Families living in one of the most impoverished areas in Cambodia have been offered a fresh start with a home built in a new community by Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF).
The village, comprising 33 new homes for underprivileged children and families, was made possible through the efforts of CCF and the generous support of World Housing, a nonprofit registered in both Canada and the U.S. World Housing, CCF's partner, donated funding for the homes and construction.
90 residents have currently moved into the village near the former garbage dump in Steung Meanchey. While the dumpsite closed in 2009, the area of Steung Meanchey remains home to destitute families living in squalid conditions with little hope.
CCF has been partnering with World Housing for more than a decade, completing over 650 homes for vulnerable children and families. More than 2,100 people who were once living in poverty now have secure roofs over their heads.
In 2020, CCF opened the Girls to Grannies Village world housing project, a first-of-its-kind all-female community in Asia for at-risk girls, mothers, and grannies.
The Lenkov Village will be a mixed community. Homes are in the traditional stilted Khmer style, with a downstairs kitchen and a private bathroom.
The holistic village also features a playground, a library, and an open classroom where CCF young leaders can teach classes to younger children.
Residents will have access to clean running water, healthcare, and support services from CCF, as well as education and kindergarten or nursery provision for children.
This provides them hope for a better future and generational impact that will change the trajectory of their lives.
"We are delighted to collaborate with World Housing again to provide safe homes for vulnerable members of our communities. The Lenkov Village represents hope, transformation, and the promise of a better future for children and families. It is a testament to the impact that collaboration and generosity can have on communities in need," said Lach Savy, Chief Operating Officer at CCF.
The village's opening was made possible through the generosity of World Housing Benefactor Peter Lenkov and his wife Audie, who raised the necessary funds through a successful House Party fundraiser in California.
The village is named after the Lenkov family. Peter Lenkov is one of World Housing's major benefactors and serves on its Board of Directors.
Mr Lenkov is well known for his work as a television and film writer, producer, and comic book author in Los Angeles. His passion for philanthropy started locally with outreach in his community and has now expanded to a global reach.
“A home is so much more than four walls and a roof
“A home is so much more than four walls and a roof,” said World Housing Benefactor Peter Lenkov. “It is safety, it is stability, it is health, and it is opportunity. We think of housing as such a simple thing, but for those who don’t have it, it can be the spark that makes all the difference in the world. With these homes, families can focus on education and employment, health and happiness. I am proud we can make a difference for these families.”
Their philanthropic efforts have transformed the lives of many, providing not just homes but also safety, stability, and opportunity to those in need.
The gift of a home in the new Lenkov village has transformed the life of Granny Chhun, 69, and her family.
For the past three years, she has lived with her daughter and six-year-old grandson in a cramped, dark room inside a warehouse, with spaces partitioned off with pieces of plywood. Now, the family has moved into their new home, which offers more space, light, and a community around them.
“I am very happy to have a new home. Thank you, World Housing and CCF,” says Granny Chhun, who is in CCF’s Granny Program. “I want my grandson to have fresh air and a clean environment to grow up in. I want him to have a good life.”
Living in a group home in Lenkov Village is giving CCF student Thorng Ma the family life he’s missing after he lost contact with his parents when they separated and he went to live with his grandma.
The 19-year-old is living with two other students, learning independent living skills while receiving support from CCF. The boys - one younger than Thorng Ma and one older at university - share household chores such as washing and cleaning and shop for their own food at the local market.
“I do not have contact with my mum or dad or younger sister, so my friends are my family. I am really happy to be given a new home. It means so much to me,” says Thorng Ma.
Thorng Ma is in his final year at CCF’s Neeson Cripps Academy high school and aspires to study business and marketing at university. He will sit the Grade 12 National Exam in October.
