It should always be impossible for us to accept that during evening hours while more fortunate children can be found safe at home with their families, the poverty stricken boys and girls of the same planet will often only be located roaming the unforgiving streets of the developing world. This is particularly true in various areas throughout Cambodia, where disadvantaged children are commonly found begging, working to generate income in whatever way they can, or being lured in by pedophiles who do nothing but exploit Cambodia’s most precious assets.

Refusing to accept this situation as an inconvenient truth, M’Lop Tapang Centre for Street Children in Sihanoukville decided to extend its Mobile Library which previously only toured in search of these children during the day, to also operate during the night. Says Project Director Maggie Eno: "Our night time outreach is now more effective and fun because the M'Lop Tapang Mobile Library can be lit up and used regularly, in any location and at any time thanks to Light up the World Foundation's efficient solar systems!"

Indeed, M’Lop Tapang’s Mobile Library regularly tours throughout deserving areas and serves up to 500 children a month through outreach work carried out by staff and volunteers on the beaches, ports, railway station and slums. But these services can now also reach children at night when they are certainly most vulnerable. Accordingly, the light which is generated by the solar panel on the bus allows the outreach team to attract these curious children and youth when most Cambodian streets are pitch black and only moving with the sounds of young scurrying feet. It is particularly heartbreaking to know that these children have often never been exposed to education and are usually forced to beg at night by their parents (also driven by poverty) to aid in their day to day survival. Although M'Lop Tapang has managed to reintegrate many of these kids back into public school and with their families, it is always important to remember that their first line of contact with our social workers is always on the street. For some kids, the library is the only safe place in their daily lives where they can just be kids, even if for only a little while.

For those children and youth who we are still on the streets but with whom we are working with and also for the ever increasing population of new kids who come to town, the M'Lop Tapang Mobile Library offers a channel of hope that sheds light on positive choices, as well as provides a fun and safe learning environment even when there is no other light for miles and miles. In fact, solar panels and LED lights have been proven to be so beneficial for M'Lop Tapang that there have been serious talks about trying to integrate them into the new M’Lop Tapang Centre that is currently under construction. Electricity prices in Cambodia are always soaring and as an NGO M’Lop Tapang is unjustly charged as a "company or factory". With this in mind, a sustainable energy program would have a positive impact on the whole community, displaying to the world that street kids are not only bright in every sense of the word, but also environmentally conscious!

Visit Light up the World Foundation, of the University of Calgary.

Visit M'Lop Tapang website to find out more about their programs and projects.