Cambodian Reaction
The incidence of deportation has been projected to increase significantly; as of 2005, out of 1200 to 1500 potential deportees, 127 had been returned to Cambodia, up from 40 three years previously. Bill Herod, a long-time resident of Cambodia, established the Returnee Assistance Program, a non-governmental organization, to assist deportees in transitioning to life in Cambodia. However, deportees receive no official support, and Cambodian government officials have expressed their consternation that the United States is dumping "American gang members" on the streets of Cambodia.
The integration of these deportees has been mixed. Some have completely integrated into Cambodian society, but most tend to live near each other and socialize with one another. Currently, several deportees set up and work for a local harm reducation organization, Korsang, providing help for drug addicts.
Korsang has received a lot of attention from the local media as well as international support from leading organizations for its ground breaking work. They hire Cambodian deportees who go through the neighborhoods and streets in order to talk to drug users. They give out condoms and tell drug addicts about the danger of spreading HIV through sharing needles for heroin use and offer them help in cutting down or quiting their addiction.
Another success story has been the establishment of Tiny Toones, a breakdancing troop for poor urban children, set up by Tuy Sobil who goes by the name "KK." He grew up in Long Beach, California, where he was exposed to b-boying and danced for four years after seeing it at the parks. He became involved in gang activitiy which caused him to be deported to Cambodia in 2004. The organization was founded after nine young kids learned that he used to b-boy when he was younger and asked him to teach them.
He rejected their request the first couple of times, because he did not think he could start dancing again after quitting so long ago. He gave in the third time that they asked him, and began dance classes from his small flat. He also started hosting bboy battles in the park on Sundays, where crowds of hundreds passers-by and children would gather to see kid dance crews from different neighborhoods compete just for respect. The popularity of b-boying and Tiny Toones grew tremendously from there, and people have recognized their talent and hired them for performances. KK's home serves as the local teen community center where the staff encourages the kids to stay in school and away from drugs and gangs.
Read more about this topic: Deportation Of Cambodian Americans
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