Background

An American tourist came to visit Cambodia in 2007 and visited a children's house, where children were growing up without proper care or education. He decided to team up with local khmer people to help those children. They created an official non governmental organization to provide for them. The Cambodian Children's House of Peace was created. Since then, the House has benefited thirty children, and has been receiving help from people from all around the world.

Mission

To provide growth in body, mind and spirit for vulnerable children in a community of peace. Cambodia is a country still rebuilding after a two decades long civil war, the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge rule, and the following long civil unrest. This legacy has lead to 30 percent of the population living below the national poverty line and 80 percent of the people still living in rural areas, sustained mostly only through farming. Those conditions worked together to leave many children vulnerable. When these vulnerable children cannot be cared for by their families or their communities, Santepheap is there to offers them a safe alternative. Through Santeheap children gain an education, are provided with nutrition, health care, shelter, recreation, cultural and spiritual support, while connections with any remaining relatives are maintained. Our education program supplements the public education, though additional English, Khmer, math, chemistry, history, physics, biology, and geography classes. Classes both at local public school and at Santepheap, free time and playfulness give a balanced rhythm to the lives of our children, who all consider each other brothers and sisters. We are also committed to maintaining the connections between the children under our care and any remaining family. During Khmer new year and other traditional holidays, we provide safe transportation back to their home villages. Finally, before our older children leave Santepheap to pursue either higher education or a career, they are provided a transition program. Technological and vocational training are provided to interested youth, and scholarships to those who wish to attend university. Our guiding principals are growth of the child in body, spirit, and mind within a community of peace. We thrive to meet the principals set down in by the ‘Convention on the Rights of the Child,’ the best interest of the child; non-discrimination; right to life, survival and development; the participation of child in his or her own development and to have their views respected.