Better Futures for Cambodian Children and Youth

Hello from Cambodia. I wanted to thank you again for your generosity and donations.

With your help we are able to continue to provide education and training opportunities for thousands of disadvantaged children and youth in the local area. There are classes for children to catch up on their studies if they have never been to school, programs that support children to attend local public schools, and vocational training activities for older youth.

Because of you we have also been able to help children like six year old Champa* who cannot attend regular classes. Champa has Cerebral Palsy and lives with her mother and brother in a small house in a poor neighborhood in the city. Our Special Needs Team visits them weekly and works with the little girl and her mother and the time they spend together is paying off. Within the last year Champa has learned to use her hands more effectively and can now feed herself, and although still wobbly, she has started to walk.

In addition to visiting families in the community our Special Needs team works with a small group of children who attend a daily program at our Education Center. The program is for children and youth with autism, Down’s syndrome, suspected fetal alcohol syndrome or other undiagnosed learning difficulties. Because there is no other program like this in Sihanoukville, prior to joining the program most of these children were isolated at home with few opportunities to make friends. The Special Needs class provides them with structured learning activities and the chance to interact and have fun with other children.

From all of us here at M’Lop Tapang, thank you again for your support in joining us to make sure all children have access to the help they need.

*name changed for confidentiality

Links:

• Learn more about our Special Needs Program
• M'Lop Tapang's Director receives Child10 Award