From 1991 to today
30 years of actions, in testimonies and images
On the occasion of Enfants d’Asie 30th anniversary, former youths accompanied by the association and those who contributed to its growth testify.
Discover also all the actions carried out since 30 years thanks to our faithful supporters!
The association Aspeca (Association of child sponsorship in Cambodia) was created in Phnom Penh, on the ruins of the Khmer Rouge regime, by volunteers. It helps more than 2,000 children presumed to be orphans, with the support of more than 1,000 sponsors.
Numerous buildings were constructed to replace those abandoned or destroyed during the Khmer Rouge regime: orphanages, homes, and schools were rebuilt throughout Cambodia with the support of numerous partners, including UNESCO.
Enfants d’Asie began its activities in Laos, first by sponsoring individual children from the Circus School and the Ban Khan School in Boh'o near Vientiane.
In Cambodia, in order for the children to flourish, actions in the field of health have been initiated: opening of a dental office near the central office, recruitment of a former nurse goddaughter, vaccination campaigns... Today, training continues to be given to the youngsters on health issues and a salaried nurse ensures the follow-up of the children.
Enfants d’Asie began its programs in Vietnam with the support of the Religious Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, which ran the Thu Duc home in Ho Chi Minh City, then a state orphanage. The Sisters identified children from disadvantaged families to sponsor. Thu Duc was then transformed into a nursery, crèche and day care center.
From the beginning, the association has supported teachers. In order for children to be able to read, the first libraries were created in our centers in Cambodia thanks to private donations from schools or libraries.
Launch of the program in Cebu, initiated thanks to Charlotte de Turckheim. While filming in Cebu, the actress was confronted with hundreds of girls living in slums and garbage dumps. She then contacted Enfants d’Asie to help them.
The School of Arts is created in Siem Reap, Cambodia to train young dancers, thanks to a donation from Luciano Pavarotti. Enfants d’Asie also supports the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh.
Vo Thi Kim Thuong
Sponsor High School in Hô Chi Minh City
“Hello,
My name is Sreynie Phorn, I am 28 years old and I come from the province of Takéo. I am married and I live in Phnom Penh. I am currently a civil servant in the Ministry of Tourism.
In 2012 I came to Phnom Penh to continue my studies at the university. I was a student of French literature in the Department of Francophone Studies. Since I was on scholarship at the university, I applied to Enfants d’Asie for housing at the Student City and sponsorship. When I received the confirmation from Enfants d’Asie, I was really happy, it was a real chance for me. I was supported throughout my studies. Otherwise, I would have had to pay for everything and it was impossible for my family.
The “Cité des Étudiants” is a place where students can share experiences, knowledge, skills and attitudes, etc., because everyone comes from different provinces and studies differently. I was able to take extra classes at the IFC (French Institute of Cambodia). I also took classes with volunteer teachers from France, thanks to whom I was able to practice French a lot.
The most beautiful project of my life is currently underway. My husband and I are expecting our baby, my pregnancy is going well despite the pandemic. And our house will be finished soon. Unfortunately, our business is at a standstill because of Covid-19. But there is no problem, we will start again after our baby is born.”
“It was during our trip to Cambodia in July 1999 that we met Mearch Phall. Originally from Siem Reap, she lives with her parents, her two brothers and her three sisters. Her parents are small farmers, they live in poverty.
Mearch was then 11 years old and in September 1999, she entered class 2, which corresponds to the second grade (she had not attended school before). Then begins a regular correspondence with her. Through her letters we try to motivate her. She is very happy to be able to go to school. From a child who could neither read nor write we see a beautiful evolution. The links are tightening.
Mearch will join the Don Bosco School of Professional Training and will graduate to become a waitress in the big hotels. In 2010, she successfully completes her studies and her sponsorship ends. We still write to each other and now also communicate via social networks.
With her husband, Mearch decided to return to Siem Reap to be near their family. He found a job as a cook in a hotel and Mearch is a waitress in a small restaurant. A first little girl was born, then a second. Their first little girl goes to school.
This sponsorship has been a real success both academically and on a human level; it is an extraordinary adventure. We no longer sponsor Mearch since she left Don Bosco but she is now part of the family and we continue to communicate regularly. Mearch is now 33 years old.”
Marie and Yves
Launch of the Women’s Promotion program in Vietnam, on the initiative of a Sister, allowing the collective sponsorship of girls from the Mekong Delta. They can thus attend school or acquire professional training, with the support of patrons.
Beginning of training workshops in Cambodia to accompany young people until their entry into working life. Workshops are set up in orphanages or children's villages.
Construction of a center for young girls in Cebu City, thanks to the support of sponsors. This center allows young girls to follow a professional education.
Launch of the vocational training program in the Philippines with computer and sewing workshops.
In Vietnam, launch of the Student Foundation program, which helps young female bachelors in the Mekong Delta to pursue higher education.
In Cambodia, in Smong, the monks of the pagoda welcome orphaned or disadvantaged children from the region of Takéo. A center has been created by Enfants d’Asie with the support of the monks.
In the Philippines, Enfants d’Asie launches programs in Daanbantayan, Alegria (rural areas) and Carreta (slum of Cebu City), managed by social workers.
In Laos, launch of numerous constructions of classrooms, dormitories and sanitary facilities in the northern villages, due to the dilapidated state of the existing facilities, which did not allow the children to live in satisfactory hygiene conditions.
“I am Maybelle Trangia, I am 21 years old. I was accompanied by Enfants d’Asie from 2007 to 2019, so for 12 years. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to study and get a college degree. I am very proud to be from Enfants d’Asie.
Enfants d’Asie helps a lot of children, not only in their studies, but the organization also helps the families. For me, Enfants d’Asie is my second family. A family that welcomes you wholeheartedly and makes you a better person. A family that supports you, not only financially, but also in your career and future plans.
I am very happy to have finished my studies and to have a job. I am proud to be able to help my family and give them what they need and want. Without Enfants d’Asie, I would not be where I am right now.
I hope that Enfants d’Asie will still be around for the next 30 years and continue to help disadvantaged children. Thank you very much to the whole team of Enfants d’Asie who continue to help thousands of children.
Happy 30th anniversary Enfants d’Asie!”
Maybelle Trangia
“Hello everyone, I am Alnesa Joy Hepiga, I am 23 years old, and I was a godchild of Enfants d’Asie. First of all, I would like to congratulate Enfants d’Asie for the celebration of its 30th anniversary, and the help given to the underprivileged children during all these years.
I am currently working as a social worker at Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in the Philippines, helping patients with financial difficulties. I am very grateful to Mrs. Riza and Mr. Larry who guided and helped me, they are part of who I am today.
Through my work as a social worker, I am able to discover many new things in life and explore new opportunities. The computer and English classes we took with Enfants d’Asie made it easier for us to learn.
I am very grateful to Enfants d’Asie for helping the underprivileged and offering hope to children to achieve their dreams.
Again, thank you so much!”
Alnesa Hepiga
“I am proud to tell you that I am one of the three percent of the total population of Cambodia that has graduated from university.
From skin color, ethnicity, culture and even language, my sponsors and I had nothing in common. I did not speak French; they did not understand Khmer. However, these differences were not barriers for us. We formed an inseparable bond from three small things that can be given and received for free: a sincere smile, compassion and shared love. 15 years later, we are still in touch and making enriching exchanges.
In a war-torn society like Cambodia, very often the poor and vulnerable are ignored, forgotten and even invisible. But through a French-speaking friend, my sponsors asked my name. They made an effort to pronounce it. Yes, in doing so, they acknowledged my existence, my presence!
There is no word in the dictionary to describe my gratitude to my sponsors. Millions of thanks are not enough to reward what they have done for me and my family.
Thank you for the entire Enfants d’Asie team for your excellent work in helping orphans, orphan girls, and vulnerable students like us.”
Sokly Hem
“My name is Seanghay Hean, I come from Takeo’s province. When I was little, I lived with my grandmother in a very poor family. Due to my family’s difficulties, my aunt asked Enfants d’Asie to accept me in their center. It was in 2005 that I finally entered the center.
I moved to Phnom Penh when I was ten years old and I stayed at the Borey Komar center. From the moment I arrived in this center my life changed. There I was given food and I was sponsored. My daily life but also my life at school changed.
I got a scholarship to study French at the Royal University of Phnom Penh in the Department of French Studies. I chose to do a tourism module in my fourth year, so I was also able to attend evening classes at the French Institute of Cambodia (IFC), and English classes at the “Australian Centre for Education” (ACE).
Enfants d’Asie will always remain in my memory, I will never forget them. Thanks to this charity I now have a job and I earn a good living, I can also consider buying a house with my husband.
Finally, I would like to thank Enfants d’Asie for giving me the chance to receive education because it is something very important for every child in the world. I hope that Enfants d’Asie will continue to help the poor Cambodian youth. I would also like to thank the people who have always been by my side, those who have helped me and given me good advice when I had school difficulties. Above all I would like to thank my godmother and godfather, Maïthé and Dominique for their support and their love, I love you.”
Seanghay Hean
Official recognition of the Department for Social Action and Development in the Philippines. Opening of the Training Center, a center that promotes the professional integration of young people.
In the villages of the remote province of Oudomxay, in Northern Laos, water supply systems are implemented with the support of Aquassistance, an NGO of Lyonnaise des Eaux (a company specialized in water distribution).
In the Philippines, there was the development of a support program for parents around different themes: challenges of family life, budget management and savings...
In Laos, the Humanisa operation in Oudomxay allowed the construction of 6 classrooms by 50 construction engineering students.
Opening of the Drop in center Ermita, a day care center for young children in the slum of Ermita in the Philippines. The center is a safe place where children receive support and care.
In Namkhong, in Northern Laos, young people from the Bapaume agricultural school launched a project to create vegetable gardens and fish farms.
In Laos, the Eau Laos Solidarité charity provides health training to female teachers on the subject of menstruation. The aim is to limit the absenteeism of young girls for hygienic reasons.
In Vietnam, the launch of a project with the Vietnamese association WOCA helped disadvantaged children from Ho Chi Minh City, who have immigrated from the Mekong Delta. The association provides them with financial, moral and administrative support.
From the very start of the global health crisis, Enfants d'Asie has been developing its support to provide financial assistance to the most affected families, and to prevent the most vulnerable children and young people from dropping out of school: money transfers, provision of food and sanitary supplies... for the most vulnerable families.
“My name is Nampheung Sayavong. I come from Vientiane. My sister is 7 years older than me. She works as a cleaner at a hospital in Bangkok, in Thailand. She didn’t have the opportunity to study after high school. After high school, I moved to live with my grandmother and study at the National University of Laos. Now I live with my parents and I’m single.
When I was 9, I was in the 4th grade of elementary school in Bo.O., and was spotted by my teacher who knew about the Enfants d’Asie’s program and gave my file to apply for a sponsorship. I received scholarships every 2 months from 4th grade until I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science. After my bachelor’s degree, I was recruited at the Institute. I’ve been working there for 3 years now as a laboratory technical assistant. I love working in the laboratory, having the opportunity to learn about many technical subjects such as entomology, parasitology, vaccines…
When I go out in Vientiane, I see a lot of children on the street, no longer attending school. There are many poor children in Laos who still need the support of Enfants d’Asie. I advise young Laotian girls to keep studying, because education can open doors and give you real opportunities to improve your future and support your family situation. Education will also allow you to become a better person who can contribute actively and effectively to the community and society.
For the next 30 years, I want to contribute to Laotian society and help children in order for them to have better access to education.
I wish Enfants d’Asie a happy birthday. We’re having a party in Laos with all the sponsored children!”
Nampheung Sayavong
“My name is Sany Pull. I’m an orphan from Sihanoukville. Due to my family situation, I came to the orphanage in 1998. The people in charge of the orphanage came to the village and met my family, who were having financial difficulties, and decided that I will be sponsored.
After getting my high-school diploma, I was awarded a scholarship to study French at the Département d’Études Francophones (DFL), and took the entrance exam to the Institut de Pédagogie. I completed my teacher training in 2016. I currently work as a secretary in my secondary school’s office. I also finished a bachelor’s degree in social sciences in 2019. My success was allowed by the support and help of Enfants d’Asie and my godmother, which I will never forget. A million thanks to all of you.
In the future, I’d like to found an association to help schoolchildren by distributing school supplies, equipment and other things to poor children. Since I’ve been working as a teacher, I’ve noticed that many students have dropped out of school due to lack of materials and money. Parents don’t look after their children because the family situation is not good. For this reason, I want to create a fund-raising association to help them.
I’m very grateful to Enfants d’Asie, to whom I owe my current life, a new life and a good job. I will always remember in my heart and never forget. And I wish that Enfants d’Asie will continue to support the next generation of children, whether in Cambodia or in other countries. If one day I can afford it, I will contribute to the support of this association.”
Sany Pull
“I’m a girl coming from a very poor family. My parents moved to Thailand to work when I was little.
In 2008, I got a new life thanks to Enfants d’Asie. I arrived at the Battambang orphanage with my brother, and that same year I met my godparents. In 2014, I passed my high school diploma and also took an exam to be a French and Khmer teacher. I studied for 2 years at the National Institute of Education (INE). Two years later I became a teacher; I now work in a secondary school in Battambang. In 2017, my sponsors gave me an amazing gift: I visited France with them for a month.
At the end of October 2019, I returned to France thanks to the France Volontaire Cambodge organization. I was a volunteer in two private schools in Nantes. I worked at the Collège Saint Hermeland and at the primary school in Bouay.
I have many memories with Enfants d’Asie, but my best was every 5th of May. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful evening as we celebrated our birthdays together. Life at the center of the city was great. This place was like my home. My godparents came to Cambodia every year to visit me.
During 8 years at Enfants d’Asie I learned a lot, got a good education, a warm place, a good job and got to know the best people. Today, my life is successful thanks to Enfants d’Asie and my sponsors.”
Chany Se
“Hello, I’m Mr Songsavath, the headteacher of Namkhong School in Oudomxay province in Laos.
I’ve been working in this school for 12 years and was nominated headteacher 10 years ago. When I arrived here in 2007, the school was very small and in very poor condition. The children and teachers didn’t really have any equipment and the classrooms were still made of bamboo. Here in Namkhong, it can get very cold during winter, and I remember it wasn’t easy for the children and teachers to work in these conditions every day.
In 2012, Enfants d’Asie obtained permission to work in Namkhong village and started to help us a little bit. Their support has changed our lives. They also built dormitories for students coming from other villages. Today, we have students coming from a village located 15 km away. Before, it was too far for them, and they were tired of walking every day. Now they can stay here all week in good conditions. In 2016, they built extra classrooms because the school was starting to attract a lot of children.
I remember at the time, a lot of parents came in the middle of the school year to enroll their children. The school had changed and everyone wanted their children to go to school.
Enfants d’Asie also delivered sports equipment and helped repair our water pipes. They helped the school improve its vegetable garden, henhouse and fish ponds in order to feed the children during lunch time.
The association has done so much for us. Even today, they continue to provide us with equipment at the start of each new school year.
We’re now a developed school, and the provincial education office even named us the province’s “Exemplary School” a few years ago. We are very proud and would like to thank Enfants d’Asie for their help. We hope that many schools and villages in Laos will be able to develop as we have !”
Principal of Namkhong School
