Improving the Arrupe Welcome Centre's sustainability & providing youth leadership training

Project Code: CBPT-1200051

5%

Of Cambodian children with disability complete high school

10%

Location: Battambang Project duration: Three years

Background

Funding required: $906,073.69

Across Cambodia, 29% of children with disabilities complete primary school compared with 70% of children without disability, while only 5% of children with disability complete secondary school compared with 23% of children without disability.3

When the Outreach Program was first being implemented (for more information on this initiative see page 10), the team realised that children were the most vulnerable group of people the project helped. In many cases the girls and boys the Outreach Team was working with were excluded from education because of their disability. And so, in 2001, the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang founded the Arrupe Centre to help children with disabilities access education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

Since 2001, the Arrupe Centre has grown to offer a range of diverse activities taking place at four locations, including the original centre in Battambang, a centre called La Paloma (where the textile centre is located), another centre at Kalapaty and a farm at Outangia that provides food to the centres and employment for local farmers. Arrupe is closely linked with the various social works of the Prefecture, in particular the Outreach Program. There are currently 17 children living at Arrupe, being supported to study and create strong futures for themselves and their families.

The original Centre serves as a welcoming home where youth with disabilities are provided with nutritious meals, a place to stay and support in their education. Medical support is also provided as needed. Children attend the local Catholic Don Bosco School and after school have access to additional tutoring sessions run at the Centre, as well as plenty of time for play and recreation. Sports of all kinds are an especially popular way to pass time and several of the Centre's residents have even represented the country at various sporting events, such as Kim Sou, who plays wheelchair basketball for the Cambodian team.