Has anyone seen these 'Local4Local food pantries' ? (Food donation spots situated at Wat Phnom and riverside).

Student on Mission to Serve Needy Cyclo Drivers
Teng Yalirozy 06/24/2021 2:10 PM
Stranded American-Cambodian says inspired by aid plan from US
PHNOM PENH--The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted a young Cambodian-American college student to help underprivileged Cambodians, particularly older cyclo drivers in Phnom Penh, by donating food and sustaining their work.

Daily food donations have turned into an initiative that is working to promote the cyclo as well as giving aid to those in need.

Taing Huang Hao, a 21-year-old student of supply chain and operations management at St. Thomas University in the US state of Minnesota, came up with the idea while he was stranded in Cambodia due to Covid-19.

Huang Hao paid a short visit to Cambodia in January, 2020, but has been unable to return to the US and has to study remotely.

The idea of food donations began when Huang Hao was working on a photography project, “Who is most disadvantaged in Cambodia, but still happy?” in late 2020. The first person coming to mind was a cyclo driver.

Huang Hao had happy memories as a child with his late grandmother, who had been a cyclo lover. He also met a 68-year-old cyclo driver who shared many of his stories. This made him want to share the stories and seek help for him through social media.

“Cyclo drivers are more than just cyclo drivers. They are storytellers who have been in Cambodia for a very long time, Huang Hao said. “They know the city. They know the country. They are not just weak and old people but uncles and fathers.”

Huang Hao, who is a street photographer, wanted to seek long-term assistance for older cyclo drivers and other struggling cyclo drivers. He sought cooperation from various places to support food donations and employment sustainability for them.

With the Covid-19 crisis in Cambodia, Huang Hao launched a “Local4Local” initiative last April. This is a youth-run food drive, sustaining the livelihood of cyclo drivers and supporting people in need on the streets. It targets individuals on the streets who are living day-by-day. Local4Local also provided food aid for needy families living in red zones during the severe Covid-19 outbreak.

Huang Hao, who is a street photographer, launched a “Local4Local” initiative last April. Photo from Local4Local Facebook.

In addition to helping the needy, Huang Hao also provides aid to affected street vendors. Money from donations, beside being used to buy dried food and other materials, is spent on hot meals cooked by food vendors for a donation. The money is also used to pay cyclo drivers who distribute food around Phnom Penh.

So far, over 800 families have received Covid relief packages, while 19,000 hot meals have been distributed.

Local4Local has three current programs. Another two will be implemented in the future. The first program is a mobile cyclo community pantry, which is the first mobile community in Cambodia, with participation of the Cyclo Association.

The cyclo pantry is a portable container used to store donated food and other item for those in need. Cyclo drivers will also distribute items from the pantries to poor people in different locations.

Huang Hao said, “The purpose of the cyclo pantries is to encourage generosity and solidarity. Anymore can donate, more or less, it shows people’s goodwill. We need to help each other.”


He came up with the idea after seeing public mobile food pantries in the US and at his university. He learnt that mobile food pantries had served the public in the US well, prompting him to create one in Cambodia to ease the burden of his compatriots.

There are two cyclo pantries. One is in front of Wat Botum, and the other is near the riverside. If there is no donor, some days, the Cyclo Association will fill up the pantries with food and supplies. Donors can make a donation at 9 or 10 in the morning, and those who need it can pick up at 4pm.
In full: https://cambodianess.com/article/studen ... lo-drivers

Government Food Aid for Phnom Penh Cyclo Drivers

Cambodia News, (Phnom Penh): To facilitate the lives of cyclo drivers during the Kovid-19 crisis, on June 27, 2021, Samdech Techo HE, Prime Minister of Cambodia and Samdech Kittiprittbandit Bun Rany HE and Mrs. Hun Mana, Director General of Bayon Radio and Television, have donated some food to 300 cyclo operators in Phnom Penh.

The donation ceremony was held at Bayon TV, Boeung Snor, organized by Mr. Chin Bunthoeun along with some other team members.

On that occasion, Mr. Chin Bunthoeun sent greetings from the leadership to the cyclo riders, especially Samdech Techo HE and Samdech Katiprittbandit, who always think about the well-being of the cyclo riders at all times.
He also reminded the elderly cyclo riders to take care of their health, especially to protect themselves from the spread of Covid-19 disease.

It should be reminded that in the past, Samdech Techo HE, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, has increased this fund, especially for the cyclo riders, who have received many benefits, such as receiving a subsidy of 7,000 riels every 10 days, free medical treatment from public hospitals and other benefits such as big national holiday allowance and retirement.

Donations given now: Each cyclo driver receives:
1 bag of rice equal to 25 kg,
2 fish sticks equal to 20 cans, 3 small boxes of noodles,
6 cans of Carabao drink, 1 box of 350ml Aruna pure water, 1 scarf, 1 blanket,
1 mosquito net, a pair of shoes,
One tip of vitamin C, one box of pills,
One bottle of cola oil, one bottle of air oil,
One box of mask, one set of toothbrushes and toothpaste, one bottle of hand sanitizer, one bar of soap
And 50,000 riels in cash.

So is it the foreign private initiative that triggered this "spontaneous" public donation to the 300 cyclo drivers ?

Don't want to piss on anybody's parade, but it seems little compared to what could be done for obviously some of the most needy and useful citizens.

The content of each package is basically what is given each year to the cleaning lady by each homeowner / employeer in other SE asian countries which minimal wages are lower than Cambodia. And 7000 riels 3 times a month ?

Anyway, still better than nothing.

Ghostwriter wrote: ↑Sun Jun 27, 2021 5:56 pm So is it the foreign private initiative that triggered this "spontaneous" public donation to the 300 cyclo drivers ?

Don't want to piss on anybody's parade, but it seems little compared to what could be done for obviously some of the most needy and useful citizens.

The content of each package is basically what is given each year to the cleaning lady by each homeowner / employeer in other SE asian countries which minimal wages are lower than Cambodia. And 7000 riels 3 times a month ?

Anyway, still better than nothing.

Yeah, who knows what provoked this outpouring of generosity, but in the end, at least it is a whole lot better than nothing at all. The gesture might also encourage average citizens to spare a thought for those in need, and to donate a bit of food when possible. Or to just take a cyclo from time to time to give them a bit of cash. Does anyone here ever use cyclos btw ?

Anchor Moy wrote: Does anyone here ever use cyclos btw ?

In 3 years i never did.
It's more for little money people with not too much hurry to come back from the market on a daily basis, kind of transportation. Cheap and convenient, the most essential service for many housewives.

Was they allowed to try on the shoes first?
I mean, correct size n all that..

Railroad wrote: ↑Sun Jun 27, 2021 8:43 pm Was they allowed to try on the shoes first?
I mean, correct size n all that..

Shoes = White rubber flip-flops - size Man. 2000r a piece.

Cambodia's cyclos bring meals on three wheels to virus-hit Phnom Penh
By Cindy Liu 2 days ago

PHNOM PENH, July 23 (Reuters) - "Take what you need, donate what you can" is the slogan written on a glass fronted cabinet full of food, water and essential daily items carried by Cambodian cyclo taxi driver Chim Prich.

Hit hard by coronavirus movement restrictions, Cambodian cyclo drivers are flocking to the streets of the capital, Phnom Penh, with mobile food banks that allow residents crippled by the pandemic's economic hardships to pick up free food and essentials.

"Thanks to the kindness of those more fortunate who provided these foods and necessities, I can deliver them to poor people like trash collectors, beggars, street sweepers and anyone else who is struggling to make enough money to buy food," Chim Prich said.

Cyclos, three-wheeled pedal-powered rickshaws, have long been a popular choice for visitors keen to take in the sights and enjoy the buzz of Phnom Penh at a leisurely pace. But the coronavirus pandemic's devastating impact on global travel has crushed tourist numbers, cutting driver's incomes.

Hao Taing, a 21-year-old student in Phnom Penh, came up with the idea of the mobile food banks after seeing the cyclo drivers struggle.

"It brings me great joy to run this project, and I've received a lot of love and support from people both here and abroad," Hao Taing said. A full-time student, Hao Taing spends his days working on the project and his nights studying.

"It's not easy," said Hao Taing, who added that he hoped the initiative would help Cambodia's iconic cyclos survive the pandemic.

For their efforts, Hao Taing's organization Local4Local, which relies on donations, pays the cyclo drivers a small wage of around $17.50 a week to deliver food, water and other essentials to Phnom Penh's most vulnerable people.

The initiative includes 10, colorful, hand-painted pantries placed atop the cyclos that are then stationed across various points in the city so those in need can take, and those who have the means can donate.

"I feel like I've been reborn," said Ny Koy, a 63-year-old beneficiary of the project.

"No one has given food to me everyday like this. I'm so thankful. Now I can sleep well at night."
(Reporting by Cindy Liu; Additional reporting by Chantha Lach; Writing by James Pearson; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ca ... ar-AAMsxfZ