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Give blood, dine for a cause, do
volunteer work, shop responsibly, donate to an NGO, support a
disadvantaged child...there are many ways to that you can help
disadvantaged Cambodians and contribute to the development of the
country. The projects and places listed below are but a few of those
available in Cambodia.
Canby Media does not endorse or
mean to imply endorsement of any of the following charitable
organizations or NGOs by way of inclusion in the following list.
While many NGOs and charities provide valuable services and
assistance, not all are honest and scrupulous. We have attempted to
chose reputable organizations for inclusion in the following list,
but we do not have the resources or capacity to properly evaluate
each organization.
There is an on-going debate about the
value, draw-backs and ethics of 'volunteerism,' orphanage and
poverty tours and other trends within this growing sub-industry
within the tourism industry. The
Lessons Learned blog contains many valuable and thoughtful
articles on the issue. Also see this rather raw blog entry on
The Pity Industry. Also see
Friends-International's article:
When Children Become Tourist Attractions
Canby Media strongly
recommends that tourists avoid 'orphanage tours' and other such
activities which contribute to the exploitation of children.
Siem Reap
Angkor Hospital for Children
The Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC), is a
charitable organization, was founded by renowned Japanese photographer
Kenro Izu in 1999. The hospital provides treatment and care to local
children as well as children from neighboring provinces. The hospital is
recognized by Cambodian’s Ministry of Health as an official teaching
hospital and AHC’s Medical Education Center serves as a training site
for health professionals from all over Cambodia. Our Capacity Building
and Health Education Program works to strengthen the capacity and
improve the quality of local health practices. The Friends Center at
Angkor Hospital for Children gives visitors the unique opportunity to
visit the hospital and learn more about its programs. Designed for
environmental sustainability with the purpose of educating about the
hospital the Friends Center also displays prints donated by Kenro Izu
and hosts rotating art and photography exhibitions. The donation of
money and blood are much appreciated!
Tel: +(855)(0)63-963409
Fax: +(855)(0)63-760452
ahcpr@angkorhospital.org/fc@angkorhospital.org
www.angkorhospital.org
Beatocello and Jayavarman VII Hospital Dr. Beat Richner plays
Bach on the cello and speaks about the activities of his children’s
hospitals (Jayavarman VII in Siem Reap, Kantha Bopha 1
and 2 in Phnom Penh) every Friday and Saturday evening at
7:15PM. Performances are held at the Jayavarman VII Hospital,
located on the road to Angkor Wat. Dr. Richner provides an
entertaining and worthy Saturday evening. The hospital welcomes both
monetary and blood donations. (Dr. Beat Richner passed way on 9th
September 2018)
www.beatocello.com
Catholic Church There are five
Catholic communities in Siem Reap province, the largest in Siem Reap
city, made up of more than 500 Catholics. In addition to usual
church services, the Church also runs learning centers and an
experimental farm and agricultural training center. Through the
learning centers the church offers educational programs to poor
children including pre-school, nutrition programs, language, dance,
computer skills and values. The church welcomes individuals and
groups who want exposure to the programs on to volunteer, available
on both short and long-term bases.
Contact Fr. Stepanus Winarto, SJ at
092-820528.
stepanusw@gmail.com
Haven
Training Restaurant HAVEN is
a sanctuary for vulnerable young adults from orphanages and safe
shelters, as well as underprivileged young adults from poor rural areas.
By giving these late-teenage kids a high quality training in hospitality
and teaching them life skills, HAVEN supports them, helping them step
out of the poverty cycle. In addition HAVEN also takes financial
responsibility of all their trainees and provides them with protected
and guided shared housing, meals, medical care and a monthly training
allowance. After the students finish training, HAVEN helps them find a
good permanent position.
www.havencambodia.com
Responsible Touring Some tour companies specializing in tours
outside the main park area make an extra effort toward minimizing
the negative environmental/ social impact of tour activities,
maximizing the benefit to the local communities and focusing on
socially, culturally and environmentally responsible destinations
and subjects. See
Sam
Veasna Center and
Hidden Cambodia
Adventure Tours.
Phnom Penh
and near Phnom Penh
Pour un Sourire d'Enfant
(PSE) is a non-political, non-profit and non-religious
organization which supports underprivileged and non-educated
children. PSE's vocational training center provides professional
training skills oriented toward today's job market, including Home &
Food Management, Auto Mechanics, Information Technology,
Hairdressing, Beauty Care & Spa, Business, Hotel, Construction and
Agriculture, etc. Visit and tour our school, vocational training
center, the PSE boutique shop and the Lotus Blanc restaurant. Your
generous support benefits our students and helps us to sustain our
work
#402, Village Trea Stung Mean Chey.
Tel: +(855)(0)23-995660
Website:
https://pse.ngo
Sihanoukville
M'Lop Tapang is a Sihanoukville-based Cambodian NGO offering
support, protection, positive choices and hope to street children
and their families. M'Lop Tapang aims to reintegrate street children
back to education, their families and their community, allowing them
to lead happy, independent lives.
M'Lop Tapang works with and provides services to over 600
children through the following channels: Extensive outreach program;
Daytime education and recreational center; Safe nighttime shelter;
24 hours Drop In Center for youth wanting to quit drugs; Community
shelters and playgrounds in the slums; formal and informal
education, life skills education, protection from all forms of
abuse, medical care and health promotion, public school
reintegration and other services.
To support M'Lop Tapang, visit the M'Lop Tapang shop
on Serendipity Beach where you can purchase goods as well as leave a
donation. M'’Lop Tapang urges you to use ChildSafe motodups
and guesthouses while you are in Sihanouk Ville.
Tel: +(855)(0)34-900108
info@mloptapang.org
www.mloptapang.org
The Starfish Project is a unique grass roots
organization that strives to assist poor Cambodians who fall between
the helping hands of governmental channels or other NGO's.
Starfish does this by facilitating access for Cambodian people
in Sihanouk Ville and neighboring provinces to existing social
services and resources, and providing direct person-to-person
assistance when such assistance is not available through
governmental or other non-governmental channels. Starfish
activities include medical care, housing projects, water and
sanitation as well as small business assistance.
Starfish was founded in Sihanouk Ville in 2000 as a community-based
humanitarian organization and has since assisted thousands of
families with emergency care and development initiatives.
Starfish projects all have a beginning and an end in sight when
they are undertaken. Projects that require sustenance, or in other
ways discourage our clients' independence are not taken on.
Assistance is given in many ways to ensure that initiated projects
are locally viable and sustainable.
The
Starfish
Bakery & Café and related Starfish businesses cover
all the project's administrative costs. All donations go directly to
helping our clients. Stop by for a cup of coffee and we'll tell you
more!
Tel:
+(855)(0)12-952011
info@starfishcambodia.org
www.starfishcambodia.org
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A message
from M'Lop Tapang and ChildSafe...
When on the
beaches of Sihanoukville you will meet many children. Please
remember that buying from the children on the beaches or
street keeps them on the beaches or street. As long as they
make an income their parents will send them out to work.
They are vulnerable to abuse and they are not safe. The
hours they work prevent them from attending Khmer school. No
formal education will perpetuate the cycle of poverty that
most of their families are in. Instead please let Cambodian
social workers do their job effectively by not encouraging
children to stay on the beach by giving food, gifts, money
or buying from them.
If you see a child in danger, call the ChildSafe 24 hour
hotline on 012-478100 managed by a team of English
speaking Khmer social workers from M'Lop Tapang program for
street children. Thanks for being a ChildSafe
tourist!
www.childsafe-cambodia.org |
Kampot/Kep
Epic Arts Café Epic Arts
encourages and helps change perception of disability with society.
The café provides employment opportunities to the deaf and disabled
members of the community communities. Serving teas, cakes, fruit
shakes, lunch and snacks. Cakes to order.
Tel: +(855)(0)11-376968
www.epicarts.org.uk
Battambang
Circus In partnership with Asian Trails, the Phare
Ponleu Selpak NGO gives Cambodian children from poor and
disabled families the opportunity to “have access to culture via
different artistic activities” including music, drawing drama,
dancing and circus. See traditional Cambodian circus acts daily
beginning at 7:00PM or 8:00PM. $14 for adults, $7 for children admission. Contact Asian
Trails (Tel/Fax: +(855)(0)53-730088 in Battambang, or
+(855) (0)23-216555 in
Phnom Penh), or the Phare Ponleu Selpak office +(855)(0)77-554413 for the schedule.
Located on Route #5 about 1km west of
town.
https://phareps.org
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