Background

In 1994, Robert felt called to help the children in Cambodia after watching a TV program, “Inside Asia” on child prostitution in Cambodia. After two weeks of “discussion and negotiation with God”, he made his first trip to Cambodia in 1995 and has since, never looked back. Serving as a philanthropist and volunteer, he learned that while many are keen to receive his funds, they are less enthusiastic about revealing in detail how the funds were spent. He decided that the best way would be to set up a foundation that owns the properties and assets, recruit the local staff and executes the programs with regular supervision from Singapore. Rather than donating money to third parties in the countries concerned, OHF will set up its own entities in the various countries and build, manage and own its facilities. In this way, accountability and soft skills can be implemented in a structured and disciplined manner. Operation Hope Foundation was registered as a charity in Singapore and incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 4 July 2001 (Company registration 200104386W). To date, OHF has a large children’s home, Hope Village Prey Veng with 130 children and a separate training facility Hope Training Centre in Cambodia. Both facilities cover a land area of 150,000 sq ft. In Thailand, we have started Hope Legacy Village Thailand with a twenty year lease on an 800,000 sq ft property in Phitsanulok province. In Nepal, we have an existing children’s home in Kathmandu and is in the midst of constructing a new home in Pokhara. Besides children’s homes, OHF has expanded into the area of community development and skills training. In Cambodia, we have been building houses, toilets and wells for many years with a well developed set of protocols for selection, construction and audit. We intend to expand this community program with our OHF Solutions projects. TJSSS is a program that teaches rural school leavers computer and English to give them an opportunity to secure a better paid job. It is a residential program since students live in villages that are far away from the training centre. Many TJSSS graduates have found better jobs as they gained confidence in speaking English and is able to use a computer not only for Office but to develop mind maps, flow charts and other tools that could help them in their work. OHF Solutions is an exciting program that develops appropriate technology for the poor. Over the years, OHF has experimented with solar cooker, rainwater harvestings, composting, drip irrigation and vegetable processing. We work with tertiary institutions using student projects to explore proof of concept studies in various areas. We are seeking funding to expand OHF Solutions. The OHF story is one of a hands-on charity that is conscious of the benefit-to-cost ratio where it weighs the benefits received by the poor to the cost of providing that benefit. Often charities speak of WHAT they do rather than HOW they do. We want to focus on both the WHAT and HOW to ensure donations are properly used. This requires a heavy dose of micro-management to set up procedures and reporting protocols. There can be no MACRO MANAGEMENT with no MICRO MANAGEMENT in place! Robert brings his years of experience as an entrepreneur and running his own companies to enable OHF to operate effectively and efficiently. It does not rely solely on reports but a SYSTEM of reports, procedures and field visits that ensures proper expenditure and detects fraud.

Goal

To deliver EFFECTIVE programs for the poor in developing countries with HIGH-BENEFIT-TO-COST RATIO. High benefit are effective programs that have life transforming impact on the beneficiaries. To operate with REPORTING SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES that ensures accurate accountability and detect fraud and wasteful expenditures. OHF CHILD looks after the welfare of orphans, abandoned children and those with parents but are unable to provide for them. OHF CHILD operates Children Homes with good facilities, proper supervisor and ensures that every child can look forward to a better future. OHF COMMUNITY serves the poor by building houses, wells and toilets. We hope to add income generating projects in the future. OHF VOLUNTEER brings volunteers to undertake meaningful community projects for the poor. OHF SKILLS provides training for school leavers and young adults. Our TJSSS program trains them in Computer, Attitude, Skills and English. OHF SOLUTIONS develops appropriate technology for the poor. We are working on a solar cooker with thermal storage capabilities, rainwater harvesting tanks, drip irrigation, rapid composting and development of a low cost food processor. To be fully accountable to our donors, sponsors and well-wishers. To show the love of God through our works.