Caring for orphans with disabilities in Cambodia

Kirsten Cresswick, Cambodia

Of the total population of Cambodia, children under 14 years of age comprise a staggering 43% (1998 population census). Over the past few years, considerable improvements have been made in the overall situation of children, but many challenges remain. One of these is that of children with disabilities. These children and their families face numerous difficulties in day to day life: the barriers of discrimination, very limited access to education and work opportunities and often the additional problem of poverty. In such circumstances, many families feel they are unable to cope, so, often neglect, abandon (or "throw away like rubbish", as is the direct translation from the khmer), or give up their child to a hospital or centre.

The accommodation and care of such children is a critical and growing challenge for Cambodia. In 1998, The Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSALVY) and the Disability Action Council (DAC), undertook a study in liaison with InterPART (an Australian Organisation) to explore community based alternatives for the care and support of orphaned and abandoned children with disabilities. These alternatives included considering attempts to locate parents and/or extended families, exploring foster care, adoption within Cambodia by Cambodians, and group home care.

In the area of group home care, we have good news in that we recently have funding to begin a pilot study. This project will establish community care in the form of a group home for an initial five children with disabilities from the main government orphanage. These five children will be cared for in a home environment by carers, encouraged to develop their skills and abilities, and participate in school and community life with their peers.

As options are being considered for these orphaned and abandoned children, we are continuing to learn from the experience of organisations in the community who are committed to supporting families who have children with disabilities. Factors are being identified which we recognize are providing the support that is enabling these families to keep their children at home, rather than feel they have no other option but to give them up.

Implementation of the community based alternatives above, is a major step towards fulfilling the obligations of the Royal Government of Cambodia, who became a signatory to the Asian and Pacific decade of Disabled persons, 1993-2002. We at the DAC hope that in continuing to work with the Government on Policy development, the implementation of future programs will be seen as a priority and the budget for this Ministry (currently severely under resourced) will increase. The Government can then move forward with guidelines for a National strategy for care of orphaned and abandoned children in Cambodia.

Kirsten Cresswick