Cambodian Children's Fund
 | |
| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Scott Neeson |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Location | |
Area served | Cambodia |
| Mission | Transforming Cambodia's most impoverished kids into tomorrow's leaders. |
| Website | cambodianchildrensfund.org |
Cambodian Children's Fund (CCF) was founded in 2004 by Scott Neeson to aid the most impoverished of Cambodia’s children. Initially developed to provide a safe haven for 45 children in critical need, CCF now provides award-winning education to more than 2,400 children and through its community outreach, healthcare, childcare and vocational training programs serves over 12,000 people in Steung Meanchey, one of Phnom Penh’s most impoverished areas, with thousands more accessing various CCF services in underserved rural regions of Cambodia.
Mission
CCF’s mission is to turn the country’s most impoverished kids into tomorrow’s leaders. At the core of CCF’s approach is the belief that providing access to education for children once thought unreachable will provide generational change and lift whole families out of poverty. However CCF’s programs go beyond education and schools, to provide the essential services to the community that make learning possible. CCF believes that all benefits provided should be part of a path to independence. Helping parents lift themselves from poverty through a variety of programs — while ensuring that their children have access to education — provides for the greater good and alleviates the burdens of the child.[1]
Health Care
When children first arrive at CCF, they are given a complete physical examination, immunizations, dental check and treatment for any pre-existing medical conditions. A maternal care program provides support to expecting mothers. As at the end of 2014, almost 800 children have been born through the Maternal Care Program with no maternal fatalities.[2]
Child Protection Unit
The Child Protection Unit is a joint venture between CCF and the Cambodian National Police that brings child abusers to justice while protecting victims. Since the CPU began operating in July 2013 it has investigated 364 cases of serious child abuse, child rape and homicide with 86% resulting in an arrest and almost all resulting in a conviction. In July 2014, the CPU was credited for the high profile arrest of a school director accused of giving pedophiles access to children in his care.[3]
World Housing
World Housing is the world’s first one-for-one real estate gifting model, a Canadian-based social venture “conceived and created to provide housing to the most disadvantaged people on earth: families subsisting in garbage dumps”.[4] CCF is World Housing’s “partner on the ground” in Cambodia, and the evolving partnership has been, and continues to be, an important factor in World Housing’s success around the globe.
As at July 2015 over 300 World Housing homes have been built for CCF families within the Steung Meanchey area. Each house is 13m², insulated, solar powered and built raised above the ground in traditional Khmer (Cambodian) style, with a concrete pad below. A CCF family is eligible for a World Housing home provided they show a commitment to their children’s education, provide a safe home life and agree to prevent their children from undertaking paid labour.
Awards
In 2007, Quincy Jones awarded CCF founder Scott Neeson the inaugural Harvard School of Public Health “Q Prize” in recognition of his extraordinary leadership in advocacy for children through CCF, calling Neeson’s “selfless, remarkable commitment to the children of Cambodia."[5] In the same year, CCF received the Rex Foundation Bill Graham award for creating a sanctuary for Cambodian children to thrive, learn and grow.[6]
Neeson was honored with the Ahimsa Award in 2012, presented annually at the House of Commons to an individual who embodies non-violence and compassion.[7]
CCF received a 2012 WISE Award, recognising its transformative impact on education and society.[8] The WISE Awards identify, showcase and promote six innovative educational projects each year.
Neeson was selected as a South Australian finalist in the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards.[9]
In 2014, Neeson was a finalist for Rotary International's The One humanitarian award[10] and the recipient of the Standing for Something award, presented by the Church of the Latter Day Saints in recognition of "the powerful contribution that he has made to those in need".[11]
In 2014, CCF was the number one education charity on charity review site Great Non-Profits. The same year Charity Navigator awarded CCF a perfect “four star” rating for both financial performance and transparency.[12] In 2015 CCF’s overall Charity Navigator rating increased to 99.05%, with 100% for accountability and transparency.
External links
- Cambodian Children's Fund
- "Streets With No Names". Australian Broadcasting Corporation, "Australian Story" episode broadcast April 16, 2012
References
- ↑ https://www.cambodianchildrensfund.org/about-us.html
- ↑ https://www.cambodianchildrensfund.org/recent-news-list/252-ccfs-400th-maternal-care-birth.html
- ↑ http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/school-boss-arrested-sting
- ↑ "World Housing". www.worldhousing.ca. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
- ↑ http://archive.sph.harvard.edu/press-releases/2007-releases/press01222007.html
- ↑ http://rexfoundation.org/2007/09/29/2007-beneficiaries/
- ↑ http://blog.jainpedia.org/2012/10/29/10th-annual-ahimsa-day-winner-scott-neeson/
- ↑ http://www.wise-qatar.org/content/transforming-steung-meanchey-through-education
- ↑ "Australian of the Year Awards". Retrieved 2015-09-01.
- ↑ "Previous Finalists | THE ONE". www.theonerotary3450.org. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
- ↑ "Church Honours former Head of Sony Pictures and 20th Century Fox International". Retrieved 2015-09-01.
- ↑ http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12748