Cambodia has one of the highest rates of disability in the world and yet there are no Cambodian occupational therapists (OT) and no School of Occupational Therapy. Marguerite McCann worked as an OT in the UK for 7 years before moving to Cambodia. She works at The Boray Centre in Phnom Penh. This centre is the only Government-run orphanage to specialise in care for children with disabilities. Over 70% of the children have disabilities such as cerebral palsy, blindness, muscular dystrophy and Down’s syndrome. A further 25% are suffering from AIDS.

The Centre has a positive atmosphere and the children’s basic needs are being met, however there is little understanding about meeting a child’s individual needs. Children spend most of their waking moments lying on mats in their shared bedrooms with no toys and no pictures on the walls.

Marguerite is making cheap adaptive chairs. Each cardboard chair takes three weeks to make, costs $1.50 & is glued with a flour & water paste. So far Sombo, Dy & Sochea have all had chairs made according to their specific physical needs & measurements. Marguerite’s desire is to model good practice and show what huge differences can be made when specific adaptive measures are put in place.

Please pray for:

- Key people to be trained to create the adaptive furniture & play equipment;

- Marguerite as she shares her faith with her colleagues & the children;

- The Cambodian Church to include & care for people with disabilities.