More than 30 years of war and political and civil unrest have left Cambodia as one of the poorest and most vulnerable countries in the world. An estimated 570,000 children have been left parent-less due to the ravages of AIDS, land mine explosives, malnutrition, and poverty. However, Phnom Penh is the wealthiest and most populous city in Cambodia, being a hub of economics, politics, and industry. It is still not free of the issues that plague the rest of the country. Phnom Penh is a major source and destination for domestic trafficking. The Cambodian government reported that the number of slum-dwellers in Phnom Penh increased by 25% in 2012, a problem that will only get worse if not handled properly. In Phnom Penh, there are an estimated 20,000 children living and working in the streets. This only makes them more at risk for disease, abuse, abandonment, or trafficking.

People for Care and Learning (PCL) is an innovative organization that exists to assist the poor in “closed countries” through humanitarian projects. In 2009, PCL heard about a group of children who had been left destitute and homeless after an orphanage was forced to close in Phnom Penh due to neglect and mismanagement. With assistance from a private US-based foundation, PCL responded to this crisis by opening Hope Orphanage which now offers solace and a loving home to 21 innocent children. The orphanage seeks to provide continued safety to these youngsters and hopes to offer each of them a private education in an effort to escape the poorly run education system.

Serving Orphans Worldwide travels to every orphanage we partner with to ensure needs are legitimate and 100% of funds distributed goes to the livelihood of the children.