jaw ngo worker

Kurimoto Hideo, 52
NGO Worker living in Cambodia

What do you do in Cambodia?
I started an NGO, teaching 40 students. The number of students kept increasing, up to 100 and more. Only 30% of Cambodian children can attend school. I teach the Cambodian language, arithmetic, science, etc..

Any difficulties living in Cambodia?
I have no problem--I live the same as villagers. Foreigners must be careful about food and drink. I can eat anything. No internet, no electricity is troublesome. I’m late with correspondence. So I go to Thailand once a week as it’s only ten km away.

How do you get money?
I do my own fundraising. Students from Japan come to learn--last year 100 students. They pay ¥130,000 for a tour; I make ¥50,000. With that I have schools built, pay teacher’s salaries, etc. At first I worked as an interpreter, then I worked in tv, then clearing landmines for two years.

Is that dangerous?
It’s simple. No training. Then my friend got caught and put in prison, so I stopped. Now I just do my area when necessary. The government doesn’t want us clearing landmines. NGOs in Cambodia are big business.

How did you end up in Cambodia?
I lived in Thailand for ten years doing volunteer work, helping students who couldn’t attend school. Before that, China, and before that Laos, altogether 30 years overseas. When economic conditions improved in China and then Thailand, I moved on. If another country needed me, I would go. It doesn’t matter if it’s dangerous. Everybody will die. Afghanistan, Iraq would be ok. I’m Asian, however, so I understand Asia best, because it is Buddhist.

Why have you pursued such a different life?
Most people don’t understand what happiness is. They are not mature. If people could understand the kind of satisfaction that comes from this kind of work, they’d want to do it too. Most people want a bicycle, then a motorcycle, then something better, always more and better. A smiling face is enough. Living for yourself makes for a pain-filled life. Last night I slept in a car. I don’t need a hotel room. I’d feel bad paying ¥7000. A family in Cambodia could eat many meals with that money. Companies offer me big money--I’ve turned down ¥50,000,000 donations more than once. If I accepted I would have to follow their way; I’d forget about the villagers. Some NGO’s come in and build schools and throw money around. There are no teachers at those schools now. If you just give, it doesn’t work. They lose pride. When big money is involved, people do bad things, lots of money gets stolen and some people get very rich. People in Cambodia have nothing, but they are truly happy. You wouldn’t believe how happy.

What’s your dream?
I just want to die trying. Dying early is best. I don’t want people to think of me as anyone special. That creates arrogance. I don’t want to accumulate money or gain status. See http://cambodiakids.to

the end

This interview was originally published in Kansai Time Out magazine.