Under a scorching sun, the air thick with the smell of decay, tricycles carrying recyclables kick up clouds of dust. On the outskirts of Phnom Penh, the Dangkor Landfill—a mountain of waste—is where many impoverished families depend on for survival. Men climb shifting layers of trash with worn net bags on their backs, scavenging for items to sell to support their families. Some have even made their homes on top of the landfill itself.
A decade of consistent care
On January 24, 2026, Dalin Cheng (李釧玉), a staff member from Tzu Chi Cambodia, and Ya-ling Hsu (許雅玲) from the Tzu Chi headquarters, led a group of students to the landfill community. The group included ten university students from Taiwan participating in a Chinese-language international learning project and four local Cambodian student partners. As their bus arrived, a wave of excitement broke out among the local children, who came running to see the visitors.
In this community, bare feet and bare chests are common. Untouched by the material world of the city, the children's clear eyes reflect the blue sky, unaware of the concept of "poverty." Their homes, built from tattered canvas, scrap metal, and bamboo, tell stories of lives lived in a corner of the world forgotten by modern prosperity.
LEFT: Dilapidated shacks made of tin and canvas stand near the landfill. RIGHT: While parents and older siblings scavenge for recyclables, many young girls in the community are left to care for their younger siblings. | Photos: Yu-Cheng Lin
The youth participants followed the volunteers into the settlement, moving slowly and greeting residents with a bow and joined palms. For ten years, Tzu Chi has provided rice and essential supplies to this community every three months. To the residents, these visits represent more than just food; they are a reminder that they are respected and remembered.
Small acts of kindness
As the group walked, they saw a teenage girl standing in her doorway. Volunteer Hsin-Hua Wang (王新華) waved to her, and the girl responded shyly. Holding a corn on the cob, Hsin-Hua asked if she could share it. With her mother’s permission, the girl stepped outside to accept the snack.
Through translation provided by Li-chun Lin (林麗君), a Cambodian student studying at Tzu Chi University in Taiwan, the group learned the 15-year-old girl was born deaf and mute. In her silent world, the simple gift of food became a bridge for genuine communication.
LEFT: Student participants from Taiwan and Cambodia join Dalin Cheng for a group photo at the landfill community. RIGHT: Volunteer Hsin-Hua Wang (right) offers a snack to a 15-year-old girl who is deaf and mute. | Photos: Yu-Cheng Lin
Nearby, a woman and her daughter-in-law sat on the ground, meticulously sorting recyclables. Their husbands and sons were still up on the landfill, searching for anything of value. In a narrow, dim hut, a mother looked after her four young children, while the most "luxurious" furniture in another home was a pair of broken office chairs salvaged from the trash.
The power of education
Education remains the primary hope for breaking the cycle of poverty. Siwei Luo (羅思偉), a first-grade student supported by Tzu Chi’s educational aid, sat on the dirt ground carefully writing his name with colored markers. Jinxin Huang (黃金欣), a local teacher and project participant, sat beside him, offering gentle guidance.
LEFT: Jinxin Huang (right), a local teacher encourages first-grader, Siwei to keep up with his studies. RIGHT: A mother and her daughter-in-law sort recyclables to help support their family. | Photos: Yu-Cheng Lin
The visit left a profound impact on the student participants. Yi-sha Li (李依紗) was struck by the sight of children walking barefoot in the dust, while Yu-cheng Ke (柯羽城) noted the overwhelming smell of the landfill. Sai-zhen Chen (陳賽貞), from Singapore, described the experience as stepping out of a "palace" of comfort to witness the reality of suffering. She noted that while some physical conditions had improved since her last visit years ago, the children’s smiles remained as bright as ever.
Xin-ying Lin (林欣穎), a high school English teacher, reflected on a 14-year-old boy she met.
In his eyes, there was no resentment or cynicism. Instead, there was a sense of calm. Compared to students in the city who are often consumed by the internet and material desires, the young people here may have nothing, yet they possess an inner steadiness.— Xin-ying Lin, Teacher
LEFT: Dalin Cheng (second left) leads students on a home visit to a family of six that relies entirely on scavenging. | Photo: Yu-Cheng Lin RIGHT: Discarded office chairs salvaged from the landfill serve as furniture in a local home. | Photo: Cathy Chang
As the group prepared for a large-scale rice distribution the following day, the time spent in the community served as a reminder of the weight of their responsibility. For these young volunteers, the visit was not just about delivering aid, but about a heart-to-heart encounter that highlighted the enduring power of compassion in the most humble of places.
Written by Cathy Chang (張淑宜)
