Supporting Women through Crisis Pregnancy

Greetings to everyone!

Mother’s Heart Organization is excited to share with you our 2021 Annual Report. Many young, single mothers and their babies are alive and thriving today because of your generosity. Babies receive strong and safe beginnings in life when their mothers access our program and receive quality maternal health care they need. 

We continue to receive referrals of teenage pregnancies resulting from rape. Girls like Morokot, who experienced a trauma at a very young age. With the involvement of our community partners and partner-organizations, we are providing girls like Morokot who experienced trauma at a young age,  support and services they need with consideration to their specialized needs such as trauma counselling, quality maternal care and delivery, legal assistance, a safe shelter, among others. We are happy to report that the perpetrator in Morokot’s case is now serving jail time. Morokot, on the other hand, has since given birth. She continues to receive counselling and emotional support in a safe and secure environment where she can heal and recover from the trauma and take the next steps towards her future. 

Between July to September, nine (9) women and girls entered our program. Currently, we have a total of 64 women and girls in the Phnom Penh and Battambang programs, many of them who, like Morokot, are still children themselves (under 17). With the involvement of our partners, we were able to provide receive quality maternal health care and support services with special considieration to their age and circumstances. During this period, we had nine (9) babies born in our program, including twin boys. 

We also have six children benefitting from our daycare services in Phnom Penh while their mothers or caregivers are away at work, or attending vocational skills training. Often, these young mothers have no supportive family and the daycare provides them a safe and nurturing place for their children. 

Records show that all the beneficiaries in our program are healthy. During this period, the women and girls and their children/babies didn’t encounter any major health issues and there are no underweight or malnourished children. On the women’s and girls’ side, we observed that when they have spent time with our social workers and other partners (counsellors) over time, we can see a marked improvement in their behaviors and attitudes. Attachment to their babies is becoming more evident and they are opening up themselves, bravely asking questions about babies, caring for babies as well as their own health. They’ve become more confident, and their demeanor changed. Many of them opted to avail of the vocational skills training offered with the hope of learning skills that would allow them to earn incomes without leaving their babies and their villages. Some, especially the younger ones, have returned to schools or have expressed their keen interest in returning to school once they feel they are deemed ready.

Based on our records, we can say that we have success in ensuring that every woman, girl, and child in our program are safe and thriving. And this wouldn’t be possible without your continued support.  We are privileged to be able to continue serving our community through your generous gifts and belief in our mission. Should you have any questions, suggestions or feedback, please email us at communications@mothersheartcambodia.org, or follow us on Facebook. Thank you again!

Team Mother’s Heart

Links:

• Mother's Heart Organization

Dear Friends and Supporters,

The first six months of 2022 brought about a heartbreaking challenge to Mother’s Heart’s funds. Despite the funding challenges, we are pleased to share what we have accomplished through your generous support.

Quick update:
At the moment, we have a total of 75 women and 71 babies and children in our Crisis Pregnancy Support program. Thirty-three (33) women have jobs, seven are undertaking vocational training, and nine others with their own home-based businesses. Ten of their children are enjoying Mother’s Heart daycare whilst their mothers work or study.

Phanith* is one of those children who greatly benefit from Mother’s Heart’s daycare service. Her mother, Vuthy*, entered the program when she was eight months pregnant with Phanith. Vuthy is a young woman that has an intellectual disability which meant that she needed support to develop her skills and abilities so that she can take care of her child as well as to live indendently.  Months after giving birth to Phanith,  Mother's Heart supported her by providing her access to vocational skills training. It wasn’t easy but Mother’s Heart was able to find a job for her.

Once Vuthy started work, Phanith was placed in Mother’s Heart daycare centre.  Before daycare, she had spent her time at home but with not much stimulation or anyone to play with. Being at daycare meant that she could spend her time in a warm, caring and stimulating environment. With encouragement from the daycare staff, Phanith  started to build confidence and she took in everything around her learning fast.

Phanith has just turned four and is a bright girl with a real love for learning.  She is thriving in the daycare environment. She has a caring heart and loves looking out for the younger children and playing with them. She also has developed leadership skills amongst the other children, leading them in imaginary play.

Vuthy was happy to hear the feedback from the day care staff. “The day care centre is a big help for me. I have no relatives and I have no one to leave my daughter with when I go to work. The day care staff told me that Phanith loves  singing, and listening to stories. She can also recite ABCs and count one to ten in English! I am happy that my child is not only in a safe place but she is also in place where she is learning a lot. Thank you for taking care of both of us.”

Note: Names have been changed to protect their identities.

Teenage pregnancy on the rise:
Many girls in our program have been under 18. These strong and courageous girls are still children themselves. Working and supporting these girls is a great challenge as Cambodia still has a long way to go in terms of resources and support for girls and their children in this circumstance. We work closely with their relatives/caregivers and community partners to support these girls with parenting and health decisions to ensure they have a stable life.  Mother's Heart is also currently working on getting a ChildSafe Organization accreditation. And we are able to do these thanks to your support.

Moving forward:
The days ahead we have restructured to be more effective efficient and sustainable. We are so excited to see new growth and a wonderful future for our beneficiaries.

In the next half of 2022, we now have space to provide another 18 extremely vulnerable pregnant women safe delivery and a hopeful future for them and their babies.

We’d like to thank you all of you for continuing to support Mother’s Heart Organization. Please continue to walk alongside Mother’s Heart. Together, we can reach out to more women and girls in crisis.


Gratefully yours,
Team Mother's Heart