Located in the heart of the CCF community, the coffee shop will provide a focal point for families to meet
A community cafe was officially opened today (Jan 31) to provide a safe and welcoming space for CCF families and members to meet.
Named Cafe Scott, after CCF Founder and Executive Director Scott Neeson, the coffee shop will be run by the community for the community with the tagline ‘Love All. Serve All’.
Set opposite CCF’s Prek Toil satellite school and next to one of the World Housing communities, it will be easily accessible for all, from children to the grannies.
“This is a place where families can meet in a safe social environment,” said Scott Neeson, who funded the project as a gift to the community that he has been actively helping since 2004.
Scott formally opened the eponymous cafe by pulling off a red covering over a sign on the outside wall as community members cheered. He was joined by Hoy Leanghoin, CCF’s Community Outreach Manager, who oversaw the project with his team.
Cafe Scott will be open for business seven days a week, from 6.30am until 4pm, serving coffee, other drinks and snacks. Prices are low from 1,500 riel ($0.38USD) to make it affordable for the whole community. CCF’s grannies and grandpas will be entitled to a discount.
It will be staffed by two CCF community members.
“We wanted to provide a place for the community people to gather to relax, to discuss their children’s education, talk through family issues or just sit and read a book,” said Hoy Leanghoin.
Bright and cheerful, with freshly planted flower pots outside, the cafe has an open design to create a friendly, welcoming, all-inclusive feel. There are television screens, free Wi-Fi and comfortable seating.
Photos of CCF children and grannies posing with Scott or receiving recognition certificates are on the walls, along with recycled items found in the area, including an old renovated bicycle wheel, to reflect how some people in the community still earn their living scavenging items to sell.
Granny Useng, 69, soon made herself at home at Cafe Scott enjoying a sit down and chat over an iced lemon tea with her friends.
“I am very happy about it [the cafe],” she said. “I will come here to see my friends.”
Also enjoying the new surroundings was mum Sophea who had settled on a table and was reading a book to her lively two-year-old daughter, Linna.
“I have three children and I would like to bring them here to sit together and read,” said Sophea, 34, who works as garment finisher.
“I live around the area so it will be good for me.”
It was a big occasion for Pov Ngar, a CCF mum, who was starting the first day of her new job working in the cafe. Ngar, 33, worked as a trash scavenger before joining CCF’s Community Outreach team, where she had been working as a cleaner before being transferred to Cafe Scott.
“I am very happy to have this job,” said Ngar, who was rushed of her feet busy serving customers but was thrilled at the chance of learning new skills.
“I think this will be good for the community. People will come.”
Kate Ginn/CCF
Scott's Cafe Opening from Cambodian Children's Fund on Vimeo.
“This is a place where families can meet in a safe social environment,” said Scott Neeson, who funded the project as a gift to the community that he has been actively helping since 2004.
Scott formally opened the eponymous cafe by pulling off a red covering over a sign on the outside wall as community members cheered. He was joined by Hoy Leanghoin, CCF’s Community Outreach Manager, who oversaw the project with his team.
Cafe Scott will be open for business seven days a week, from 6.30am until 4pm, serving coffee, other drinks and snacks. Prices are low from 1,500 riel ($0.38USD) to make it affordable for the whole community. CCF’s grannies and grandpas will be entitled to a discount.
It will be staffed by two CCF community members.
“We wanted to provide a place for the community people to gather to relax, to discuss their children’s education, talk through family issues or just sit and read a book,” said Hoy Leanghoin.
Bright and cheerful, with freshly planted flower pots outside, the cafe has an open design to create a friendly, welcoming, all-inclusive feel. There are television screens, free Wi-Fi and comfortable seating.
Photos of CCF children and grannies posing with Scott or receiving recognition certificates are on the walls, along with recycled items found in the area, including an old renovated bicycle wheel, to reflect how some people in the community still earn their living scavenging items to sell.
Granny Useng, 69, soon made herself at home at Cafe Scott enjoying a sit down and chat over an iced lemon tea with her friends.
“I am very happy about it [the cafe],” she said. “I will come here to see my friends.”
Also enjoying the new surroundings was mum Sophea who had settled on a table and was reading a book to her lively two-year-old daughter, Linna.
“I have three children and I would like to bring them here to sit together and read,” said Sophea, 34, who works as garment finisher.
“I live around the area so it will be good for me.”
It was a big occasion for Pov Ngar, a CCF mum, who was starting the first day of her new job working in the cafe. Ngar, 33, worked as a trash scavenger before joining CCF’s Community Outreach team, where she had been working as a cleaner before being transferred to Cafe Scott.
“I am very happy to have this job,” said Ngar, who was rushed of her feet busy serving customers but was thrilled at the chance of learning new skills.
“I think this will be good for the community. People will come.”
Kate Ginn/CCF
Scott's Cafe Opening from Cambodian Children's Fund on Vimeo.
