APF is supporting an orphanage continuously as social contribution activity. Currently it’s supporting the organization named 「Khmer Artist for Children Organization」. There are nearly 60 children that are based in this suburb area of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Vichet Prom, Director of the orphanage is teaching art at a University in Cambodia and is engaged in restoring art treasures at foreign museums as a business while managing the orphanage.
At the Orphanage, food and shelter aren’t the only things offered as art education is instilled in the children as well. Children are able to be taught to go on their own in art field by the director who was awarded the art competition in the U.S.A. Mr. Prom, has taken the trained children to enter high leveled competition to compete with Adults to give the children life experience. Through these events, the director would like for them to experience the competitive spirit to help their emotional development.
Director Prom, also has a mango plantation in the outskirt suburbs of Phnom Penh near Kandal Province, founded since 2000. The children stay around the plantation and aid in the harvesting and maintenance annually. Director Prom offers them foods and takes care of their lives; year by year, the number of children are increased. As told from the children, their parents are disabled to work due to having heavy diseases such as HIV, thus many of them are residing with relatives. He realized there was no space in their lives, for this reason, he decided to establish the orphanage to make environment for children go on their own in the future. Director Prom, started the orphanage from 2013 and expanded to three places temporary. But he closed two places in 2015 because he couldn’t meet the operation expenses and wasn’t able to get any continuous donation from outside. As one expansion was also coming to the end of its life, he had sold a part of his mango plantation. During that situation, Director Prom, met APF and was approved of a continuous donation. As a result, the children received more quality food and Mr. Vichet afford to accept more children.
There are orphanages with stable operations such as Director Prom’s foundation, however, there still remain a lot of orphanages that need help. It’s not enough to survive the orphanage by temporary support. Having continuous support is the most important thing for an orphanage operation.