About CCT & Supporting CCT FAQs
Does my donation make a difference? How do I know the funds will get to where they are needed?
All donation and sponsorship money donated through our Australian partner Green Kids Global goes 100% towards supporting CCT’s work and operations. As we are a small organisation, with minimal administration costs, a large percentage of every donation goes towards funding our projects, which include the CCT children’s home and our Community Development Program.
Does CCT have any religious or political affiliations?
No, Cambodian Children’s Trust does not have any religious or political affiliations. We carry out our work and assist those in need regardless of religion, gender or political affiliation. Likewise we accept assistance from all sectors of society, from individuals, businesses, schools, social groups, church groups and from all over the world.
Read about CCT's Vision and Goals
How many children and families are currently supported by CCT?
The CCT Children's Home and the CCT Transition House are currently home to 33 children and youths. As our support base grows, we look forward to being able to accept more orphans into our CCT homes. CCT also currently supports 15 families who are part of our Community Development work. Through our newly established Community Development Program we are able to reach far and wide into the community as we aim to offer support to many of the most vulnerable families and individuals in the Battambang area.
Find out more about CCT's children and familes
Support CCT or sponsor a child or family
Do you employ local Cambodian staff from the Battambang community?
Wherever possible Cambodian Children's Trust employs local staff to work on our projects, and in doing so we support the local community and economy. They are our security guards, teachers, cooks, house parents, social worker, and the orphanage director. Our local staff are all sourced from the Battambang area and undergo stringent checks to ensure they are suitable to work on our projects.
Does CCT take children who have parents or only actual orphans?
In Cambodia, poverty breaks up families. The vast majority of orphanages in Cambodia house not only orphans in the traditional sense, but also children from poor families. There are many cases in which children are removed from their families simply because of financial hardship. There is the belief that children from desperately poor families are better off in institutional care where they can receive an education, access to medical care, and better nutrition.
At Cambodian Children's Trust we plan to not only provide these necessities but ensure that the children remain with their parents, keeping the family unit intact. Whenever possible, CCT will continue to accept only actual orphans or, as we have in the past, those children who have been given up by their parents or who are unsafe at home. We will help children with parents to stay with their families by supporting those families and helping them to become financially independent. We will achieve this through our many projects within the Community Development Program (CDP).
Learn about CCT's Community Development Program
Can I adopt a child or bring a child to Australia?
Cambodian Children's Trust does not facilitate adoptions, nor do we permit donors to bring the children to Australia or any other country for a visit.
The CCT Home is an orphanage, not an adoption agency. CCT's focus is on providing the children with a family like unit within the orphanage, along with great nutrition, health care and education. CCT's aim is to keep families together where ever possible. Many of the children have siblings or cousins along with them at CCT and we strive to keep them united.
At CCT the children have security, familiarity and routine, in some cases, for the first time in their lives. They are also in school 6 days a week for much of the year. We try to disrupt this as little as possible. On occasions, some of CCT's children will accompany Tara Winkler to Australia or other parts of the world on an awareness raising trip, providing donors with the opportunity to meet CCT's children.
Find out more about the CCT Children's home.
How is CCT funded?
Cambodian Children’s Trust does not receive any government funding from Australia or Cambodia and relies entirely on the generosity of businesses, groups and individuals such as you to fund the projects we undertake. CCT has developed a strong partnership with an Australian NGO, Green Kids Global. We look forward to the opportunity to partner with other organisations internationally or accept funding grants to help support our work.
Can I donate clothes, books, toys or other items to the children and families CCT supports?
We appreciate your kind offer to donate items to Cambodian Children's Trust, but please don't send unsolicited items. We are very often able to buy things cheaply here and unfortunately, we have to pay to pick items up from the Post Office. If you are considering sending items to CCT please contact us by mail or email first and we'll discuss our needs and the best shipping options. Please be aware that we are unable to assist with shipping or postal costs.
Find contact details for CCT in Cambodia and Australia
Does CCT need or accept volunteers?
We appreciate any and all offers for volunteers, but as CCT does not currently have a volunteer program, unfortunately there are only a limited number of volunteer positions on offer. Please see the 'Get Involved' section of this website for more information on ways you can help.
We are unable to offer volunteers any accommodation or subsidy, and as we do not have a volunteer supervisor, we require volunteers to be independent, resourceful and self sufficient.
All volunteers are required to provide a police clearance and proof of travel insurance including medical evacuation in case of illness or accident prior to volunteering.
We look forward to establishing a comprehensive volunteer program in the near future.
Can I visit CCT and your projects?
As we are a small organisation, our staff and volunteers are very busy with the day to day running of CCT. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to give one to one attention to all visitors and accommodate them with a trip to the CCT house. However, everyone is more than welcome to visit the CCT shop and Community Centre, located on street two and a half in downtown Battambang, where you will find a range of products that are made locally and some by our kids! This is a perfect way of supporting the ongoing invaluable work of CCT.
*If you are currently involved with CCT work, whether donating or sponsoring a child, please contact us well in advance so we can discuss availability of staff to show you around and ensure your trip to Battambang is one to remember!
Does CCT have a speaker/representative who could come to an event ?
Cambodian Children's Trust is a small charity currently run by staff in Cambodia and a small group of volunteers in Australia. If you are planning an event, please contact us as we'd love to hear about it and help out if we can. We will be able to send you information and materials to help spread the word.
I sponsor a child through the Foster Parent or Foster Aunt/Uncle program. Can I write to my foster child?
Communication between a Foster Parent, Aunt or Uncle and their Foster Child is encouraged. Photos, letters and a report on their child's progress are sent to Foster parents and to Aunts and Uncles annually. We encourage donors to send their children letters and photos of themselves. Some Foster Parents and Aunties/Uncles like to send presents, especially on their child's birthday. We allow these gifts and the children definitely appreciate them, but we encourage our sponsors to donate to their Fostered Child’s savings account in our ‘Saving for Their Futures Program’. But it's ultimately up to you!
Read about the Saving for Their Futures Program.
(Scroll down the Sponsor a CCT Child page)