PREAH SIHANOUK: Minister of Social Affairs Chea Somethy, accompanied by his wife Chea Phalkun and ministry officials, visited the M’Lop Tapang organization in Sihanoukville on September 25 to see their progress in working with at-risk youth in the area.

M’Lop Tapang, a local NGO, provides protection to at-risk and vulnerable children by providing a range of services to address individual needs including medical care, vocational training, drug harm reduction, family strengthening and education. The children who find refuge at the NGO are given more opportunities for a positive future free of abuse and are instilled with values like respect, non-discrimination and willpower. The center is operated by 226 staff members and cares for 130 children in the Sihanoukville area.

M’Lop Tapang received $848,700 over the last three years, but their project agreement expired on September 7.

Minister Chea Somethy, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the management team of M’Lop Tapang for taking care of the work in this organization and he relayed a message of thanks from Prime Minister Hun Manet. The minister and his wife then donated five million Riels (~$1,216) to the organization. “On behalf of the leadership of the Ministry and on my own behalf, I wish Tapang a more successful operation,” he said.