About the Orphanage

The Cambodian Orphan Save Organization (COSO) was founded in 2006 by Mr. Sean Samnang, a local Cambodian, who recognized the urgent need to help the many impoverished and orphaned children living in his country. This situation was brought about because Cambodia’s education and health care systems were completely destroyed during the Khmer Rouge Genocide and Cambodia has been unable to make significant gains in rebuilding due to the subsequent 2 decades of civil war. Now, corruption is rampant and Cambodia’s education and health care systems remain in shambles. Siem Reap is one of the poorest communities in Cambodia, with over 75% of the people living in dire poverty.

Mr. Samnang set up and registered an NGO (Non governmental organisation) so from the start everything would be run legally. His main objective for COSO is to provide food, shelter, education and safety to local children living in extreme poverty.
He started with a few children in a small grass and bamboo hut in Sras Srang North Village, 12 km from Siem Reap in the heart of the world famous Angkor Wat temples. With the help of volunteers and donations, he was able to move out of the hut to a nearby piece of rented land where simple accommodation and classrooms were built allowing him to look after the present 75 children who range in age from 2 to 15 years old.

Following many requests from commune leaders to take more children, the basic facilities (toilets and buildings) have become over crowded and plans are being made to rent another site on which temporary buildings can be erected to help more children. Mr. Samnang realizes that to make the long term care and education of the children sustainable, he cannot continue relying on rented land which can be taken back by the landlord at the end of the tenancy in 2011.

Why We Care

It is estimated that 55,000 children in Cambodia have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Combined with the high incidence of land mine explosions, disease and extreme poverty, tens of thousands of children are living in orphanages in Cambodia today. The Cambodia Orphan Save Organization (C.O.S.O.) is one of these orphanages.

Last August while traveling through SE Asia, the 3 of us (Allison Charkins, Arielle Knier & Megan Ferreira) visited C.O.S.O. Words cannot describe the absolute beauty, resilience, spirit and pride of the children we met at that day. Currently, there are 75 children living in the Orphanage. Some of the children's parents have died of AIDS and other diseases or from land mine explosions, while other children's families are living in extreme poverty and are unable to provide basic care. By providing a donation to this fund you can help to ensure that these children's basic needs are met, that they are afforded an opportunity to access the basic human rights of all children, while also helping with the development of sustainable structures.

We often take our families and resources for granted. With the holiday season among us, we challenge you to recognize how fortunate we are and take this opportunity to help those less fortunate. We are personally collecting money and will give it directly to the orphanage along with materials requested by Mr. Samnang, the Director. If you'd also like to contribute goods to our Christmas Care Package, please email us for more information (see bottom of page for contact info). Medical supplies, children's shoes, bedding, mosquito nets, and school supplies are among the most needed items, but money for food is by far the #1 priority.

Please forward our cause to anyone you think would be interested in making a difference in these children's lives.