The Children's Sanctuary

Sana Sao

DOB:18/09/05

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: Sana's father left her and her pregnant mother when she was very young. Shortly after the birth of her sister, Sayla, the girls were both abandoned by their mother and taken into the care of their elderly grandmother.

Sayla Sao

DOB: 15/01/07

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: Sayla's father deserted the family before she was born. Shortly afterwards, her mother abandoned Sayla and her sister.

Makara Heng

DOB: 08/01/04

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: We found Makara begging with her mother in Siem Reap. Her family were living at the local rubbish tip on a few planks of wood with no walls and a torn tarpaulin for a roof. Her father died in an accident when she was two years old, and her step father is in jail. Despite her best efforts, her mother was struggling to care for Makara and her sisters, and Makara was becoming increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

Chelia Heng

DOB: 04/08/06

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: Chelia is Makara's half sister, and lived with her mother, Mao, and her two sisters in the local rubbish tip in the same dilapidated shack. Her father is in jail for theft and her mother was forced to beg in an effort to feed her family. To help out, Chelia was regularly sent to beg herself when she was just two year old. The family of four were somehow surviving on 25 cents per day and frequently went without food.

Srey Roat Heng

DOB: 04/03/08

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: We found Srey Roat in her mother's lap whilst she was begging beneath the scorching summer sun. She was only three months old. Her mother was hungry and her breast milk was diminishing fast. She could not afford infant formula, had no access to clean drinking water and no facilities to keep bottles clean. Srey Roat and her mother now live with us and for the first time in her life, mother Mao is receiving a regular income for her work as an assistance at The Children's Sanctuary.

Bophea Nou Sok

DOB: 10/06/05

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: Bophea has truly had a difficult start to life and was dejected and timid when we found her and her sister. After her father ran away to Thailand over a year ago, Bophea’s mother, a drug user, struggled to care for her children in a tiny shack with no electricity or running water. When this became too much, the girls were abandoned into the care of their frail and elderly Grandparents.

Pesai Nou Sok

DOB: 21/05/07

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: Pesai was found with her sister living with their elderly Grandparents. Her Grandmother is dying and her Grandfather was unable to care for them all. Pesai's father fled to Thailand when she was an infant and her mother, a drug user, was no longer able to keep her children. She abandoned Pesai when she was one year old.

Vichet

DOB: 10/4/05

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: Vichet's parents abandoned him when he was one year old. They left him hoping for a better life in Thailand. Vichet's Grandmother, who is old and poor, has struggled to take care of him as she is forced to work the daylight hours to scrape enough money for the two of them to eat.

Dina Thy

DOB: 08/08/05

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: Dina was diagnosed with epilepsy and cerebral palsy. His mother was unable to care for him as she had to work to feed the family, so Dina spent most of his days in a dark, damp hut on a wooden bed and often went without meals. He was very weak and thin when we found him, but now he has gained weight, has much more strength and muscle control, and is always smiling.

Srey Noch Thy

DOB: 10/02/07

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: Like her brother, Dina, Srey Noch was diagnosed with epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Along with Dina, she was left to lay on a wooden bed without a blanket, pillow, or stimulation for most of the day while her mother worked. She too missed many meals and was thin and limp when we found her with her brother. Srey Noch has now gained weight, and with her brother, is receiving physiotherapy treatment to increase her mobility.

Heang Bon Morm

DOB: 05/06/01

Born: Kandal Province

Background: Heang has had a difficult life. His father abandoned the family and the mother is seldom home as she has to earn money. When Heang was one year old he had a dangerously high temperature which went untreated and as a consequence, he lost all hearing. In 2008 he contracting a virus in his eye which too went untreated and he is now blind in his right eye. At 7 years old he weighed only 13 kg.

Since we welcomed Heang into our family along with his siblings, he has transformed. He is an extremely affectionate child and although his life has been hard, his face beams with happiness.

Cheeta Bon Morm

DOB: 05/04/05

Born: Kandal Province

Background: Cheata is Heang's younger sister. Their home was an 8 meter square hut which was dark, had no windows, electricity, and only a dirt floor, and when it rained the water swept through. Inside the room was very humid and because of this the children were covered in rashes and sores.

Cheata now lives as a member of our family as her mother could no longer care for her children. She is a sweet, gentle little girl who is sensitive and affectionate.

Chetra Bon Morm

DOB: 21/03/07

Born: Kandal Province

Background: Chetra is the youngest sibling of Heang and Cheeta. She is truly blossoming and, like her older brother and sister, is very gentle and considerate even at her young age.

Wana Seung

DOB: 01/05/07

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: Wana came to us recently as his mother is unable to care for him. At 26 years of age, she has already six children, Wana being the youngest. Her days are spent selling traditional sweets so that she can buy rice to eat. As she must travel by foot from village to village, morning until evening, it was not possible for her to also carry Wana.

Wana was left unsupervised and at risk. Recently he fell onto his head when he was alone and had to be hospitalised. The mother is very poor and when we visited on several occassions the only food they had to eat was a small portion of rice with salt, nothing else. Their dilapidated hut stands one meter above a stagnant swamp and is the worst living environment we have so far witnessed.

Tol Peng

DOB: Unknown (approx. 2 years old)

Born: Siem Reap Province

Background: Tol's story is heartbreaking. His father disappeared when he was a baby and his mother died of malaria almost a year ago. He was left in a dismal shelter alone every single day, and an aunt would come and check on him when she was able and gave him a little food. He had no one else.

When he arrived at our home, he had the saddest little face we had ever seen on a child, his eyes were darkened with despondency and he did not know how to smile. He weighed only 7.8kg at 2 years.

For the first few days in his new home his voice was like that of an old man's, and he would mutter weakly over and over, "rice, rice, rice...." It has only been two weeks and the change in Tol uplifts our hearts. His expression has lightened and he giggles when we tickle him, he enjoys watching the children's DVDs, and has started to participate in play.