ACODO

Smiling Soban, staff member at the ACODO front gates

http://acodo.org
ACODO ( Assisting Cambodian Orphans and the Disabled Organisation) is an NGO ( Non-Governmental Organisation) based in Siem Reap established to assist orphans, the disabled, poor children and those living on the street or garbage tips. ACODO truly believes every life has equal value and each individual deserves the opportunity to have a better way of life. They face great difficulty in running their programmes and continually and urgently need help from generous sponsors, volunteers and visitors. There are 68 adorable children from 4-17 years old.



Veasna, the president assistant, enthusiastically showed us around their small plot in Siem Reap and introduced us to the beautiful children. We were welcomed with squeals of delight, curious questions and cheeky grins.
ACODO is always in need of any volunteers who can help with teaching english to the kids in the two basic classrooms (below)
or even just to come and play games for a day or two.




We asked Veasna what was the greatest need for the orphange right now. He replied without hesitation-"food". So we purchased 150kg of rice and also other much needed food and basic hygiene supplies.



Lining up for lunch, smallest to biggest. The youngest boy on the left, Tah, was picked up from a pagoda just 3 weeks ago with his two brothers and a dog



It only costs US$288 to sponsor a child to go to the local school for a year which includes school uniform/school supplies.

This is Konthea, aged 6, cute as a button. He is one of the cheeky cherubs who need sponsorship to go to school. He plays an
awesome monkey in their evening performances. The children are studying Khmer traditional dancing with a Cambodian dancing teacher and every night, to raise funds for the orphanage, they put on a public performance at the premises.This in one way they spread awareness of Acodo and what they do. In the background is an Australian woman named Neroli who has committed 6 months of her life to stay in Cambodia as a volunteer teacher at the orphange, WOW!! Hats off to you Neroli.


We were drawn back again and again to this orphanage to chat and play funny games, hug and giggle with the divine children, who never forget your name.


looking at photos of Australia

Cambodia Orphan Fund

www.cofcambodia.org
Cambodia Orphan Fund is situated in Siem Reap, one of the most poverty stricken regions of the country, despite being home to Cambodia's tourist hot spot and eighth wonder of the world-the great Angkor Wat. Parents are struggling to feed their children and fighting a daily battle to put rice on their table.
C.O.F has one of the most forward thinking, sustainable and inspiration programs we came across, with solid goals and visions to help break the poverty cycle.




They have two orphanages. 'Fuchs House' is a large property which houses 25 kids and Osborne house, home to 35 children from impoverished backgrounds. The kids are looked after in a family home atmosphere, attending local Khmer school and English language lessons. Osborne house also opens its doors to 120 children from poor families living nearby who want to learn English. Their goal is to set up 10 English language schools within the region.





I didn't realise but some children in orphanages are there because their family can't afford to feed or school them. COF aim to help families stay together by using donations to pay for the schooling and a limited amount of food supplies for the family. In exchange the parents must guarantee that the children will live at home and not be sent to work or to beg. Now THAT is worth supporting.





Drink coffee and support the kids. C.O.F have also opened a non-profit trendy COFfee house in the heart of Siem Reap, where the walls are lined with outstanding photographs of the children in their environments. Another innovative and empowering project they run is training Mums to sew bags (Spotlight in Australia buy a large amount) and to design and screen print tshirts
(sold to local businesses)



C.O.F are in need of funding and also volunteers in their orphanages and schools. No experience needed, just a desire to help children. The rewards are everlasting, every smile and tender hug imprinted in your heart.