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Published: January 29th 2009
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Yahn
This is Yahn with his new red chucks donated by some b-boys in Long Beach, California Hi Friends...
It's me again...
Just wanted to introduce you to Yahn- one of our most talented breakdancing kids!
Written By: Talia Mota
January 5, 2008
What rushes through your mind as you're shopping for beautiful made-in-Cambodia scarves, purses, t-shirts and other Khmer souvenirs at the Russian Market? What should you get your mom? What should you get your dad? What should you get your sister? What should you get your dog? How about what should you give this starving child, standing right in front of you with a look of hope and anguish intimidating your feelings of helplessness and sadness - what should you give to him? He's not asking for anything pretty; he's just asking for life.
You watch, entranced, as his skeletal arm works to lift a box in front of you. "Hello, shine shoe?" He's so tiny and so adorable, threatening the decision you already made to not give beggars money. Only he's not begging; he's working. How old is he? Looks about eight, working at eight? He doesn't even look strong enough to hold the box up. "Hello, miss, shine shoe? One dollar." Glancing down at his emaciated body makes you
Sreyneth
Yahn's younger 8 year old sister feel bad about the huge meal you just ate, and watching his eyes sparkle, still hopeful, makes you reach into your pocket. One dollar means nothing to me, you think as you hand it over. He clasps the dollar into his praying hands, saying thank you over and over.
Does this make you feel better? What if he runs off into the common scene around this market: a young boy, staggering down the street, his face sucking hard from a plastic bag? What if you just aided in this child's drug addiction, enabling him to leave this world high instead of dealing with the upfront pain of his everyday life?
Today, you made a good choice. The smile Yanh flashed at you was genuine, and the dollar you gave him will help feed his entire family - what's left of it anyway. His older brother took off with drugs and a girlfriend and he hasn't seen his older sisters for years. His mother disappeared into the poverty of the countryside and his father has never been in his life. With the help of his seven-year-old sister, Sreyneth, Yanh works eight hours a day hoping to make enough money
to feed them both, and his grandma who awaits food and medicine as she's sick and dwindling in their wooden home underneath someone's house. These kind neighbors provide them with a roof and can sometimes give them rice when Yanh and Sreyneth can't collect enough money.
There are thousands of streets kids in Phnom Penh. With their struggle to survive each day, they beg, collect cans, sell fruit, shine shoes, and beg some more. When they realize it's not enough, they join gangs, become thieves, and consequently, start using drugs.
As Yanh looks for another potential costumer, someone grabs his bony arm and pulls him into a dark corner of the market.
"What did you make today?"
Yanh holds his ground. "Nothing."
"I don't believe you." The man shakes Yanh's shoulders and goes for his pockets.
"Please. I'm telling the truth."
Yanh tries to pull away, only to get thrown against the wall. He closes his eyes as he gets slapped so hard across the face his thoughts weaken for a second and he curses this pile of poverty he was so miserably brought in to.
"You better have money for me next
This is Cambodia
At the riverside time."
Yanh is still shaking as Sreyneth runs into his arms, crying. Their father has never been around, never cared about them, but shows up every two to three months to abusively steal the money they so desperately need.
Yanh, who is a tiny eleven-year-old, experienced childhood malnutrition so intense that his growth is stunted, but you wouldn't believe how strong he is. Maybe not physically strong, but he is mentally and emotionally prepared each day to help his family survive.
Every day, Yanh faces pressures from drugs, starvation, and even watching kids with enough money stroll by in their school uniforms. Do you know an eleven-year-old who is independent and tough enough to live this way without giving up? Yanh even understands the importance of education, and tried school when he was eight but had to quit learning because of his family's growing dependence on his shoe-shining work at the market. How can he give up when he looks into his little sister's eyes, smiling and precious with so much trust in him? Yanh has about accepted his fate of always working hard, hardly eating, and always remaining poor. Then, one day, his life changed completely.
He has heard the rumors, and goes to see if they are true. Yanh finds himself in the drop-in-center of Tiny Toones, sitting in a classroom filled with other kids being educated about HIV/AIDS. Tiny Toones, founded by Tuy Sobil (KK), opened its new facility in 2008. The place is always filled with hundreds of happy street kids, and reaches out to three thousand Cambodian youth through hip hop and education. Yanh is inspired by the head spins and back flips and has become one of the best break-dancers his age. Previously uneducated, Yanh and Sreyneth are now learning to read and write English for two hours in the morning, Khmer in the afternoon, and join various workshops educating the children against drugs, violence, and HIV/AIDS. Yanh still works at the market, but only two hours a day now, not eight, and uses the money to bring home to his grandmother. He spends as much time with her as possible because she's sick, comforting her, and then returns to Tiny Toones for his night dance class, keeping him off the streets.
Yanh has even started teaching his peers how to express themselves through dance, and with a group
of eight, has started developing routines of his own, and performs with the older children around Phnom Penh.
With poetic rap, Yanh wants to share his story through Khmer rhyme, rhythm, and sound. One day he hopes to be the voice for Cambodian street children, and wants to inspire them the same way KK inspired him. Tiny Toones has brought Yanh a long way, and he's just at the beginning of his journey away from poverty, child labor, and starvation. Tiny Toones saved his life and the lives of many others. Yanh looks excitedly into his new future with a happy and positive attitude knowing that he now has a chance to accomplish his dreams.
To really save these children and have an impact on their lives, help support Tiny Toones. Tiny Toones keeps these children off the streets and gives them a chance to escape from poverty and follow their dreams.
For more information- visit: tinytoonescambodia.com
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evy
non-member comment
Lisa, I just watch the asia channel this morning and they shown a child who perform breakdance. The child is like Yahn... wow probably he is really him.. How amazing he do the dance.. : )