 Our Project was set up as a partnership between the Italian NGO Progetto Continenti and the local NGO KADO. Since 2001 The Sangkheum Center for Children (sangkheum meaning hope in the khmer language) has given hope to orphaned, abused or neglected children. The aim of our work is to prevent the phenomena of street children by intervening in families before the situation turns the children to the streets or other inappropriate living environments.
Our Approach is simple. We work with local partner organizations and village leaders to identify children most in need and the selected children live in individual houses with a stable ‘caregiver’ who act as an educator and mentor providing a feeling of a family group. Currently 54 children reside with full time support in The Sangkheum Center for Children.
Our Focus is on prevention and on eliminating social and economic factors that might lead to life of abandonment and destitution. Where possible, we do this by encouraging children to live with their families, in their village of origin and provide social adaptation by offering education, vocational training, social relations and medical assistance. These 58 children are monitored by our social workers within their home environment.
Our Program embraces both general education and vocational training. The children and young adults have the opportunity to learn and develop valuable life skills through a number of activities including Khmer culture, traditional dance and music, handicraft design, dressmaking and iron welding. The children also attend English language lessons and play sports. All educational activities are open not only to the children of the center but also the children from the surrounding environment. The 260 additional children enrolled for educational or training activities also receive social and medical support when needed.
Our Work supports more than 370 children and the numbers are growing.
Our Support doesn’t stop here! Once our resident children reach a specific age they are enrolled in the Sangkheum Program for Young Adults to prepare them for a life as an adult.
For more information please visit www.sangkheum.org or contact us on mail@sangkheum.org
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