Is to source, develop and deliver care, nutrition, training and therapy that will meet specific needs of our paediatric clients, their families and our staff in a supportive and caring environment.
Is to treat all children with compassion and dignity in a facility where children receive free, safe, health care, and where families are able to support their children and participate in their care.
Thomas’ Transition House for Children Inc is a charity registered in Australia which has established a Local Non Government Organisation (NGO) in Cambodia. This NGO is called Child Health and Development Cambodia Organization (CHADCO).
CHADCO has established and manages Thomas’ House which is in Sen Sok, an outer suburb of Phnom Penh, the capitol of Cambodia.
Thomas’ House has been established for local Cambodian children recently released from hospital, and their families, who require free, continuing medical, non hospital care for a short period while the child either returns to normal or near normal health or during the last stages of a terminally ill child’s life. Any child whose parents are unable to afford any kind of medical care and or food are also our focus, as are disabled and abandoned children. Thomas’ House aims to place abandoned children into long term, loving and safe care by partnering with NGOs developed for the purpose of caring for these children.
As we deliver our services we have established a network of contacts within the NGO and Government sector which allow us to deliver care and education that is both effective and culturally applicable.
With the influx of international finance into the country, the city of Phnom Penh continues to expand and encroach into traditional rural areas. The disadvantaged , homeless and destitute sectors are placed under stress as cheap housing disappears when developers move in. Jobs and incomes are lost as agricultural fields are dissected for development. At best, income is seasonal, with no stready income stream through out the year. Food vulnerability becomes a reality.
The ability of the people of Sen Sok and surrounds to access adequate food, medical care and health education is restricted by their decreasing annual income.T he average annual income is less than $ 80 USD per month and 20% of the population live in poverty ( source 2011- UN Report). The proportion of the population living under the food poverty line is 18% ( 2007 Cambodian Socio Economic Survey).Four million people out of 15.5 million in Cambodia live on less than $1.25 per day. ( July 2014 estimates. UN)
Nationwide, 40% of children under 5 years of age are chronically malnourished and stunted, more than 28% are underweight with 11% acutely malnourished and wasted (source the Cambodian Demographic Health Survey 2010 ).
A Safe Haven in Times of Crisis
When life takes an unexpected turn, everyone deserves a place to feel safe and supported. The Short Term Residential Program provides temporary shelter, nourishment, and basic medical care to individuals and families in urgent need.
We are here for those who find themselves without a home due to unforeseen circumstances, offering not just a roof over their heads but also warm meals, compassionate care, and access to essential health services. Our goal is to give those in crisis a moment to breathe, recover, and begin planning for a more stable future.
At the heart of our program is the belief that dignity and hope should never be out of reach. Whether it’s providing a clean bed, addressing urgent medical needs, or simply offering a listening ear, we are committed to being a lifeline for those facing hardship.
How You Can Support
By donating, volunteering, or spreading the word, you can help us provide critical services to those who need them most. Together, we can create a community where no one is left to face life’s challenges alone.
The Short Term Residential Program: Because everyone deserves a second chance.
The Family Outreach Support Program reaches outlying rural villages.
Due to the country’s recent history, education was disrupted over several generations , resulting in a lack of non- rural employment and opportunities for whole villages. How can you obtain a well paying job when you cant read or write? While this situation is now slowly changing, many families are unable to provide basic healthcare for their children due to financial constraints.
Thomas House currently provides an outreach Clinic to two villages in rural areas. The Clinic provides health screening to children under the age of 16 years old as well as treatment of minor illnesses. Referrals to appropriate providers are made and paid for by Thomas House.
The Basic Medical and Health Support Program provides free care to the impoverished families of our area.
The living standards existing within our catchment area fall in to the “Absolute Poverty” status defined by the United Nations in 1995 which is characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information.
The families in our area generally have little or no education about personal health or disease prevention and management . Consequently the population, and particularly the children, are subject to opportunistic minor infections that can easily become life threatening if not treated in the early stages. Our Basic Medical and Health Support Program is a free service provided by Thomas House and administered by our resident Nurse ( Australian registered and trained)under the supervision of our Khmer doctor. Care is provided from our Clinic located in Thomas’ House. We are able to provide medicines and treatment for a wide range of conditions, the most common being respiratory conditions and infections, skins infections, gastrointestinal upsets,musculoskeletal conditions, dental conditions and blood conditions such as anaemia. Referrals to specialist providers such as X Rays, echo grams, ultrasounds or hospital admissions are provided and paid for by Thomas House.
The Basic Hygiene and Health Support Program aims to provide basic sanitation and health support to the children of low income families. Typically our families have no access to fresh water or sanitation.
Thomas House provides the opportunity each morning for children to bathe, de louse their hair by shampooing and brush their teeth. Children are offered a small snack of rice or bread and a piece of fruit. All bathing is done with due consideration of the child’s privacy. The boys use a small cubicle to change from their own clothes to a pair of boxer shorts and wear these while they bathe. The girls use our bathroom and can choose to shower with another girl friend or by themselves. They are able to lock the door to restrict entry from outside.
The children are encouraged to report any minor skin infections, cuts or abrasions to our Nurse who is able to provide initial effective care thereby reducing the risk of major infection at a later stage.
Any major issues are discussed with our doctor before we go to the parent to discuss the status of the child.
The Nutritional Support Program comprises providing a cooked Khmer style midday meal for low income families who are supporting disabled children.
Thomas House currently supports families who are raising disabled children. Due to the absence of respite or day care assistance for the disabled child, family members have to stay in the home to care for the child. This reduces the potential employment opportunities for the family and ensures that the cycle of poverty remains entrenched. This reduction of income translates into reduced food for the child and family of carers. The reduced food intake impacts the parent/carer by reducing energy levels required for the care of the child with special needs. The malnourished child becomes at risk of intellectual and physical impairment.
Thomas House provides a cooked meal comprising of rice, vegetables, meat or fish and fruit , at Thomas’ House 5 days per week. If people are unable to come to thomas´House to eat or collect their meal, our staff deliver it to their homes.
To be eligible for the NutritionSupport Program families must hold a ´`poor card`´ issued by the Cambodian government and must be providing a supporting home environment to children
Transforming Smiles, Transforming Lives: Dental Care for Cambodia's Needy
In Cambodia, access to dental care remains a challenge for many, especially in underserved communities. Poor oral health can lead to pain, infections, and serious long-term health complications, making basic dental care a critical need.
Our NGO is dedicated to providing essential dental treatments to those who need it most. From emergency procedures to alleviate pain to preventive care that safeguards smiles, we are on a mission to improve lives through oral health.
But our impact doesn’t stop there. We believe in prevention as the cornerstone of a healthy future. That’s why we engage with children in schools and communities, offering them free toothbrushes, toothpaste, and fun, hands-on lessons on proper brushing techniques. By empowering the youngest generation with the knowledge and tools for oral hygiene, we’re building a foundation for a healthier, brighter future for Cambodia.
How You Can Help
Your support makes our work possible. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word, you can help us bring smiles and hope to Cambodia’s most vulnerable communities. Together, we can ensure that no one suffers due to a lack of basic dental care.
Join us in making oral health accessible for all—because every smile matters.
Wheelchairs and mobility aids are available for purchase in Cambodia but the cost of purchasing them are beyond the ability of all but the richest person. A second complication of these chairs is that they are not suitable for use in the very rough grounds in and around our villages.
A small number of our disabled children can achieve mobility if they have a wheelchair or mobility aid such as a walking frame . Thomas’ House is able to design, manufacture and supply wheelchairs and aids suitable for our environment, free of charge. A typical cost of one of the wheelchairs is around $50 USD.
There is little opportunity for our villagers to learn new skills in the low socio economic environment and so few people are able to break the cycle of poverty by earning money.
We recognise that the skills required to manufacture a chair or mobility aid may be a valuable asset to any person seeking ways to support themselves by becoming a welder or metal product manufacturer. We have now developed a vocational educational curriculum which provides instructions to persons interested in learning metal work design, measuring , cutting , welding and finishing. This education is informally provided when any potential student requesting instruction. All training delivery occurs at Thomas’ House.
As part of our Vocational Education Program we also deliver a 12 module course of instruction in Care for the Child which is targeted at young mothers and girls who may be interested in learning skills that have the potential to earn them employment as a Nanny or Child Care worked in the burgeoning Cambodian economy.
We always need clothes for the children, toys and books. Because we regularly need money to purchase consumables such as food, milk and diapers for the babies and children, donations of money are most welcome.
Donations of any amount are most welcome. All of our purchases are made in US dollars and even a small amount of money can purchase food or medicines for the children.
You can donate through Paypal using the link on this website, directly through the NGO website or, for Australians, through our Direct Deposit at Heritage Bank account name Thomas House BSB 638070 Account number 13998129
Our goal in the future is to have trained Cambodian people to manage Thomas´ House and for our organisation to continue caring for poor and disadvantged children.
Yes you can visit us, we love to have visitors. We must always consider the needs of our children and other clients so we need to plan your visit. Please try and give us at least two days notice before you want to visit.
All donations, that is 100% of donated money, are directed to the care of our children. The founders and Directors receive no wages from our organisation. We have office space within Thomas´ House rather than renting a separate space. We keep our staff numbers to a minimum. We attempt to keep our overheads to a minimum in every purchase we make as we understand how important it is to be able to demonstate to our donors that we appreciate your donations .
Yes. All donations are receipted through our accounting system. if you require a receipt please provide us with your mailing address.
Children are normally in our care for short times so we do not routinely seek sponsorships for them.
We often require special medicines or food for these children and we post those details on our Facebook page.
We accept sponsorships on behalf of our village children. We consider that any assistance that we can provide gives the family the opportunity to stay together and for parents to provide nutritious meals , beneficial medicines or school supplies. We do not give cash to any person. Any assistance we provide is ‘in kind’ i.e. food, medicines or supplies.
If any person wishes to establish a sponsorship or one-off payment to a village child, please contact us via email at thomastransitionhouse@gmail.com. Nominate what amount you would like to donate, whether it will be a one-off or monthly payment, whether you have a preference to sponsor a female, male or special needs child or a family. We will then pair you with a child/children in need and will provide regular updates about where and how your donation is being spent.
We take no administration fee from these sponsor ships so any person considering a donation can be assured that ALL of the donation will go to the nominated child/family.
Yes you can choose to donate to any of our prgrams.Please contact us to discuss your preferences. we rely on the generosity of our donors so please do not hesitate to contact us.
For people living in Australia, any donation over $2 is tax deductible.
Visit us
You are very welcome to visit the Thomas´ House and look at our projects on the spot. Please send us a short message. We are looking forward to your visit.
Homeaddress:
Roy and Gaye McPhee
3 Pamela Coort
Highfields 4352
Queensland, Australia
Cambodia Address:
Sen Sok Ty 4
Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh
Phone:
+855 174 89048 or
+61 448 177950
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