Early one morning at the market, a few strangers huddled around a vendor who was cooking noodles called “Lot Cha” លតឆា during the bustle of breakfast. The air was thick was humidity.
At one corner of the table, a lady broke the news about her friend’s newborn baby who had just died. The other women condoled her in hushed tones. Sadly, this news is not uncommon. The infant mortality rate in Cambodia is 26 deaths (per 1,000 live births), compared to 6 in the USA, 2 in Japan, and 31 deaths in Bangladesh.
The news weighed heavily upon us. Amidst the bustling atmosphere, other updates circulated from one person to another, intertwining the community in the tapestry of current events. Markets offer the unexpected power of connection, where chance encounters and shared conversations allow us to share both joys and sorrows. And, at the heart of this social fabric stands the kind-hearted vendor, silently observing the changes that unfold within each person over time.
Shopkeeper Stories is a photo-documentary of small business owners and their trades around the world, sharing their insights, stories and views. You can see all the posts on Instagram and Facebook @ShopkeeperStories
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