Cambodia remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world.
Only 25 per cent people have access to safe water.
Only10% having basic sanitation.
Infant mortality is 9.5 per cent, one of the highest in Asia.
HIV/AIDS affects 2.7% of the population.
Domestic violence and rape are high, with 16% of women physically abused by their husbands, leading many to homelessness and prostitution.
Female literacy remains low at 60%.
HAGAR SHELTER Hagar Shelter was established in 1994 to meet the needs of
destitute women and children living on the streets of Phnom Penh. Many of these women and children had fled from rural provincial areas, forced to leave their homes due to a number of desperate family circumstances.
Hagar shelter runs an education and nutrition program catering to women and youth in city slum communities. As many have been rescued from abduction, slavery and prostitution from early childhood, they receive counsel to overcome past trauma and abuse, empowering them with a values-based approach, vocational and life skills training.
Through employment they are able to return to the community as independent, productive individuals. Currently there are 60 resident mothers, with their children, at the shelter, and 203 non-resident mothers benefiting from the community program.
REINTEGRATION OF TRAFFICKED WOMEN
This new initiative(RTW) Project began in 2005 to place at risk and trafficked women in viable and safe employment. This involves Shelter counselling, training in like skills, access to vocational training programs and business internships and other assistance to find jobs.
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FOSTER HOME PROGRAM
The Foster Home Program, established in 1994, provides care for 80 children in 10 foster home families. All the children have their own unique experiences that have brought them to the Foster Home Program. Some are orphans, others have come from a life on the streets and there are those from shocking backgrounds of trafficking and abuse, both physical and sexual.
The Foster Home Program equips and encourages house parents to love and care for the children as their own with Hagar’s on-going support, training, seminars and weekly workshops. Every week there are workshops given covering a whole range of subjects including child development, caring for children with disabilities, HIV/AIDS, role and responsibilities of parents, children with behavioural problems, nutrition and health and hygiene.
This support enables house parents to strengthen their roles as parents to children from particularly difficult backgrounds.
The Foster Home Program is able to provide stability, counseling, formal schooling, informal education to increase children’s literacy and life skills knowledge, interaction with other children in the local community and participation in extra curricular activities such as dance and art. But most of all, these children learn to feel love, acceptance and self worth.
AFTERCARE PROGRAM - For Long Term Victims of Commercially Sexually Expoitive Situations
Following the same model of care of the Foster Home Program, Hagar has started a new Aftercare Program to provide quality programs for long-term victims of Commercially Sexually Exploitative Situations (CSES). The objectives are to address the safety and security of the child; to facilitate a sense of belonging, healing and community for the child; and to reintegrate the child back to society.
HOUSE OF SMILES Residential Care for Orphaned Children with Severe Disabilities
House of Smiles was established in 2002 to provide residential care for orphaned children with severe disabilities. The aim of the project is to facilitate the development of the children’s skills in daily living, social interaction and education while providing a loving and caring home environment.
The emphasis of the project is placed on the child being as independent, or involved, as possible in activities of daily living, while maximising opportunities for integration within the local community.
In 2004 formerly isolated community children began receiving services from House of Smiles, which expanded its program to support 10 children with disabilities through a community respite program that offers transport, therapy and extra education.
We are aiming to raise £20,000 - £50,000 to support these awesome courageous women and children as they work towards a whole and productive life. Each of their projects deserves our support.
