DARA Europe wishes all children a good future. Also (orphan) children who are on their own. We therefore make it possible for Aone to grow up in a caring environment with every opportunity to shine.
Twelve-year-old Aone loves soccer. Seemingly tireless, he kicks a ball around. With his friends at school, or on the street with his neighbor boys, in a suburb of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh where he lives in a foster home.
“In the Netherlands, of course, we know that sports are good for children and young people. Movement is healthy, and the interactions with others encourage mutual connection and personal development. For children growing up in a vulnerable neighborhood and a difficult family situation, sports can even be a lifeline. We also see this in our projects in Cambodia,” says Tirza Voss, initiator of DARA Europe.
The Dutch foundation DARA Europe is structurally committed to families in Andong, near Phnom Penh. We support programs and projects focused on education, safety, health, welfare, work and income. Tirza: “The starting point is always that we guide children with customized solutions to build a better future. Together with the local NGO Stellar Child Care Organization (SCCO), we organize all the support needed. The focus is on education, but we also pay a lot of attention to other aspects of a healthy and safe living environment. Think about nutrition, but certainly also about extracurricular activities such as sports.”
Tirza met Aone and his mother during one of her visits to Andong in 2016. “Aone’s mother collected plastic waste for recycling. With that, she did not earn enough money to live on. SCCO’s team therefore provided food packages, among other things.”
When his mother became seriously ill, Aone was given a place to live at SCCO’s children’s center. The center was established for the temporary care of (orphaned) children, with the goal of guiding them from a caring shelter to a good family situation. A foster family was found for Aone, with one of the other families SCCO supports.
DARA Europe is still closely involved with Aone, says Tirza. “SCCO makes a financial contribution to the livelihood of the family in which Aone is taken in with great attention and care. Moreover, thanks to donations from the Netherlands, Aone can attend a good school, and also take English extra classes.” In Cambodia, extra English lessons are often essential for finding a good job.
SCCO ‘s social worker keeps an eye on the family, and undertakes initiatives to further support Aone. For example, there is regular contact with the school, and opportunities for appropriate educational activities are always sought. Tirza: “Because of everything Aone has been through at a young age, he has developed learning disabilities. His classmates are a lot younger than him. Therefore, in consultation with the school, we look for extracurricular activities with peers, such as karate. This way, he not only plays soccer with his neighborhood boys, but also enjoys sports at school.”
Also make a difference for the future of children in Andong. Donate monthly or annual amount of your choice, and feel free to contact for special sponsorships.
