I’m using my stage name of Jay Moon for this project, which is how many people in Phnom Pehn know me from my previous public speaking and stand up performances. I am an expatriate European, living in Cambodia for over a decade. Previously teaching and then working in film, though the establishment didn’t survive Covid and I have been concentrating on writing projects since them.

During Covid, when most of Phnom Pehn closed down I got to know people within the local homeless community, which have become lifelong friends. I was deeply affected when a friend’s child went missing from the streets and I helped her report it. This event was really a culmination of seeing peoples’ ongoing struggles, young friends dying, children left homeless and similar, and I decided to try and make some small difference.

I notice all of us, (including me) are invisible in wider society. Amazing people I have known passed and disappeared into the ether as though they never existed, and I want to begin by sharing some of these stories. Next, if there is interest I can possibly help them maintain their story online, formulate the transformation they envision for themselves, then try and obtain direct donations and help them receive payment (they are mostly unbanked).

The stretch goal, and something of my own dream, is to begin a hostel for the homeless, based on anarchist principles of bringing together different people to dispel myths and stereotypes, run Buddhist themed addiction workshops and run a self-sustaining social enterprise.

Early days right now. At this point I’m just sharing the stories and some ideas, and let’s see how the life-energy works out.

I maintain another website about my other passion, meditation and metaphysics. I am Buddhist, a psychology graduate and an odd looking guy.