Our Story
In Cambodia children with disabilities have little access to facilities and are often hidden away. With low life expectancy and 3 times more likely to be abused than other children, many children spent their days locked in the house. 3 years ago we opened
the only day centre in Siem Reap Cambodia to provide an education programme for the children, many of whom had been excluded from school. The centre is part of Grace House Community Centre
www.gracehousecambodia.org.
Our Project
Our small day centre provides education and physiotherapies to children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The children enjoy educational activities, life skills, play, music, dance, yoga and physiotherapy. When we have
visiting volunteers occupation and speech therapy is also offered, unfortunately there are no trained occupational or speech therapist in Cambodia. We currently have 14 students but have room for more and several waiting due to lack of transport.
Why it Matters: A Child’s Story
My name is Srey Nin*, I am 9 yrs old and I have cerebral palsy. This
means my limbs do not always do what I ask them to! I cannot walk, my sight is limited and it takes me a long time to respond. I need help to eat and find it difficult to swallow. But when you get to know me I will give you the BIGGEST smile you have ever
seen!
I live in an orphanage but every weekday the orphanage staff take me on a motorbike to Grace House Community Centre (GHCC). Before going to GHCC I spent most of the day in a playpen, where I was safe but had no toys or anyone to talk to. I could not see
out of the playpen as the walls are solid.
Now I enjoy playing with other children, learning new things and the staff help to exercise my muscles so now I can stand - last week I walked 3 steps - everyone clapped and praised me. It felt VERY good !!!!!
I need your help - due to lack of time the orphanage staff take me to GHCC in the morning and bring me back at lunch time, I would love to stay all day but they can not pick me up in the afternoon. Staying all day would mean I see the physiotherapist
in the afternoons and play for longer.
GHCC have a tuk tuk which they use to pick up children near to the centre but the tuk tuk drivers do not like to come out to the orphanage as it is a long way down a busy main road then a dirt track. In the rainy season - May - October the driver gets wet.
Now I am strapped to the front of the orphanage carer in a baby sling and in the rainy season we both get very wet. This is not good for me as I am prone to chest infections.
*Name changed
How You Can Help
We need a minibus like this one to bring children safely to and from the centre we can then:
* Take more children at the centre
* Go on outings
* Save our carers' backs
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Facebook page here and
Twitter here.
