"Support a child, change a life, impact a community and transform a nation"
RESCUE
Sunshine House & House of Progress is a home to children who have
been primarily orphaned as a result AIDS. These forgotten children
are often exploited and become the victims of the worst of humanity.
SHELTER
Awareness Cambodia's response was to rescue these vulnerable children
and offer protection and safety. Today we have two homes - Sunshine
House and House of Progress that shelters protects and gives dignity
to our little ones. They are safe havens where our orphaned children
find family and a home. We take a holistic approach and care for
all aspects of our children's well being.
EDUCATE
Our children are educated at a local school supplemented by private
tutoring. Children with musical talents and a love for the arts are
encouraged to learn instruments and Khmer dance. Those with an academic
disposition take extra classes in the more senior years. This is pivotal,
as most of our children have had little or no prior education. We see
them as Cambodia's future doctors, engineers, business and political leaders.
NURTURE
We have an onsite nurse Brenda Au (trained in Ireland) who in
consultation with doctors, monitor our children's medication
and general well being. As a result of Brenda's nursing skills
and dedication, the quality and length of life of our HIV little
ones has improved radically.
The health sponsorship is a new initiative and covers the cost
of glasses, braces, medications, counseling, fortnightly
doctor's visits and hospital stays. It also gives the flexibility
to employ care workers to assist some of our more medically challenged children.
Please consider making the decision to personally invest in the
life of a child in need, through sponsorship. The cost is AUD
$55.00 per month and there is no doubt this is a significant
commitment. We have two forms of sponsorship for each child -
general /health sponsors and allocation is made according to
the need.
By becoming a sponsor, you are assisting to rescue, shelter, educate
and empower some of the most vulnerable children in the world.
Your generosity will provide hope and restore dignity for children
who have been forgotten. We invite you to work with us and give
hope and a future to the children of Cambodia.
Click here to download a sponsorship form
For more Information please
contact us.
SOK SAMBATH
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Sambath and his brother Sok Cheat have an older brother and sister and come from the Banteay Mencheay Province.
Their mother moved from the province to marry their father, a policeman, but he
divorced his wife when the children were young. For many years after the divorce
he hardly visited the family. To Sambath and especially his younger brother
their father is now somewhat of a distant memory.
Their mother was severely impacted by their divorce. With her 4 children in
tow she returned to her home village in Banteay Mencheay and took to
drinking. Fortunately they were able to live with their grandmother
who works as a cleaning lady in a guest house to support the whole family.
|
As they were so poor there was never enough money to buy either
uniforms or school exercise books etc or to send the two younger
boys to school. So they spent their time in and near their house
playing with each other or friends though sometimes the eldest
brother would beat him when he wandered from the house to be with
his friends. Some of those friends went to school and secretly Sambath
longed to go to school as well.
In November 2006, with the loss of his mother, Sambath arrived to Sunshine
House, aged 10 and having never been to school. He is now in grade 2
and an average student. While it is still too early to tell his
scholastic ability, Sambath works hard at his school work and
is a good boy who stays away from fights and arguments. He loves
dancing and playing marbles. He is particularly content having so
many brothers and sisters at Sunshine House. Sambath is friendly and a real joy.
CHAN PHANYA
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Shortly after Phanya's mother died, his father remarried which meant he and his
newborn baby sister then lived with their father and stepmother. Phanya enjoyed
the new home and his stepmother loved his newborn sister as her own. Sadly his
father only managed to outlive his mother one year. Before he died Phanya's
father made arrangements with his sister to look after Phanya. As arranged,
Aunty came for Phanya on his father's death.
However his new stepmother took custody of his little sister and in spite of several
searches since Phanya's aunty hasn't been able to get any news of their whereabouts.
Phanya really misses his sister very much and said at the time, "I'll be so happy
when I have my sister back".
Phanya continued living with his aunty for the next three years. Unfortunately
during this time he got into the bad habit of skipping school and hanging out
with "friends". |
His aunty was becoming more and more concerned about his future
but simply didn't have the time or resources to look after him. Phanya arrived
at SH In Dec 2006 and has turned out to be a gentle soul who is soft-spoken.
And while he does have a mind of his own, Phanya is obedient and causes little
concerns for the Sunshine House staff. He is now in Grade 2, has adopted an
attitude typical of many of the children at Sunshine House; he has a desire to
study and works hard at his school work.
KAN SOKEA
 |
Sokea's parents are both deceased being victims of HIV/AIDS.
She is an only child and when mum died in 2005 she lived with a neighbour for
one month after which her mum's elder sister came and took her home for one year.
During this time she looked after the family cow. Sadly as her aunty had 8
children of her own to feed, Kea was sent to her widowed aunty (her mum's
younger sister) and cousin. During her two months stay in this new house
Sokea did odds and ends around the house. She looked after the school
teacher's cow, collected sticks and tied them into bundles for sale as
kindling or firewood; Sokea even caught crabs and frogs to sell to earn
extra for her aunt. 100 bundles of sticks sold for 800 Riel (20 cents)
and she managed to sell 300 bundles on an average day (60 cents). |
Sokea also attended school for a while but a lack of funds made continuing at her
auntie's house extremely difficult. Sokea arrived at Sunshine House in December 2007.
Sokea is a pleasant, friendly child showing a real aptitude for learning as a 6th grader.
"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in an ocean.
But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."
Mother Teresa
One of our most consistent and daunting challenges we face is
raising the funds to continue to make a difference in Cambodia.
Helping with that mission is our Monthly Partnership Program
sponsors who donate a regular amount each month. It is an easy
way of assisting as you only need to commit to what is affordable.
Our child sponsorship program, eco farm & internet cafe go some way
to meeting our costs at Sunshine House / House of Progress. The
Monthly Partnership Program sponsors are making a real difference
by supplementing the budget and keeping our desperately needed
work operating in Cambodia.
Joining our monthly partnership program helps us to meet the
everyday needs of our projects. If you sense the injustice
of poverty, feel the compassion and want to be involved, we
invite you to join us today.
Click Here to become a sponsor
