The Centre for Children's Happiness (CCH) LINK TO THEIR WEBSITEwas started in October 2002. It provides a home and education to 30 children -12 girls and 18 boys. The children are either orphans or belong to parents who cannot take care of them due to illness or disability. All of the children previously worked as garbage pickers at the Steung Meanchey landfill in Phnom Penh.

CCH is a non-governmental organization officially formed on April 22, 2002 and recognized by the Cambodian Ministry of the Interior. Mr Mech Sokha, is its founder and director. Ms. Osanai Mieko, President of Japan Team of Young Human Power (JHP) and Mr. Oum Hoeung, Director of the Phnom Penh Department of Education, Youth and Sport, sit on CCH’s Board of Directors together with Sokha. CCH has primarily been funded by JHP although sponsorship of the children by private individuals and companies is increasing. CCH is a member of the Cambodian NGO Committee on the Rights of the Child and receives support from the Phnom Penh Department of Education, Youth and Sport.

CCH is located in southern Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
CCH consists of one large building with a courtyard and a dining area in the middle on the ground floor, flanked by boys’ and girls’ rooms. On the second floor, there is one large room, which is both classroom and library. In front and along one side, there is a garden. In back, there is a storage area, a water tower, a place to wash clothes, and an area for keeping a half-dozen pigs.

CCH has three live-in staff. One is a handyman. One is a woman responsible for cooking and teaching sewing. And the third is a woman responsible for the children’s education at CCH. But these three staff provide far more than these services, as they are also the children’s main source of adult attention.

The children attend the local public primary school, about five minutes away by foot. They go to school in two shifts. Half the children go in the morning for four hours, and the other half go in the afternoon for four hours. Public education in Cambodia does not have the best reputation. Only 45% of children attend primary school. 19% attend secondary school. And 60% cannot read and write. Class size is large, usually in the vicinity of 50 students.
When the children aren’t at public school, they get lessons at CCH in English, Khmer, and math. In public school, English isn’t taught until grade 7, so CCH provides the children’s first exposure to English. A young teacher teaches math and English daily, and four university students tutor in Khmer two hours per day.

Several of the older boys get vocational training in cooking and car mechanics. Sewing is taught at CCH, and a few of the older girls are sent to a local NGO to get additional lessons in tailoring. It is not realistic for all the children to complete a formal academic education. CCH believes they should get skills with which they can eventually earn a living.

The children’s career ambitions run the gamut from tailoring to teaching to nursing. Some want to be auto mechanics, others want to work with computers. Others want to be accountants, hairdressers, dancers, electricians, cooks and drivers.

CCH is a small institution where you can have a big impact.



I felt really well here, there is something magical in that place, you feel love there, real friendliness. Children are simply great. Going there after my visits in the landfill was such a relief, like coming back home. Thank you.

your comments and votes are appreciated


.