I had the opportunity to speak with the administrator and assistant administrator of the Orphanage. I learned from them that the Orphanage gets some of its funding from the Cambodian Government, non-profit organizations, and tourists. However, these sources do not generate enough funds to care for the children properly, maintain the buildings, and to adequately pay the staff. Many times the staff goes two or three months without pay. They come to work out of their dedication, compassion, and love for the children. The administrators also informed me that they are receiving many children on a daily basis and are continually over-crowded. Sometimes they simply do not know where to place the children. They have never turned a child away because they know that an abandoned child will not survive on the street. At the Orphanage, I saw children with many different problems: severe physical and mental disabilities, children with HIV, full-blown AIDS, Down's Syndrome, hepatitis B, and many others. Many of these children do not receive proper care and medication due to under-staffing and under-funding.

    As I walked through the building, I was moved by the fact that children were reaching their hands out to me for attention. I learned from one of the administrators that because of the shortage of staff personnel, adequate attention given to each child is very limited.

    I plan to visit Cambodia and the Orphanage Center again in the near future. It is my desire to raise some funds to assist them in purchasing food; such as baby formula, rice, etc. On my recent visit, I delivered toys, clothing, baby formula, rice, and money donated from friends and family here in the United States. If you are interested in helping these children, please contact me at (562) 420-6134 or write to me at

Youkimny Chan