

info@mloptapang.org 

CSCN 


129

WORLD VISION CAMBODIA 

Questionnaire Location: Phnom Penh 

Profile: 

As a member of the World Vision International Partnership, World Vision Cambodia 

(WVC) is committed to fulfilling the common vision: ‘Our Vision for every child, life in 

all it fullness, our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so’. We aim to empower 

our staff and our targeted communities to take part in building a future for Cambodian 

children. A future that includes the “fullness of life” and the will to carry out the work 

that transforms community members, making families stronger and more resilient to 

economic uncertainties. 

Street Children Transformation Project (SCTP), former named Phnom Penh Street 

Children Project (PPSCP) is one of the projects established by World Vision Cambodia. 

It was established in 1993 and has a center named Bamboo Shoot Children Center, 

functioning as an informal drop in center offering street children short to medium term 

accommodation and non-formal education, aiming to transform the life of street children 

in Phnom Penh in the age range 4-12 years 

Objectives (of the World Vision SCTP Project): 

: 

• Increase protection for street girls and boys from different kinds of abuse; 

• Provide short term and safe accommodation to targeted street girls and 

boys; 

• Prepare registered girls and boys for formal education and community life 

upon their inte-gration, and; 

• Successfully integrate registered girls and boys into the families. 

CSCN 



Website: www.worldvision.org.kh 

Email: 

cambodia@wvi.org 

CSCN 


131

CCASVA - Cambodian Children Against 

Starvation and Violence 


Profile: 

AEstablished in 1996 by a group of volunteers, the Cambodian Children Against 

Starvation and Violence Association (CCASVA: pronounced see-kaz-var) is a local, non 

partisan, non religious, NGO. CCASVA specialises in assisting and working with street, 

orphaned and vulnerable children who are considered to be at high risk of physical 

or sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking. CCASVA is committed to addressing 

serious social issues through programs of prevention, rehabilitation, education and 

reintegration. 

CCASVAs vision is to ensure that ‘all Cambodian children, especially street and working 

children, receive quality education and support to increase their quality of life, human 

rights, goals and aspirations’. 

Objectives : 

• Prevention and Protection. To reduce economic exploitation, violence, 

addiction, crime and HIV/AIDS infection of children within Cambodian 

communities. 

• Healing and Education. To improve access to health services, 

counselling, education, voca-tional training and legal services while 

providing secure and sustainable accommodation. 

• Our Commitment. 100% of donations are allocated directly to our 

programs, not to marketing initiatives or administration. 

CSCN 



Website: www.ccasva.org 

Email: 

peter@ccasva.org 

CSCN 


133



Profile: 

Friends-International (FI) first started working with street children in Phnom Penh, 

Cambodia in 1994. The initial project was called “Friends” or “Mith Samlanh” in 

Cambodian. In 1999 Mith Samlanh was localized as a Cambodia Non Government 

Organization and Friends-International continues to provide the organization with ongoing 

technical support. 

FFriends-International is a social enterprise that works with and for marginalized urban 

children and youth and their families to build their futures by: 

-protecting urban children and youth from all forms of abuse within the scope of the 

Interna-tional Convention of the Rights of the Child; 

-reintegrating marginalized urban children and youth into their family, society, occupation 

and culture so they become actively involved in the development of their society; 

-preventing marginalized urban children and youth from engaging in risky behavior and/ 

or dangerous situations that compromise their futures; 

-improving the way organizations work by promoting innovative and effective approaches 

with the active participation of the children and youth; 

-influencing all tiers of society to provide supportive environments and adopt positive 

behavior changes. 

The Cambodian Street Children Network (CSCN) was officially co-founded by Friends- 

International (FI) and Mith Samlanh (MS) in April 2007, and Friends-International has 

been coordinating the CSCN Profiles in 2007 and 2008, providing technical assistance 

and training to prepare the survey with the CSCN members and producing the Profile. 

CSCN 



Website: www.friends-international.org 

Email: 

info@friends-international.org 

CSCN 


135

LIST OF REFERENCES 

1 


http://www.adb.org/Documents/Fact_Sheets/CAM.pdf 

2 


CSCN Cambodian Street Children Profile 2008 

3 

Ibid 

4 

COHRE 

http://www.cohre.org/children 

5 


http://www.adb.org/Documents/Fact_Sheets/CAM.pdf 

6 

ILO 

‘The impact of the global crisis appears to have hit workers in manufacturing businesses 

(textiles and clothing, construction), but not yet in service businesses (hotel and 

restaurants, real estate...). Garment factory and construction workers have observed a 

massive increase in layoffs and reduction in overtime, which has caused their average 

effective incomes to decline. Since early 2008, around 28,819 garment workers and 

15,000 construction workers have been retrenched. Employment in tourism services 

is still stable, but could see job loss in the near future as income levels fall and fewer 

tourist arrivals. Tuk-Tuk drivers have seen a 60-87% decline in their daily earnings. 

Youth unemployment will increase given that these key sectors are primarily made up 

of workers between the ages of 15-24 years.’ 

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/documents/ 

meetingdocument/wcms_101593.pdf 

7 

Friends International 

http://www.friends-international.org/aboutkids/aboutkid.asp?mainmenu=aboutkid&pag 

e=childrenweworkwith 

8 

UNODC 

http://www.unodc.org/pdf/youthnet/egypt_street_children_report.pdf 

CSCN 


9 

Definitions of Children and Youth used by Friends International: 

(i) Children: 0-18 years of age; (ii) Youth: 15-24 years of age. (In addition: (iii) 

Adolescents: 10-19; (iv) Early Adoles-cence: 10-14; (v) Late Adolescence: 15-19; (vi) 

Young People: 12-24 years of age). 

http://www.friends-international.org/resources/charter/FI_Charter.pdf 

10 

Street children/youth often develop an extraordinary capacity to tell stories. Lying 

about their ages, family back-ground, the reasons for being on the streets, and their 

current circumstances are common topics. Moreover, manipu-lating information has 

a psychological function that allows the children to get back at a society that devalues 

them. However, another important aspect to why street children lie to social workers and 

adults in general is because they have the wrong attitude or ask the wrong questions 

when approaching the children. Consequently, the answers will not be objective as to 

avoid painful subjects, trying to please, survival attitude, lack of trust etc. 

11 

Questionnaires may be Closed-Ended (answerable by checking one of several 

predetermined answers) or Open-Ended (requiring participants to answer in their own 

words) or sometimes a mix of the two. 

12 

UNODC 

http://www.unodc.org/pdf/youthnet/egypt_street_children_report.pdf 

13 

UNICEF 

Cambodia Statistics 2008 

14 

Life expectancy has increased in the period from 1998 to 2008 from 54 to 61 years. 

15 

Index Mundi 

http://www.indexmundi.com/cambodia/population_growth_rate.html 

16 

National Institute of Statistics 

General Population Census of Cambodia 2008 Provisional Population Totals, National 

Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning, Cambodia, August 2008, p 20. 

17 

Ibid 

18 



19 

Ibid 

CSCN 


137

20 

Ibid 

21 

Ibid 

22 

DCCAM 

From 1996 up to the present, Cambodia uses a system of 12 years of general education 

consisting of six years of primary, three years of lower secondary and three years of 

upper secondary education (6+3+3). Basic education covers the first nine years of 

schooling and it is intended to meet basic learning needs and also to instill lifelong 

learning skills that will lay the foundation on which continuous learning can be based. 

http://www.dccam.org/Projects/Genocide/pdf/Education_Development_2009_DC- 

Cam-Va%20Vuthy.pdf 

23 

UNICEF 

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/cambodia_statistics.html#67 

24 

Ibid 

25 

World Bank 

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTCAMBODIA/Resources/ExecutiveSummar.pdf 

26 

Gender Index 

http://genderindex.org/country/cambodia 

27 

Clinton Foundation 

http://www.jbcfoundation.com/Cambodia.html 

28 

The average is taking experience, age and education into account. 

29 

The headship of the household is usually identified with the person who has the 

greater authority in the family or household. Power and authority, in turn may be vested 

in the member who has control over the general affairs of the family unit, including 

decision-making concerning its economic, social and political affairs 

30 

World Bank 

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTCAMBODIA/Resources/ExecutiveSummar.pdf 

31 

PANGAEA 

http://pangaea.org/street_children/world/who3.htm 

CSCN 


32 

PEPFAR 

http://2006-2009.pepfar.gov/press/81877.htm 

33 

National Institute of Statistics of Cambodia 

http://statsnis.org/SURVEYS/CSES2003-04/table12.htm 

34 

IOM 

http://www.iom.ch/jahia/webdav/shared/shared/mainsite/activities/countries/docs/ 

country_profile_cambodia.pdf 

35 

Ibid 

36 



37 

Although the term substance can refer to any physical matter, substance abuse has 

come to refer to the overindul-gence in and dependence of a drug or other chemical 

leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual’s physi-cal and mental health, or 

the welfare of others. 

38 

Human Rights Watch 

While drugs such as heroin and cannabis were widely used in Cambodia in the 1990s, 

the country witnessed a marked increase in yama (methamphetamine) use in the last 

decade. Currently, the main illicit substances used in Cambodia appear to be yama 

and ice (methamphetamine in crystal form). People who inject drugs are most likely to 

inject heroin. Solvents such as glue are commonly inhaled, especially by street children. 

Cannabis and, to a much lesser extent, ketamine, are also prevalent. The majority of 

people who use drugs are between 18 and 25 years old, and few are female. The use 

of two or more drugs is very common. 

Human Rights Watch, Skin on the Cable - The Illegal Arrest, Arbitrary Detention and 

Torture of People Who Use Drugs in Cambodia, January 25, 2010. 

39 

Mith Samlanh 

Survey of Substance Use Among Young People on the Streets of Phnom Penh, 

October 2008. 

40 

CSCN 

One of the significant reasons children and young people use ATS is often related to the 

CSCN 


139

effect the drug has on their ability to work longer hours. Working longer hours will enable 

children and youth to earn additional money and this is 

particularly pertinent for those engaged in menial labor or scavenging. Young people 

working in the entertain-ment/sex industry often use ATS for similar reasons. Young 

people working in the entertainment/sex industry also use ATS as a means of equipping 

themselves to cope with the nature of their work. 


41 

NACD 

Report on Illicit Drug Data and Routine Surveillance Systems in Cambodia 2007, The 

Secretariat of the National Au-thority for Combating Drugs (NACD), 2008. 

42 

The percentages are derived from the substance using part of the street children/ 

youth. 

Mith Samlanh, Survey of Substance Use Among Young People on the Streets of Phnom 

Penh, October 2008. 

43 

Assessment on Children in Conflict with the law/child justice: Report to UNICEF, S, 

Egger, Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific, The University of Sydney, Australia, 

page 17, 2005 

44 



45 

In 2008 there were 27 forced evictions of slums, involving 23.000 people, in 

Cambodia. 

Cambodian Street Children Network, CSCN Cambodian Street Children Profile 

2008 

46 

Teangtnaut 

http://teangtnaut.org/download/displaced-families-in-phnom-penh.pdf 

47 

Ibid 

48 

Several migrants are former refugees or internally displaced people, destitute 

victims from the past conflicts, whose reintegration into Khmer society has not been 

successful. 

CSCN 


Cambodian Street Children Network 2009 

This profile was compiled by: 

Friends International 

House 71 Street 174, P.O Box 597, Phnom Penh 

Kingdom of Cambodia 

Tel: (855) 23 986 601 

Email: info@friends-international.org 


www.childsafe-international.org

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