Context
The project “A Playful Journey: towards a brighter future!” was created to support sports and art activities at Kompong Thom governmental Orphanage. In 2022, UNICEF reported that 10,000 children and youth in Cambodia were still living in institutional care facilities, spread across approximately 300 residential care facilities (RCFs), including residential care institutions, transit/emergency temporary shelter homes, family homes, pagodas/other religious care facilities in religious buildings, and boarding schools. This represents a significant reduction from the 35,000 children and youth living in 600 RCFs in 2015..
Among these, the Kompong Thom orphanage hosts about 75 residents aged between 3 and 20 years, two of whom have severe cognitive disabilities.
Since 2012, we have funded specific courses, such as traditional dance lessons and soccer training, aiming to enrich the education and development of the young residents at the orphanage, improving their social skills, determination, perseverance, and ambition.
Activities Description
Every week, from Monday to Friday, the children participate in soccer training and traditional dance lessons, dedicating an hour and a half to each activity. These activities allow them not only to develop social skills such as teamwork and perseverance but also to express their creativity and deepen their understanding of Cambodian culture, creating a strong connection to their roots.
The children also take part in the InterCampus project, which is held twice a year. In 2025, the InterCampus team visited the young beneficiaries in Kompong Thom on May 16-18. During these days, children aged between 5 and 13, some residents of the Kompong Thom orphanage and others from nearby villages, had the opportunity to learn the importance of teamwork and mutual support through soccer, growing up in a healthy and stimulating environment. All participants received a t-shirt and a pair of shorts provided by Inter Campus, reinforcing their sense of belonging and the educational value of the initiative.
