The Center for Children’s Happiness (”CCH”)

CCH has the most amazing spirit of any place that I’ve been. When you walk in the door, children run and greet you with open arms. But, it’s not just about the greeting. The place is an incredible family. Children help cook, they hand wash their own clothes, they all have chores, they love to study. They call the Director papa and they call each other brothers and sisters. It’s a little world where life is simple and good and full of hope. These children are from the Steung Meanchey garbage dump. A few of the children are from the streets.

Why CCH?

I can tell you about the great food. I can tell you able the excellent education. I can tell you the garden the children grow. I can tell you about the pigs they sell. But, how can I tell you about their loving spirit? I can show you many many e-mails about children that worry about me working too much. I can show you many e-mails that are written from the heart. I can show you children that will stay in Cambodia and change the country for the better. I can show you children that have changed me.

I’ve included many pictures from the Centre for Children’s Happiness in the photo gallery. I think the pictures tell a story more than anything. These children came from the garbage dump or from the streets. Each one of these precious souls once stood in the mud and garbage. Each one of these children, have dealt with more in their little lives than I can imagine. And yet, they teach me. The lotus flower, you see all over this website, grows in muddy water and rise above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. So, will these CCH children.

Please read the information about the Center for Children’s Happiness. Please read about their many special programs that reflect their values. The Values of CCH Children… to study hard, to be successful and then to help others that were just like them. Help them grow out of muddy water.

Spending time at the Center for Children’s Happiness and walking through the dump is like being in heaven and hell in the same day. Help us take children out of their hell.

A Personal Story

One day I was eating corn with these children at an outdoor market. An older lady walked up to me begging for money. Many children from CCH jumped up and offered this lady their little bit of allowance from their pockets. That is what CCH teaches – to work hard, to be a good person, to make a better life and to help those less fortunate. I learned lots from those children that day. I’m sure they had no idea that they did anything special, as we just sat there eating corn like normal kids.

Gerry at the Center for Children’s Happiness