DARA Europe supports assistance to families in Andong, near the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. With tailored support, all children receive the care and attention they need to build a bright future.
One of the families DARA Europe supports went on vacation for the very first time in their lives in 2023. The children and young adults Punlue, Chornai, Saran and their niece Sokchea stayed for several days in seaside resort Kep, on Cambodia’s beautiful coast , thanks to a sponsor,
“It is heartwarming to see how the family enjoyed the vacation,” said Tirza Voss, initiator of DARA Europe. Tirza has known the family since 2009, when the children were growing up in an unsafe environment in Andong.
“De ouders leefden in extreme armoede, en we besloten de kinderen tijdelijk in een veilige en zorgzame omgeving op te vangen in het kindercentrum van Stellar Child Care Organization (SCCO) in Andong. Inmiddels wonen de kinderen sinds 2018 zelfstandig in de buurt van Andong, in een woning naast de oma.”
Via SCCO steunt DARA Europe de familie om de kosten voor wonen, eten en andere basisbehoeften te dragen. Maatschappelijk werkster Sokun is nauw betrokken bij de dagelijkse gang van zaken, en ondersteunt het gezin met adviezen over gezondheid, welzijn, werk en opleiding.
Thanks to SCCO’s focus on education, appropriate support has been found for all children, says Tirza. “Punlue, the eldest son of the family, is training as a car mechanic at the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPIC) with a scholarship. DARA Europe is also funding additional English classes so that his command of the language continues to improve, increasing his chances of getting a good job.”
Sokchea and Chornai are in their final exam year at the local high school. SCCO arranges for them to take extra classes, which are necessary for proper preparation for the tough exam. The teens are also working for SCCO on weekends. Tirza: “Chornai teaches English classes. Sokchea supervises the library, where young children read books and do educational games. A win-win situation. The young talents earn money and gain valuable work experience, and the neighborhood children get the attention and guidance they deserve.”
Help ook mee om kinderen in Cambodja een stralende toekomst te geven! Doe een donatie, of sponsor een project. Zo zorgen we altijd voor de juiste steun voor families die het moeilijk hebben.
