About COLT orphanage

The name of the orphanage - COLT - may seem strange as Colt is also the name for a handgun, but it was chosen deliberately. Colt is derived from Old English cild=child: "a young, untried person" (Webster's Dictionary).

COLT was originally established in 1999. Back then the name was different: SCCO, Save the Cambodian Children Organization.

In 2006 the name was changed for two reasons. First, there was another organization using a very similar name. Second, two Dutch nationals who came into contact with the orphanage found out the structure of SCCO could be improved.

So, under a new structure and a new name, the organization now works with renewed energy to improve the lives of poor Cambodian children.

Website and Donations

You can learn more about this small scale orphanage at the website of COLT-Cambodia. There you can also find more information on how to help financially or as a volunteer.

Vision

COLT’s vision is to provide a safe, stable and loving home for a limited number of children (maximum 18), as well as to teach them to be good, productive citizens and to give them an education.

Since the restructuring the living conditions of the children have been much improved.

First, the orphanage was relocated from the appalling conditions next to the railway in northern Phnom Penh to a much better location in the west of the city. Thanks to generous donations COLT could build a proper shelter. In this new building there are also a class room, a library and a playing room.

Besides teaching the children, volunteers have made invaluable contributions by painting walls, providing a new kitchen and finding the finances for a regular medical check-up.

Last but not least, all children have been financially adopted by foreign donors so they now are able to attend public school. Many of these children never had any formal education, so they proudly posed in their new school uniforms as you can see below:

Although not all of them are technically orphans, these children come from hazardous surroundings, governed by fear — fear of violence, fear of not having enough food, fear of having no opportunity to improve their lives.

COLT wants to give them a safe environment where they can develop as human beings. The children learn to trust other people and have confidence in themselves.

Location and Facilities

COLT is located in western Phnom Penh, not far from the waste dump Steung Meanchey, where many children eke out a living by finding items of some value in the rubbish. A truly depressing sight and very unhealthy as well for these kids. One would hope to be able to help all these children working on the waste dump.

COLT consists of a small new building with a classroom on the ground floor. On the second floor there is a playing room which doubles as a library, flanked by boys’ and girls’ rooms, the actual shelter. Along one side, a small vegetable and vegetable garden has been created. Of course the children take care of this garden themselves.

In a second, older building, the kitchen, dining room, sanitary facilities and staff office are located. This building has recently been painted and the kitchen and dining room improved. There is also a place to wash clothes.

The Children's Education

Besides the formal education at the local public school, the children get lessons at COLT in English and Khmer. COLT is in the process of re-introducing computer classes, tailoring and the beauty and hairdressing courses.