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Help us create a safe, dignified home where elderly people can live, be cared for and feel that they belong❤️

For the past two years, Art of Kindness has been supporting elderly people living in rural Cambodia — providing food, essential supplies, medicine, companionship and financial assistance to people who have very little support.

But over time, we realized that some of the people we meet need more than occasional help. They need a safe place to live. They need a roof over their heads, a proper bed, clean water, a bathroom they can safely use and people around them who know their names and care about their wellbeing. So we decided to build one.

*AI visualisation — not the final architectural design. Some images are my personal interpretation of how I imagine the future Art of Kindness Home. I created them to show the atmosphere and feeling of the place I hope we can build together

We are creating the Art of Kindness Home

Our vision is a small, peaceful community for elderly people in Cambodia. Not a large institution or a temporary shelter. A home.

Each resident will have her own place, while sharing beautiful communal spaces — a kitchen, dining area, garden and places to sit, rest, create and spend time together.

We want this to be a place where elderly people can grow older with dignity, safety, companionship and connection.

And we are going to build it step by step.

Four grandmothers are already waiting for a home.

Rather than waiting until the entire project is finished, we want to welcome the first residents as soon as the first safe homes are ready.

Our fundraising goal: €220,000

Our total project budget is €195,000.

This GoFundMe campaign has been active for more than two years. The approximately €25,000 already raised through this page was used over the past two years to support Art of Kindness and provide ongoing assistance to elderly people in Cambodia. These funds have already been spent on our charitable work and are not part of the budget for building the Home. We therefore need to raise the remaining €195,000 for the Elder Home project.

Our estimated full project budget is approximately $225,000, including land, construction, infrastructure, equipment, professional services, project management, team salaries and other essential costs.

As with any construction project, some costs will become clearer as we purchase the land, begin construction and receive final quotations from local contractors and suppliers.

We will continue updating our supporters as the project develops.

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We are building the Home in stages

We don’t want to wait until the entire Home is finished before welcoming our first residents.

We will build it step by step and welcome elderly people as soon as each stage provides a safe and appropriate living environment.

Stage 1 — First 2 grandmothers

0–4 months · approximately $78,500

Our first goal is simple:

Two elderly women living safely on the property.

We will not build temporary houses that later need to be demolished. From the beginning, we want to build permanent elements that will remain part of the finished Home.

The first stage includes:

* purchasing and preparing the land;

* raising and preparing the site;

* building the first permanent home for two residents;

* a covered veranda;

* a safe bathroom and shower facility;

* initial water, electricity and wastewater infrastructure;

* a small covered outdoor kitchen and dining area;

* safe and accessible pathways;

* beds, mattresses, wardrobes, fans and essential household items;

* architecture, permits and preparation;

* salaries and essential operating costs for the team during the first four months.

Result: 2 grandmothers safely living in their own home.

The small covered outdoor kitchen will later become a shaded outdoor hangout and dining area once the main kitchen and dining space are built.

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Stage 2 — 6 residents

Months 4–6 · approximately $45,000–$50,000

Once the first two residents are safely settled, construction continues.

We will build two additional homes and continue developing:

* the main communal kitchen;

* sanitation facilities;

* water and wastewater infrastructure;

* accessible pathways;

* the garden and vegetable-growing areas.

Result: 6 residents living in the Home.

The first two residents will not need to move anywhere while the next homes are being built.

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Stage 3 — 10 residents

Months 6–8 · approximately $50,000–$55,000

We will continue expanding the community with:

* two additional homes;

* a laundry area;

* a Living / Art Room;

* a small volunteer and administration house;

* continued landscaping;

* a small pond;

* accessible pathways and additional infrastructure.

Result: 10 residents living safely in the Home.

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Stage 4 — Completing the Home

Months 8–9 · approximately $35,000–$40,000

The final stage will include the remaining residential capacity and shared facilities, as well as:

* perimeter wall;

* gates;

* final landscaping;

* remaining furniture and equipment;

* decorative and finishing work;

* additional infrastructure;

* contingency and unexpected construction costs.

Result: a completed Art of Kindness Home for up to 12 residents.

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Our milestones

We want our supporters to be able to see exactly what their donations are helping us achieve.

$20,000

Land & initial site development

~$78,500

First 2 residents can move in

~$125,000

6 residents can live in the Home

~$180,000

10 residents can be accommodated

~$220,000

The Art of Kindness Home is fully completed for up to 12 residents

These are our current working estimates and will be refined as construction progresses and actual quotations and costs become available.

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The people behind the Home

A home cannot be built and operated with bricks and concrete alone.

It requires people.

A portion of the project budget therefore supports the salaries and essential operating costs of the team responsible for making the project possible.

This includes the foundation director, project manager, local assistants and other essential team members.

Their work includes:

* coordinating the project;

* overseeing construction;

* communicating with contractors and suppliers;

* managing purchases and logistics;

* coordinating the elderly care program;

* supporting residents;

* managing volunteers;

* handling administration;

* and making sure the Home continues to function every day.

We want to be transparent about this. People are part of the infrastructure too. The goal is not simply to build houses. The goal is to create a functioning, sustainable home where elderly people can actually be cared for.

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Come and see what you helped build ❤️

If you donate €100 or more, we would be delighted to welcome you to the Art of Kindness Home once the centre is completed.

We will offer you a complimentary stay for a few nights in our guest house on the property. You will be able to meet the grandmothers, spend time at the Home, share a meal and see for yourself what your support has helped create.

We want our donors to feel connected to the people and the place they are helping to build. You won’t just hear about the Home — you’ll be able to experience it❤️

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Why we are doing this

Through our work, we have met many elderly people living alone or in fragile homes, worrying about whether they will have enough food and with no one to call when they are sick. Many of them have spent years simply surviving.

And yet, again and again, we have also seen something beautiful. They laugh, share food, take care of one another and still want to feel useful. They want companionship, connection and to feel seen.

We don’t believe elderly people should simply be kept alive. We want them to feel that their lives still matter, that they are still part of a community and that there is still a place for them.

Our Founder

I am Samalia Swan, a 39-year-old traveling artist, blogger, and speaker. My heart has always been drawn to helping others. In the past, I have organized numerous charity campaigns, including a successful auction where people generously donated goods and services to help deceased boys in need. I have also organized charity concerts and participated in various events to make a difference. This fund represents the culmination of my passion for creating positive change in the world.

Application

If you want to share about someone who needs help, please contact us via an email on our website www.samaliaswan.com

Transparency & Accounting

At the Samalia Swan Charity Fund, transparency and accountability are our core values. We believe in building trust with our donors by being open and honest about how their contributions are used. You can expect regular updates on our website and social media, outlining our progress, the impact we're making, and detailed financial reporting.