Green Gecko Project

The GREEN GECKO project is an initiative founded to benefit the lives of street children in Siem Reap, Cambodia. A recently emerging town located in the north-west of the country, it is home to the world's largest religious site 'Angkor Wat' and consequently, a hastily growing tourism industry.

In the past, any tourist strolling along the streets of Siem Reap would have come across these children. While most would have certainly been hassled by their begging, not many would have had the pleasure of getting to know the kids themselves - their humour, tenacity, resourcefulness, hope, trust and friendship. The GREEN GECKO project began when one tourist took the time to do this, during 2005.

The sad reality then was that these children, as young as 5 years old, were often the primary breadwinners for their families. Their living conditions were often desperate, either living in very poor housing or no housing at all. Some of the children slept unaccompanied on the pavement, defenceless to abduction, abuse and disease.

Thankfully, today we can describe these terrible conditions in past tense, at least for the children we have been able to reach out to. The GREEN GECKO Project now supports children that are ex-beggars! 97% of our kids are off the street and all kids of school age are now attending accredited Khmer school.

The ulimate goal for the Green Gecko Project is that every child feels safe, happy and healthy through embracing their childhood and having the resources and inspiration to reach their highest potential.

The Green Gecko Project strives to empower these children with the skills, education, values and self esteem they need to break the begging cycle and become proactive members of society. Many of the children have already expressed ambitions to follow humanitarian careers such as teaching, development work and medicine, so that they can in turn help others as they have been.

The Green Gecko Project also provides shelter, care and stability, positive role models, micro businesses, family support, nutrition packs, medical treatment, a loving safe environment and the opportunity to play and belong through the following programs:

• Education
• Health
• Vocational
• Outreach support and counselling
• Khmer culture, morality and Buddhism
• Reintegration and reconciliation

• Give a one-off donation online
• Give a regular donation online
• Donate by mail
To donate by mail, please download a printable donation form and send through the post to:
PO Box 2282
SEAFORD VIC 3198
• Leave a bequest
To leave a bequest in your will, please read the wills and bequests page for Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund.