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CCF Community Child Care Center Sponsorship
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Steung Meanchey is the site of Phnom Penh's toxic landfill - home to an estimated 600 families, and the focus of much of CCF's work.
This desperate place has an overwhelming lack of safe childcare facilities for young children. Parents working as garbage pickers must choose to either take their young children to the hazardous garbage dump, or leave them often unattended at home. Due to the environmental dangers from garbage, water borne diseases, and hospital and industry waste, young children in particular are at a high risk for injury and disease.
In December 2007, we opened the CCF Community Child Care Center at Steung Meanchey to address the needs of the community's most vulnerable residents. While they spend their days in our care, all of these children still live with their families in the Steung Meanchey villages.
CCF Community Child Care Center Sponsorship is $100 per month, which covers the cost of nutrition, education and health care. Although our Care Center children aren't yet able to write or dictate letters, we'll regularly send you progress reports on your child's physical and academic progress, as well as photographs and scanned artwork made by your sponsored child.
As a sponsor you will give these tiny children a safe, caring atmosphere in which they can thrive - physically, mentally, and socially. Your sponsorship will provide healthy meals, fresh fruit and safe drinking water every day. Our on-site nurse and childcare staff monitor the children's health daily. We have also given these children complete childhood immunizations, which is a life-saving opportunity few children in Steung Meanchey ever have. Child Care Center students have daily lessons in Khmer and English with a preschool teacher, and are also learning about hygiene, manners, and respect for others.
We've seen phenomenal growth and positive changes in our children during these first six months. Your support will ensure the growth of this wonderful program and the youngest members of the CCF family.
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Srey Touch, 4 years old
Srey Touch was born in Kampong Speu province. When she was a baby, her parents moved to Phnom Penh, so they could work as garbage pickers at the municipal garbage dump. Soon after arriving in Steung Meanchey, Srey Touch’s parents got divorced. Her mother remarried and had another child, but this man also left the family. Her mother took the two children and moved in with their 70-year-old grandfather, who supports the family by picking through the mountains of rubbish, searching for recyclables to sell. Srey Touch’s mother is not in good health, and usually stays home with her young son.
Srey Touch used to pick garbage with her grandfather, earning about $0.50 per day. Sometimes she went to beg on the street or in the market. Working under harsh, dangerous conditions took its toll on the three-year-old girl, and she was in poor health. Since joining the CCF child care program, she has become healthier, and has a good appetite. She has learned about good manners and proper language from her teachers, and her mother is impressed with how respectful she is. In her free time at home, she likes to play with clay or dirt to make small objects, like animals or cell phones. Srey Touch is a determined, high-spirited girl, and proudly shows her family that she can count and write. When she grows up, Srey Touch says that she wants to fly in an airplane.
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Kagna, 6 years old
Kagna is the fourth of six siblings, and was born in Phnom Penh. Her parents worked as laborers for many years, but moved to the Steung Meanchey landfill district after their boss went bankrupt. Her father works for the garbage collection company, and her mother works as a garbage picker. They live in a small rented house near the rubbish dump, and the poor air quality and living conditions have triggered many heath problems for the children. Kagna was hospitalized with meningitis as a baby, and suffers from chronic colds and respiratory problems. After her mother was hospitalized three years ago, the family went into debt and still has not recovered.
Kagna’s father is an alcoholic, and mother is currently pregnant, so Kagna has more responsibility at home to wash clothes and look after her younger siblings. Kagna comes to the community center every day with her three-year-old brother, and they both enjoy coloring. She can count in English and Khmer, and can write many letters and numbers. She is a spirited and independent girl, and loves to laugh. Her favorite activities are singing and dancing.
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Bros, 5 years old
Bros is the youngest of five siblings, and was born in Prey Veng province, one of the poorest regions in Cambodia. His family moved to Phnom Penh in hopes of earning more money, and settled in the hazardous landfill district of Steung Meanchey. His father found work as a laborer, but Bros rarely sees him since his parents got divorced. His oldest sister works in a garment factory. His mother and two of his siblings are garbage pickers. Each day, they set out for the dump in search of aluminum cans, bottles, plastics, and other items that can be redeemed for cash. Even with so many of them working, they cannot earn enough to cover living expenses. His family is extremely poor, and they do not have any possessions.
Bros was too small to pick garbage, so he used to stay at home with his grandmother. He now comes to the CCF Community Child Care Center every day, where he receives meals and health care, and also has a safe place to learn and play. Bros is loving and friendly, and always has lots of energy and a huge smile. He is learning to write Khmer and Roman numbers and letters. He loves to use crayons during art time, and likes to help set up chairs and tables in the classroom.
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Leakhena, 4 years old
Leakhena is the youngest of five children, and grew up in Phnom Penh’s toxic landfill district, Steung Meanchey. Both of her parents work as garbage pickers, trudging through the piles of rubbish in search of recyclables to redeem for cash. All her older siblings have worked at one time as garbage pickers, but her older sister left this type of work several years ago to attend CCF. Her three brothers study half-time, in addition to picking garbage in order to support the family. Her aging parents worry about their poor health and the well-being of their children.
Leakhena eagerly comes to the CCF Community Care Center seven days a week. Her sister is a staff member at the center, and Leakhena enjoys spending time with her. Leakhena is a sweet and caring girl, and is very mature. She likes to sing and count, but her dream is to learn how to read Khmer and English like her sister.
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Tuy, 3 years old
Tuy is the fifth of six siblings, and was born in the Steung Meanchey’s landfill district on the edge of Phnom Penh. His father works for the CINTRI garbage collection company, and his mother works as a garbage picker, scavenging through the refuse for recyclables to sell. His family went into debt when his mother was hospitalized after Tuy’s birth, and they are still paying high interest rates on the loan. Tuy is often sick with bronchitis or nose infections due to the poor living conditions at Steung Meanchey.
Alcoholism is extremely common among Steung Meanchey families, and Tuy’s father suffers from this disease. Tuy’s mother is pregnant again, so it is increasingly difficult for her to work. Tuy attends the CCF Community Child Care Center with his six-year-old sister, and they are both learning about letters, numbers, and polite manners. He is energetic and friendly, and likes to jump and use the swing-set. He also loves to draw with crayons and practice writing numbers.
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The Cambodian Children's Fund is a U.S.-registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization no. 20-0764162. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. The organization is also registered with the State of California and the Kingdom of Cambodia.
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