David Center. A reason for hope

You may call them victims, or orphans, but the children at the David Orphanage Center in Anlong Veng, Cambodia are just kids being kids. Charming and talented boys and girls making the most of their youth, challenging as it may be. These kids want what we all deserve: a chance at childhood, and enough support and resources to create opportunities later in life.

Outside the walls of the orphanage, their picture is bleak. Nowhere to sleep or eat. Nobody to show them affection. No education or care. But their home here in Anlong Veng is a home indeed. The center is their oasis, their newfound paradise. The children don’t take it for granted; they are immensely grateful for a reason to wake up and smile. They are optimistic and vocal about their dreams and dedication for all good things to come.

The volunteers and teachers at the David Center work under the guidance of Setan and Randa, two Cambodian nationals who escaped the Killing Fields, found a haven in the United States, and have now dedicated their lives to helping those who need it the most—children like Samy and Benja, Ry and Pral.

Over fifty kids live at the David Center, from infants to young adults. Some are lucky enough to have siblings in the center. They may have recently arrived, or have lived here for years, but each one is simply happy to have a place to call home.

For a relatively small group, the children exhibit a wide range of interests and talents. Amara is gifted in mathematics and art and wants to be an engineer one day. Poen Le wants to pilot airplanes. Lisa and Srey Nea want to be teachers. Even at nine-years of age, Mesa recognizes the hand he has been given. He wishes to work at the center in the future, to help cultivate the environment that has saved him.

There is no denying that the orphanage plays witness to great emotional struggle. The majority of these children were abandoned. Others were abused or sold as property. The pain is still there, but every day there are beautiful sights to behold. At the center, the kids are free to discover a new lust for life. They have a chance to show everybody how clever and talented they are. Give them a chance to draw a picture, to sing a song, to read a book, to tell a joke and they shine.

In Cambodia, a small amount of money can provide each child with daily food and water, shelter and basic health care. Financial donations have an incredible impact on these young lives. The young residents of the orphanage are incredibly strong, and with financial assistance and encouragement, they may have a bright future ahead.