Matthew Wenham - Cambodia's Forgotten Children

Between 1975 and 1979 the Khmer Rouge devastated Cambodia in what is now considered to have been one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the 20th century. More than 30 years later, Pol Pot’s legacy lives on. Cambodia’s Forgotten Children is a unique insight into the problems facing young people in Cambodia’s capital today. The film will take you to Phnom Penh’s poorest areas, explain why so many children are at risk from exploitation and introduce you to the Non Government Organisations (NGO’s) trying to help. Touching interviews and hard-hitting footage will introduce you to an underprivileged and vulnerable youth, whose spirit and resilience shine through against all odds. This is Chris Cook and Matt Wenham’s first full-length documentary.

It was made and funded entirely but them with the support of their families, Southampton Solent University and several media companies who helped out with equipment.
It started life as a university project following a brief but inspirational trip to Cambodia in summer 2005. However, the idea has always been to create something that will raise awareness of the many problems facing Cambodia’s Children and to explain how it is that the legacy left behind by the Khmer Rouge regime continues to hinder Cambodia’s progress.

The film was shot in January 2006 with the assistance of the South East Asia Children’s Mercy Fund (SACMF), Vulnerable Children’s Assistance Organisation (VCAO), Jeanine’s Children Association (JCA), Healthcare Centre for Children (HCC), Lighthouse orphanage and Playsafe youth centre.