The Children Trabant Trek is Benefiting
The charities or NGOs (Non-governmental organizations), M'Lop Tapang and Mith Samlanh/Friends were chosen because of their grass roots orientation. Both are small local organizations set up by responsible travelers that upon traveling to Cambodia and seeing the plight of children there decided to stay and do all they could to help them.

We have firsthand experience with these NGOs and have seen the resounding success they've had and continue to have with Cambodian street-children. Based on this we decided upon raising funds for these smaller community integrated organizations who had such an impact on us while visiting the region.

Mith Samlanh/Friends and M'Lop Tapang also work jointly on the Child-Safe Cambodia Program which is a child protection network aimed at protecting children from all forms of abuse, especially sexual abuse.

M'Lop in the Khmer Language means Protection.
The Tapang tree, also know as an umbrella tree for its peculiar shape, provides shelter and protection.

M'Lop Tapang initially started in January 2003 to help several homeless children on Ocheutel beach in Sihanaukville who were seeking refuge under a large Tapang tree.

Its mission is to reintegrate street-living and street-working children in the Sihanuakville area into both their families and their homes and to ultimately help this next generation to become responsible educated adults and eventually loving parents.

In addition to providing protection from all forms of abuses -physical, sexual, emotional- the organization also provides nutritious meals, medical care, support, mentoring, education, counseling and assistance to drug addicted children in their "safe environment" centers.

M'Lop Tapang is currently working with over 600 children in the Sihanuakville area.
Please click here for a more detailed outline of the services provided or on the logo to go directly to their website.


Mith Samlanh in the Khmer Language means Friends

Mith Samnlanh was established in 1994 as a non-religious association working with street children in Phnom Penh. The NGO was established in response to the needs of the street children, including their families and their community.

The goal of Mith Samlanh and its projects is to help the children's social reintegration into their families, the public school system, the workplace and their culture. The hope is that these children will become independent and productive members of their communities.

Mith Samlanh is currently engaged in their "Friends, Building, Futures" land campaign to raise US$3 million to save their brightly painted center in the heart of Phnom Penh which serves as the core base for the organization providing shelter, food, medical care, training and educational facilities for over 1,800 homeless or abandoned children each day. The center also houses the educational center, vocational center, the internationally acclaimed "Friends the Restaurant" and is the epicenter for their outreach programs.

Please click here for a more detailed outline of the services provided or on the logo to go directly to their website.
Children who cut ties with their families and live alone on the streets:
Children who spend all their time or most of their time working on the streets to provide income for their families or for themselves. These children have a home to return to and do not usually sleep on the streets.
Children who live with their family on the streets.