Cambodia: children with disabilities: Misereor

People with disabilities are often discriminated against in Cambodia. Many still believe that such a fate is linked to bad karma.

With your donation, you can help promote inclusion on the ground and support Misereor’s global work for human rights and a life of dignity.

Continent

Asia

Thematic focus:

Protecting human rights and facilitating peace

In rural Cambodia, people with disabilities face particular difficulties – especially when a physical disability is compounded by an intellectual disability. They require ongoing and personalised support. However, many families lack the resources and specialist knowledge to provide this. Those affected are also often overlooked by state authorities and marginalised by society.

Misereor’s partner organisation, Karuna Battambang, is working tirelessly to ensure that girls, boys and their families are no longer left to cope on their own. With targeted support, children and young people can develop their abilities and, step by step, gain greater independence in their everyday lives.

The earlier the support for children begins, the greater the chances of progress.

Sal has learnt to do housework and can go shopping independently.

Thanks to the support, the children can really help out at home and support the family in the household.

Yar Chetra learns to walk under supervision.

Reaksa is radiant. What a transformation she has undergone over the years.

People with disabilities have rights - KBO informs local communities about this.

Access to clean water is vital - KBO builds wells.

Theory is proud of her work at the kiosk. Her mum is there to help and advise her.

In addition to targeted exercises for individual development, there is also plenty of room for social interaction in the group.

KBO has an eye on what is needed. This includes a well for the village.

Reaksa confidently comes forward to join the board

As well as providing therapeutic and medical support, Karuna Battambang teaches those affected practical life skills: setting the table, doing the washing, feeding animals or baking goods for the local market. In this way, they are recognised as a valuable part of the family community.

At the same time, parents learn how to support their family members in their daily lives using simple aids. Self-help groups enable participants to share experiences with one another, helping to break down reservations and taboos. In addition, Karuna Battambang holds discussions with village leaders and local authorities to foster understanding of the rights of people with disabilities. In the provinces of Kompong Chhnang and Battambang, the partner organisation runs five day centres: here, children receive targeted speech therapy, educational support and physiotherapy; many go on to make the transition to inclusive school classes.

This support is transforming the daily lives of entire families. For example, thanks to speech and language therapy, six-year-old Tola, who has Down’s syndrome, is now able to speak to her parents in short sentences for the first time. An eight-year-old boy with hemiplegia is learning to become aware of his own body, and Theary, a teenager, has found a permanent job at a small kiosk. Around 350 young people are currently receiving support through personalised support plans – either in their home environment or at the Karuna Battambang centres, run by trained and dedicated staff.

498 children and young people with disabilities received targeted support through individual support plans.
20 adults with intellectual disabilities successfully completed practical vocational training.
16 local authorities enshrined the rights and needs of children with disabilities in their official development plans.
224 children received integrated and inclusive schooling.
180 people with disabilities learnt key skills to carry out everyday household tasks independently.

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27 €

48 €

144 €

222 €

€ *

27 euros is an example of the cost of information materials and radio programmes that raise awareness in villages about the rights of people with disabilities and help to break down prejudices.

When making a donation by bank transfer, please quote the reference “S63706 Cambodia: Promoting inclusion” in the payment reference field. This lets us know which project is particularly close to your heart; your contribution will be channelled as a general donation towards this work and Misereor’s overall global mission.

To ensure that your donation has an impact in the long term, Misereor uses a small proportion for important administration an related tasks. This way, we make sure that projects are selected carefully and implemented responsibly and that their effects are regularly monitored. Should it not be possible to use your donation as planned, we will use it where it is currently needed most.

Our local partner organisations

Karuna Battambang

Karuna Battambang emerged in 2017 from an organisation that was committed to ensuring that PWDs are more involved in the social and economic life of their families and village communities. Karuna Battambang works in the three provinces of Kompong Chhnang, Battambang and Kandal.

Miriam Thiel

Donor Communications

Telephone: +49 241 442506
E-mail: miriam.thiel@misereor.de

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We want people with disabilities to lead better lives by being more involved in the social and economic activities of their families and communities. This strengthens their self-esteem, their dignity and the respect they deserve.

Tom Chheat

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