Map has no mother or father and doesn’t remember what happened to them. He has a younger sister. They were living on the street. One day in early April 2009, Map decided to come to Phnom Penh to try to find work and earn some money. 

He had no money for a fare so he tried to climb on top of a moving train, he fell off and it ran over him, severing his arm. A kind passenger put him on the train, which carried them to Phnom Penh, and then took him to the children’s hospital. Unconscious and in a very weak state from loss of blood Map stayed in hospital 19 days before being released into our care by the authorities.
 
Today Map studies English and likes to look after the farm animals. He is cheerful and much loved by children and staff at Kais Village. We are still trying to locate his sister.

Sopheak came to us in December 2003 as a tiny baby. She had been abandoned early one morning at a popular taxi-bus stop in a local village. In her first year with us she was very fragile and spent many months in and out of hospital with numerous respiratory infections. She quickly became the princess of the centre and popular with all the nannies. The children too loved taking turns to watch over her, feed and play with her. 

Sopheak is now a cheeky, demanding 6 ½ year old and still somewhat spoiled around the orphanage. Her favourite pastime is to mother and “help” organise (boss around) the younger or new children. When not busy with that she can be seen driving a hard bargain playing “market stall”. She started school a year ago but is currently more keen on the social aspects involved than studying. However when she has one-on-one attention she is a keen and fast learner.

Born with severe disfigurement , a result of amniotic band syndrome, Preap (meaning “white dove of peace” in Cambodian) was abandoned when a baby and lived in a children’s hospital for his first 2 years.

Now 5, he has already undergone extensive corrective surgery. Surgery to repair his severe cleft lip and palate, to partially repair his upper palate, to give him eyelids, and to shape his nose. Further surgery is planned. Although he does not like hospitals Preap has remained a happy character throughout. He is sociable, cheeky, and has many friends. He has recently started to talk and we hope to be able to find him speech therapy.  He now enjoys singing loudly. He likes playing football and anything with wheels.