Cambodia: Salesians open new centre for street children

The Salesians Fathers in Cambodia have opened a new Home for orphans and street children in Poipet, in the province of Banteay Meanchey close to the border with Thailand. The area is notorious for trafficking of minors, extreme poverty and criminal gangs. The Dom Bosco Children's Home will also provide schooling and professional training. It has a large library and has been built with funds from Dutch benefactors. There is widespread illiteracy in Cambodia as a consequence of the Khmer Rouge regime (1975 - 1979), which destroyed schools and books and killed teachers to make way for a 'new society'. One main objective of the Don Bosco Children Foundation is to overcome illiteracy in the poorest parts of the country. Many children have also been caught up in the child sex trade The foundation will offer children a safe home' help them catch up with their education and get back into state schools. . The province of Banteay Meanchey has the lowest number of schools and the highest poverty rate. 76% of women and 65% of men in this province did not even go to primary school and the rate is even higher in Poipet. Source: Fides