Last Wednesday, January 7—Victory Day here in Cambodia—Little Hearts began the new year with another community clean-up activity similar to last year’s. This is a commitment we have carried for many years through various initiatives, including the CAKE Project. This year’s clean-up was especially meaningful because more people stood with us and supported the cause.
A total of 60 students from our community and the hamlet of New Hope, many of whom study English at Little Hearts, joined hands with our kids and staff. Together, we started the clean-up at 8:00 AM and continued until midday, covering both sides of the road in front of our facility for about three kilometers in total.
Along the way, we encountered several spots that took a very long time to clean. These areas have been used as dumping places for years—garbage on top of garbage, to the point that they looked like small landfills. Seeing this was heartbreaking, but our children and volunteers worked patiently and tirelessly to clear them.
Our clean-up activity became even more powerful when around 200 students from a nearby school joined us for an hour. Watching so many young people work together for a cleaner environment was truly inspiring. It reminded us that community awareness starts with the younger generation, and this clean-up was a firm step in that direction.
By the end of the activity, we had collected almost 100 huge garbage bags in just half a day—a clear sign that the garbage problem in our area is getting worse. What made the situation more painful was witnessing how deeply rooted careless behavior is. While our children were cleaning near the pagoda, someone casually dumped their trash right in front of them. Fortunately, a local official happened to pass by and witnessed the incident. The situation was handled calmly, with a gentle reminder that even small actions matter—especially when children are watching and learning from adults. As for the 100 bags of rubbish, we arranged for CINTRI, Phnom Penh’s waste disposal company, to collect them.
Sadly, only a few hours after the clean-up, plastic cups, straws, and other new waste were already scattered in the same places we had just cleaned. Moments like this can be discouraging. We are doing everything we can, yet the problem persists.
Still, we believe that every effort counts. What we are doing is a beginning—a way to inspire, educate, and remind the community that garbage is not someone else’s responsibility. It is everyone’s responsibility.
There is still a long journey ahead, especially when it comes to education and awareness about proper waste disposal and environmental protection. But we remain committed. We will continue doing what we can so our community is not buried in trash, and so future generations can grow up in a cleaner, healthier environment.
We kindly but firmly call on community members and especially those in positions of responsibility to take action now—before the situation worsens further. Existing rules and regulations must be enforced more strictly, and leadership must be shown through consistent and visible action. At the same time, every member of the community must respect and follow the law. Protecting our environment is a shared duty, and real change will only happen when everyone does their part.
We thank every child, student, staff member, and supporter who helped during the community clean-up. Together, step by step, we believe change is possible.
