Care for Cambodia Vision Statement
‘We work together to care for one another so that Cambodians might be enabled to live in dignity, fulfill their own potential and achieve success’
Care for Cambodia provides care and educational support in more than 40 rural Cambodia villages. Its headquarters are based in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
We are a non-governmental organisation (NGO) or charity, and were started by Norman and Fi Teece and their Cambodian son Khemera, when they saw the desperate need of many children in Cambodia. In 2011 Jonny Hamill moved to Cambodia to assist Norman and Fi and, in 2012, formal day to day running was handed over to Jonny and Khemera in partnership.
We have been registered with the Cambodian government since 1997. Our primary objective has always been to see Khmer people caring for Khmer people. This is why Care for Cambodia seeks to employ local staff and have only a few foreigners working to mentor and support locals as they live out the Vision Statement.
From its beginnings in 1997, Care for Cambodia has given employment to widows and other very poor people making, resourcing and selling traditional and specially designed crafts. Initially the aim was to help feed, clothe, provide shelter and find a way to educate their children. Today we still have some of those same ladies in employment with us.
In October 2000, Care for Cambodia started taking in orphans and abandoned children, beginning with two sisters and a brother. Most of the children arrived without any education and after some preparation they went to local schools.
We stopped receiving children into residential care in January 2012. From that time numbers in the home started to decline gradually. In August 2015 the children’s home formally closed and the remaining children were reintegrated into their home communities. This decision was a extremely difficult. It was a decision for which our hearts and our heads were giving differing views. This report from UNICEF illustrates the issues with residential care solutions. This report helped convince us that our efforts in assisting families in rural Cambodia are much more beneficial long term.
Through its village network, we reach thousands of children, youth and families every day. We employ over 70 staff, with additional volunteers supporting our work.