Ever since we started, the safety and protection of children has been the primary focus of what M’Lop Tapang does and is reflected in all we do, from policies to practice.

Child Protection services focus on prevention through community education; response/ rescue in collaboration with local authorities; medical, legal, safe shelter, and emotional support for victims; reintegration to families; and advocacy of children’s rights.

M’Lop Tapang continues to be the implementing partner for the ChildSafe program for the Sihanoukville area. Our 24-Hour Confidential Hotline allows community members to reach out to us at any time.

Our approach is always to partner with families, helping them to identify problems that are affecting their children’s development, and work alongside them to find lasting solutions to these issues.

Our Outreach Team social workers provide many family support services, from practical interventions such as training, setting up small businesses to increase income, urgent house repairs and emergency food support, to more psycho- social support services such as counseling, building confidence, skillful parenting lessons, alcohol and drug support services, and problem solving within relationships.

M’Lop Tapang believes that the best place for children to grow up is with their families, and if this is not safe, a family-like setting.

Family Reintegration includes working to solve the issues that led the child to become separated from family, reunification to family and follow up on their reintegration. Safe, immediate shelter on a temporary basis is provided at our Transitional Home until the reintegration process is completed.

Foster Care services provide a family-like environment for children unable to be reunited with their immediate families.

Additionally, M’Lop Tapang operates and Independent Living program for older youth.

We believe that every child has a right to an education.

Our non-formal education (NFE) programs help children and youth who have never been to school (or have been out of school for a long time) catch up with their studies. The goal is that they will be reintegrated into the local public school system at a grade level suitable for their age.

The “Back to School Program” assists families in getting their children back into public school and ensuring that they complete their studies. Although public school is officially free for all Cambodian children, families are still required to pay for school uniforms and supplies, costs that prevent many from sending their children to school.

For vulnerable and at-risk persons, safe and secure employment can lead to more dignified, independent, and productive lives.

M’Lop Tapang’s Vocational Training programs provide older youth (15 years and older) with marketable job skills training and safe, and appropriate job placements and follow-up. Areas of training include motorbike and bicycle repair, electrics, cooking and hospitality.

‘Futures’, our employment services program, provides young adults and caretakers with job skills training, technical support and connections to safe employment/entrepreneurship and job placement/follow up.

Listening to the voices of the children and youth we work with is essential.

Every year, four youth representatives are voted by the students in our programs to be part of our Child and Youth Development Committee. If there are issues with children/ youth fighting, using drugs, etc., these youths meet with select senior social work program managers to discuss and help resolve issues. Youth members are also invited to share their concerns and experiences during bi-annual Board of Directors meetings.

As well, many of the students we work with have also increasingly been actively involved in community awareness raising activities about issues that affect their lives, such as the environment, online safety, and unsafe employment.

Medical services focus on prevention, education, assessment, treatment, and referrals.

Our team of Cambodian nurses and doctors provide medical and dental care at M’Lop Tapang’s Medical Clinic. Additionally, medical services and health education are also provided directly in the community through regularly scheduled outreach visits to poor neighborhoods in the local area. The most common conditions treated are related to those diseases and illnesses often associated with living in poverty, including malnutrition, diarrhoeal diseases, anaemia, acute respiratory infections, skin infections, developmental delay, and minor trauma.

The medical team also oversees MT’s Baby Care program, which provides daily care for children under the age of 5 years’ old that have been diagnosed with severe neglect or severe malnutrition.

Drugs and Alcohol Harm Reduction community services focus on prevention, harm reduction and relapse prevention services. ‘Pteah Romchang’ functions as a free standing medically supported drugs and alcohol detox and rehab center.

The team aims to provide a continuum of care for individuals with addiction problems through careful case management, including family reintegration, emotional support, referrals into education or vocational training and eventual job placement into safe employment.

Our teams are very ready to respond to acute crisis situations that impact vulnerable children and families living in the local area.

We have learned much during the COVID-19 pandemic on organizational governance, rapid change management as well as how to effectively and efficiently continue to deliver emergency services in challenging times. This has put us in a stronger position to proactively deal with future events that have the potential to disrupt services in times of crisis when children and families need help the most.