GRACE HOUSE COMMUNITY CRAFT WORKSHOP

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Business Overview

#, St.To Tonle Sap Kakraanh Village Siem Reap CommuneSiem Reap City District, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap is famous for the Angkor Wat temple complex but little of the wealth generated by the tourist trade finds its way to the poorer farming villages in the area.

At Grace House we aim to offer local children and their family’s access to everything they need to become educated and empowered.Enabling them to enjoy the same opportunity for further education, training and jobs more fortunate families have.

Misson Statement

Grace House Community Centre is a non-religious, non-political registered Cambodian Non Government Organisation (NGO), Situated 4 kms outside of Siem Reap, on the road to Tonle Sap, where the villagers make a living subsistence farming and fishing. Grace House was opened in November 2008 by Globalteer, a UK charity, but is now an independent locally managed organization.

Siem Reap is famous for the Angkor Wat temple complex but little of the wealth generated by the tourist trade finds its way to the poorer farming villages in the area. At Grace House we aim to offer local children and their family’s access to everything they need to become educated and empowered. Enabling them to enjoy the same opportunity for further education, training and jobs more fortunate families have.

Our Community

Geographically serving 3 villages situated between Siem Reap town and the Tonle Sap Lake. These villages are rural communities that rely mainly on subsistence fishing or farming to make their living. Some of the children's parents have a market stall and a few are rubbish collectors, tuk tuk or moto drivers.

Many of the children who attend Grace House live in houses made of palm leaves. These houses have a lifespan of approximately one year before the roof needs replacing; the families often cannot afford to repair the palm leaves so we help them when we can.

There is no running water so the villagers use water pumps to draw water from the ground. This water needs to be boiled or filtered before drinking to make it safe. We are trying to provide water filters to the poorer families. These families are often poorly educated and do not realise the importance of clean drinking water.

Often several families have to share one toilet and a water pump. Most families use wood for cooking as few can afford charcoal. Electricity is very expensive in Cambodia so many families use a car battery for their lighting, which is recharged at the village recharging shop.

Many of our children have no parents caring for them and are being raised by extended family or in some cases neighbours. This causes the extra burden of more mouths to feed. We help the poorest of these families with donations of rice.

Programs

Education

• English Language, General Education and Khmer lesson - Teaching over 250 students a day by local teachers who are assisted by Western volunteers. Grace House believes in giving key positions to local people. 
• State School Support - Assist children to continue their education in state schools by providing bikes, school uniform, supplies and extra lessons. 
• Free childcare and preschool education. - Many of our older children are responsible for childcare while their parents work and early years education gives the children a head start.
• Computer classes - Provide a valuable skill for future employment and help our children have equal opportunities.
• Sports Training - Training and organised matches in football and volleyball.
• Adult literacy program - The ability to read information provides parents with a raised awareness of issues affecting their lives.
• University and Vocational Training Sponsorship - Young people are provided with financial support for university or training fees and/or living costs.
• Library - A small lending library is currently available to Grace House students with plans to extend this facility to the local community in the near future.

Vocational Training

Domestic Electrician Course

      Cambodia is attempting to provide electricity to every home, but with few qualified electricians householders attempt to wire their own homes. Lack of understanding of the dangers of electricity and poor installations leads to many deaths each year. The Domestic Electrician Course provides  one year training for young people in electrical installation of premises to European and Cambodian standards.

Computer Skills

      A small computer suite provides training in IT skills. Internet via 3G is widely available and as Cambodia builds relationships with other countries the ability to correspond effectively online is in demand. Most people cannot afford a home computer making skills learnt at Grace House invaluable for employment opportunities.

Social Enterprise

Grace Gecko Vocational Centre for Women

        Grace Gecko Vocational Centre for Women is a community development collaboration between Grace House Community Centre and the Green Gecko Project. Aiming to relieve poverty in two of Cambodia’s poorest demographics: -disadvantaged and marginalised women and their families. GRACE GECKO’s primary objective is to teach women how to weave products from natural materials under fair trade conditions. The workshop enables women to learn and work, earning a fair wage for their handicrafts. The products are sold in a small shop in front of Grace House and gift shops in Siem Reap.

Safe electricity for the community

       A donation has enabled the qualified electricians to undertake a program to replace wiring in the villagers’ homes. Many people wire their own homes with little understanding of the danger of electricity; this increases the risk of fire especially in the palm leaf houses.

       New circuit boards and energy saving lights are installed. Solar panels are placed in homes far from the electric supply.

Day Center for Children with Special Needs

       The Day Centre for Children with Special Needs was established in January 2012.  A survey of the families attending Grace House Community Centre (GHCC) revealed several children with disabilities living in the community. These children were unable to attend state school and were often isolated in their home.  A small grant was awarded by Pro Juventute II, a Dutch NGO, to cover staff salaries and start up costs. GHCC had secured the lease of an adjacent building which provides a safe and secure space for the Day Centre.

Rational

       Children thrive with stimulation, structured play and socialization. In Cambodia children with disablities are often isolated as parents / carers keep them hidden from society. In providing a day centre the children can mix with other children while providing parents/carers with respite.  Local trained staff  offer a structured program designed for the individual child. This program includes activities to enable the development of cognitive, physical, speech and social skills. The children’s development is enhanced by specialist volunteers in physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy. 

Contact to GRACE HOUSE COMMUNITY CRAFT WORKSHOP

Address : #, St.To Tonle Sap Kakraanh Village Siem Reap CommuneSiem Reap City District, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Tel : 063 639 2168, 092 207 852
Website : www.gracehousecambodia.org