Help Cambodia Wagga

06/08/2025

In the space between laughter and landfill… lies a choice.
One moment: children dancing, smiling, learning.
The next: barefoot in mountains of rubbish, lost in poverty.
This jarring shift isn’t editing — it’s a reality in Cambodia — a heartbreaking contrast between the streets these children come from… and the school that brings them hope.
This school — built by compassion, filled with laughter — is more than just walls and desks. It’s a place where children smile, learn, dream and have the opportunity to better their future through the power of education
✨ Your sponsorship builds more than a classroom.
It restores dignity. It breaks the cycle. It changes a life.

Contact us today to learn how you can be apart of turning still images into moving stories of joy.

12/06/2025

We love supporting other charities in Cambodia ! Our trusted friends at Building Community Cambodia is one of them ! and we would love your help to help them !

We’re thrilled to announce that construction of Stage One of the Elderly Care Mother House has officially begun in Chong Spean village, Siem Reap - thanks to the incredible generosity of private donors from our very own Wagga Wagga community!

The Mother house provides a safe and dignified home for some of Cambodia’s most vulnerable elderly who are currently homeless or living in extreme poverty.

But this project is about more than just shelter - it's about sustainability. Adjacent land is being prepared for fruit tree planting and a small number of livestock, creating a sustainable source of food and income to help support residents long term.

With the wet season just around the corner, local villagers have generously donated banana trees to help kickstart the orchard.

Now, BCC is inviting all of us to take part by "buying a tree".

For just $5, you can purchase a fruit tree that will grow into part of a lasting solution - offering nourishment, income, and a sense of community.

Buy a tree (or two!) today and be part of this beautiful story of care and connection.

Visit the link below to support through BCC’s Etsy store.

https://onelovecambo.etsy.com/listing/4311378114

Together, we can make a lasting difference.

20/05/2025

Dcc School is not a traditional school but rather a supplementary school and community centre that seeks to lift its community out of poverty and vulnerability

The students find hope, purpose, and community at DCC. It does so through

Helping disadvantaged young children to gain access to government school

Supporting children who have dropped out of the school system to catch up and regain entry

Providing English classes (not offered in the government system) to give students hope for a successful future

Providing computer access and training to enable self-driven learning

Educating adults of the community about drug abuse, domestic violence, child protection and health

Facilitating access to medical teams to assist community members.

Our sponsorship program has been pivotal in sustaining the school. For just $40 a month, sponsors help fund the school's operations, including teacher salaries, school materials, and essential resources.

Sponsor a student: $40 a month can change a child’s future. See the Sponsorship page on our website, https://www.helpcambodia.com.au/sponsorship
or sign up through Rotary’s RAWCS program here.https://donations.rawcs.com.au/Default.aspx?ProjectNo=69&YearRegistered=2016-17

13/05/2025

It has now been seven years since our school relocated from Bophals father-in-inlaw's home (Blue house) . During this time, the school has undergone significant renovations and decorations to enhance its appeal. The DCC community are proud to share that the students participated actively in this process, painting various areas of the school and creating the beautiful artwork that adorns the walls. Their slogan, "Work Hard, Achieve Wonder," captures the spirit of their efforts. Students and teachers dedicated an entire month to completing a transformative project before the sponsors visited in November 2024 and the sponsors were incredibly impressed with the beautiful decorations and coloured paintings on the walls.

08/05/2025

Join us for the movie premiere of THE SALT PATH, a true story based on the memoir of the same name by Raynor Winn.

Thursday 15 May at 6:30pm for 7pm movie start at Forum 6 Cinemas Wagga.

This event will support the HELP Cambodia
University Scholarship Fund.

You are invited to stay for supper after the movie, to chat with HELP Cambodia Committee members about our projects.

Purchase your tickets here.

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1372217

06/05/2025

Once a dream … and now reality,The Dcc School in all its glory !
a place of education, care, community, safety and a beacon of hope !

Picture: Students and donors filling the school with laughter and life long memories.

06/05/2025

Join us for a night of fun at our fundraising event, the movie premiere of the Salt Path. ( watch full trailer in the link)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZfSxRb4Wig

Head to the Try booking link to purchase your tickets.

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1372217?fbclid=IwY2xjawKGUnVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFPWEtxTUJlcll2ZTEzZEVvAR7u2GVMxmNEklMilkKjty-uo2Iv022QyHYPrRSjumUAppfC9yoYtKey-MV6zQ_aem_loz-cPtDvU5nTBNe6mzchA

✅ Enjoy the movie premiere of the Salt Path whilst knowing your ticket purchase is donating to the Help Cambodia university scholarship fund

✅Go in the drawer to win a lucky door prize (donated by local businesses)

✅ Hear stories from sponsors about how sponsoring a child is worth every penny

✅ Stay for supper and get to know the Help Cambodia committee and meet new friends from the community.

THE SALT PATH movie premiere at Forum 6 Wagga Wagga. Arrive 6:30pm for movie start at 7pm. All funds go to the HELP Cambodia University Scholarship...

29/04/2025

History and growth of the DCC school

2010: Bophal and his Father in Law advocate to the Ministry of Education to help the children of their community. With a small Stipend from the government Bophal began teaching children in the house he shares with his family and in-laws

The family home was converted to one upstairs and one downstairs classroom, another class was conducted on the balcony. Every part of the home was used for their community

The school commenced with 15 students learning English and Khmer

The following year the numbers had grown to 50 students studying English and Khmer and in years to come a donation of 3 computers allowed the school to introduce computer skills

The Dcc School ran out of Bophals home for five years

2015 : A group from Wagga Wagga, Australia visited DCC, met Bophal and his father in-law and viewed their humble school

2015_2016: The Help Cambodia Charity was established to support the admirable work being done to change the lives of some underprivileged Cambodians

2016: DCC started with 70 students and no sponsors

2015-2016: After intensive fundraising a sponsorship program was established and funds were raised to construct a building in order to relocate the DCC school into its own premises

2016 ended with 81 students and 32 sponsors. This year sponsor funds were used for the first set of uniforms ever

2017: With financial support from the Wagga Wagga Community and physical labour from the Steung Meanchey community the new school opened its doors in 2017 !!!

The purpose built school consists of four classrooms, a computer room, administration office, manager’s residence and performance space for dance.

2025: Currently DCC supports 120 students,79 of whom are sponsored by Help Cambodia sponsors and classes offered are English, Khmer, Computer skills and traditional Khmer dance. This year 5 students are set to attend university with support from a scholarship fund offered by Help Cambodia.

23/04/2025

Help Cambodia’s main focus is a school located in a very poor area of Phnom Penh Cambodia.The DCC School.

The driving force behind this school is an amazing Cambodian man named Bopal Choun.

Here is Bophal's story…

( full story here ) https://www.helpcambodia.com.au/ou

When Bophal was 10 years old his family moved to the area of Steung Meanchey,a rubbish dump on the outskirts of the city. As a child Bophal walked 10km to attend the nearest government school.

Bophal completed year 12, which was significant for for someone from the impoverished community.
With no means to fund his education he continued working a job he had undertaken in year 10 to pay his costs.
After years of work he left to study English through classes provided for free by a Church. This meant a 20 km walk 5 days per week for the next 3 years until he was awarded his English certificate.

While studying, only Bophal and one friend had any English speaking ability in their entire community.

Bophal gained a position with a NGO and taught English and Khmer to children for the next 4 years.

In 2010 Bophal resigned his position and at his father-in-law’s suggestion, advocated to the Ministry of Education to help the children of their community by establishing the DCC school. With a very small stipend from the government, Bophal began teaching children in the modest home he shared with his in-laws.
The school commenced with 15 students The following year the numbers had grown to 50 students.

For 5 years the DCC school operated in the entire space of the family’s home, meaning the other family members had to vacate the premises every day to allow the classes to take place.

In 2015 a group from Wagga Wagga visited DCC, met Bophal and his father-in-law and viewed their humble school. Their dedication to the betterment of the people in this community so impressed the touring group that on return to Australia they decided to establish a charity to support the admirable work being done to change the lives of some underprivileged Cambodians. The charity HELP Cambodia was established and funds were raised to construct a building in order to relocate DCC school into their own premises.....

08/04/2025

Lets meet some of the key movers and shakers, dreamers and believers who made this dream a reality and lets discuss how the DCC school began!

(To read the full article please click the link below)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS3nl3qrpNvJ2WAC3wq1FpDjZE11PYdGyvCeuRHaZQr22YPYesnN6262M9thN6bgx_q9OpVib6acB5p/pub

Meet Kathy Wallace and Bopal Choun

When Kathy Wallace joined a two-week medical mission to Cambodia in 2010, she had no idea it would spark a life-changing journey—not just for herself, but for hundreds of Cambodian children striving for a better future.
That trip opened Kathy’s eyes to the harsh realities of life in Cambodia—
where access to food, clean water, and basic healthcare can mean the difference between life and death.
Returning home to Wagga Wagga, Kathy shared her experiences with friends and soon discovered she wasn’t alone in wanting to make a difference.

Turning a Dream into Reality

In 2014, a trip to Phnom Penh introduced the Wagga team to Bophal Chuon, a dedicated Cambodian teacher with a
vision: to provide English and IT education to children in Steung Meanchey, one of the poorest areas of the city, located beside a massive rubbish dump. Families in this community survive by collecting recyclables, and education is often out of reach.

Bhopal was already making a difference—teaching children in his own home—but he dreamed of creating a formal school to reach even more students. The relationship between Bophal and the Wagga team grew into a deep and trusted partnership, built on mutual respect and a shared goal of breaking the cycle of poverty through education.

Bophal’s local knowledge, cultural understanding, and commitment to his community were essential in making the dream a reality. Without his leadership, HELP Cambodia’s efforts would not have been possible.

Determined to help, the Wagga team formed HELP Cambodia Inc. in 2015, an Australian-registered charity dedicated to supporting Bophal’s vision and expanding educational opportunities for Cambodian children. Their goal was clear:
build a school where children could learn the skills they needed to create a better future. Thanks to tireless fundraising efforts, Bophal’s dream became a reality

Today, Help Cambodia is proud to say that the DCC School is a thriving hub of learning, welcoming over 120 students each evening for English, IT, and traditional Khmer dance classes. It’s not a replacement for public school but a vital supplement, offering the skills that state schools lack. The students find hope, purpose, and community at DCC

How Amazing !

24/01/2025

Did you know that it only takes $40 a month to change a child’s life ? ?? Thats the equivalent of 7 take out coffees ! Our Aim is to give students the opportunity to access supplementary education that provides hope for a better future and a chance for dreams to become a reality. Sponsoring a student to attend school empowers them through their education and education can help break the cycle of poverty. This $40 goes towards the running of our DCC school in Cambodia and provides the students access to classes in English, IT, Khmer traditional dance and other initiatives. Would you like to learn about how you can change a life ? email our friendly local Wagga Wagga team at [email protected]. The team will chat with you about the origins of the charity and how your sponsorship can allow the school to keep running.

25/12/2024

From the Help Cambodia team we wish our students and teachers at the DCC school, our sponsors and our community of supporters a very merry and safe Christmas !