Being "nice" to a child isn't always nice.
This message applies to most developing countries, not just Cambodia.

http://theplf.org/wp/2014/03/get_real_sign/

P.S. This article was written by one of our own Fodorites...

A fine article by Lori!

I was appalled to see couple of tourists carefully teaching a child in Mrauk U to say bob-bon. These are children who had almost not contact with tourism and what it can do to their culture. There is no medical care, let alone dental care in many of these places.

A sad scenario indeed. I try to not buy anything from children.

As a fortunate visitor to a school (in very different circumstances than described by the writer Lori) to other planners and readers I'd say, if you have a chance to visit a school in Myanmar, go for it.
You can find out something about locals schools via charitable organisations websites. From there, narrow it down, and if you can get in touch with the school in advance, all the better. I had nothing to give except my time, and at the end of this trip to Myanmar, some cash for a "special meal" for the novices in Yangon.

I randomly met an Australian teacher couple at my hotel in Inle lake, got chatting, referred them to the school in Mandalay where they were heading. Later got an email from them about how much they enjoyed the tour of the school with my teacher friend. They had searched her out by asking students, she spent several hours showing two strangers, (very interested strangers) her school and how it all works.
Such is the hospitality of Burmese people.

A brilliant and moving article, I have visited Cambodia several times over the last 20 years and, despite the wealth that it has brought it is sad to see the massive negative impact that tourism has had on the most vulnerable and poorest members of Cambodian society. Sadly, as is pointed out by the writer of the article, I fear the the war is already lost.

I also totally agree with the writer's comment that "By my estimation, a full 75% of the charities I see operating here are in the business of creating big salaries for the principals" I do wish more people would do more indepth research into any voluntary projects choose to work on before they go. We experienced this first hand when in Sierra Leone with Voluntary Service Overseas ( UK equivalent of e peace corp) the biggest industry, by far was the setting up of small NGOs which, as the above article pointed out, served mainly to benefit the principals of the NGO not the people they purported to help.

The title of the post say it all really, if tourists asked themselve that simple question first then the schools and kids would be left in peace to do perform their intend functions to teach and learn.

Excellent article, Lori. Hope it's picked up by some of the travel sites, travel sections in newspapers and the like.

Thanks for alerting us all to Lori's article, lcuy. I too hope it gets wide distribution!

After reading about Ponheary here on fodors, we, like many other fodorites here, stayed at the Lee family B&B when in Siem Reap a few years ago, had Ponheary as our guide, and learned about the plf's mission. We well remember Ponheary talking about this issue and also gently talking to children we came across who were selling things. It's nice to hear that the plf is continuing to take a stand on this issue!