Anjali House is a non-profit organisation providing free food, healthcare and education to under-privileged street kids and their families in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Anjali House is a project of the Angkor Photo Association, a registered non-profit association in France – Reg No: W751202186, and Angkor Photography Festival Association in Cambodia Reg No: 1391SPN.
In 2005, a group of photographers got together to promote photography and highlight humanitarian issues in Southeast Asia. APA wanted to produce a regional photo festival but, in an area of so much deprivation, they also wanted to include some of the people who live in this remarkable and wonderful part of the world.
Anjali began with a one-off dance troupe, lead by Sangeeta Isvaran and photography workshop initiated by Magnum photographer Antoine d’Agata. The children were encouraged away from the streets, and at the end of the week they performed their dance routine and exhibited their photographs to an international audience. With rapt applause they found a sense of empowerment, pride and personal achievement.
Galvanized by the difference that first week made week, APA was inspired to further extend its help, and began to provide education and practical support to Siem Reap’s street children and engage with their parents.
After 5 years, Anjali House has grown to an educational centre with more than 110 children in the ages from 4 – 19.
Due to the link with the APA, there is a high focus on creativity in Anjali’s programs. There are numerous photography workshops for the kids throughout the year, but also other forms of artistic expression are supported. Examples include acting during a movie project or at theatre workshops, and arts and crafts during weekly workshops led by volunteers from around the world.
In the basic care program, Anjali provides the kids with two healthy meals a day, clean drinking water and medical and dental care. In the educational program, Anjali subsidizes public school, there is English language training at the centre including a general studies curriculum, kids participate in sports lessons, and there are computer lessons. Anjali House supports the children’s families as well, providing a weekly rice allowance, psycho-social support by a social worker, interest free loans and emergency grants. This way, Anjali aims to improve the home environment of the children as well and hopefully work towards a better future for them.
For more information on Anjali House, visit
http://www.anjali-house.com
Anjali House - Young Adult Program 