HOPE HOUSE

Loh Han Chew, MMS ex-Missionary in Cambodia.

The ministry of Hope House was birthed 15 years ago in 2007 by Sot Thida. Back then, she started a children’s ministry in the Chbbar Ampov area of Phnom Penh to counter the prevalent problem of child labour and slum/street children. The objective was to provide literacy and numeracy education to these children. The long-term goal was to enrol them into formal school. Additionally, the aim was to teach and ingrain Christian values, and promote health care and general welfare to these children and their families. Many of them come from poor and dysfunctional families. Ultimately, we hope to help them overcome poverty and experience transformation in their lives.

Ms Sot Thida (right) and Dr Seet Ai Mee (centre)

Various partners-in-mission from Singapore came alongside in the early days to help. Subsequently, it was officially incorporated into Community Outreach Services, which has for some years now been the NGO arm of MMS. With the support and partnership of Aldersgate Methodist Church, Hope House is currently reaching out to approximately 60 children daily!

Hope House premises

Slums in Chbbar Ampov

Slums in Chbbar Ampov

Today, Ni Kong Sreng as well as the staff team and volunteers run Hope House. Their love and commitment for the children have helped the latter learn well, live happily, and see that there is a God-given purpose in life, which they can live out. These children no longer roam the streets aimlessly and are not stuck in the slums all their lives.

Children having lessons in Hope House

Feeding programme

Mr Ni Kong Sreng (third from left) and teachers/volunteers

These are Hope House’s enrichment programmes:

• Conduct daily basic literacy and numeracy lessons for children.

• Encourage and recommend children to register into formal school.

• Support and follow-up on children’s progress in school.

• Provide tuition for students to cope with their studies.

• Provide a daily feeding programme.

• Conduct weekly Sunday School.

• Organise outdoor activities and football games for children.

• Hold special activities when provided by visiting teams.

Outdoor activities – football

Lunch time

Children in class

Pray for Hope House

• Pray for a social worker who understands the needs of slum ministry.

• Pray for our staff to have a better understanding of slum/street children, and thus a stronger burden to reach out to them.

• Pray for our children to be more consistent in their attendance.

• Pray for our staff to conduct even more effective follow-up with the children’s families.

• Pray for sufficient volunteers to run Sunday School.

• Pray for our plan to start an education fund for children who attend formal school.

Sunday School programme

We hope to help them overcome poverty and experience transformation

Special activities

A girl with her lunch