Empower Cambodia Leaders to Protect their Children

Smaller grassroots organizations in Cambodia have a good understanding of the local context where they work. However they often lack access to funding opportunities and/or organizational capacity to run their programs effectively. Our Charter-Doorsteps team works with member organizations who want improve their capacity toward reaching internationally-recognized standards in the areas of staff care, financial accountability, governance, project planning and design and child well-being. Participating organizations receive a small improvement grant to assist with the implementation of their own Improvement Action Plan. Because of their commitment to excellence, Charter member organizations are often the ones leading the way forward in best practice in child care and protection. 

One of our Charter-Doorsteps members, Children in Families, coordinates family-based care for children who are unable to live at home with their own family members. They do this as an alternative to having these children enter institutional settings (e.g. orphanages). In the past, many orphanages opened up in Cambodia despite the fact that additional orphanages were not needed and most of the children already living in these institutions did not need to be there; most had living family members who, with some support, could care for the child in their own home. For children who cannot live at home, family-based care alternatives (e.g. kinship care, foster care) are better options than institutions where they will not have the opportunity to grow up in a family setting.

There has been an effort both by the government and organizations working with vulnerable children to support children to stay in families instead of placing them in institutional care settings. To read about this process and/or why NGOs and the Cambodian government believe family-based care to be the best solution for children, click here. Our Charter Member, Children in Families, received a Charter improvement grant and has been participating in our program to build skills aimed at providing foster families in rural areas of Cambodia with training on parenting skils and child development.

One of the foster mothers expressed her satisfaction with the training:

"After attending the Parenting Skills Training, I have learned how to be a [better] parent and have come to realize the value of children and how to keep their best interest in mind. They have a right to share their ideas and be active members of society. They need much attention from their parents and a chance to learn from and rise above their mistakes. This training helps me to understand parenting roles and I have shared the lessons I have learnt with my family members and my friends."  

Our Charter-Doorsteps team continues to support and equip Cambodian leaders to uphold best practice and raise standards of care to better protect children in their communities.  

Links:

• Children in Families
• 'With the Best Intentions' Report
• Learn More About Chab Dai