Acting upon the needs of people, especially children, with disability caused by landmine accidents, polio and other illnesses, Bishop Kike created the Arrupe Centre in 2001 to provide a safe, supportive place for them to rehabilitate and access education.

Below you can read about Dara, and how he came to live at the Arrupe Centre.

Dara’s Story

Just a few years ago, Dara was walking in the fields of his family farm in the remote village of Koh Kralar, when he had an accident which has changed his life forever.

Seeing a shiny object on the ground, he picked it up, and tapped it against a log. The object, an unexploded ordnance, exploded in his hand, with shrapnel impacting his face.

Hearing about this accident, Bishop Kike and his team reached out to Dara’s parents, offering him a place at the Arrupe Centre. Knowing that they did not have the proper resources to care for Dara’s specific needs, his parents were grateful for the opportunities he would now have.

Bishop Kike says of Dara now:

“He’s got so much energy and he likes friendship, he likes to play, he likes his friends, he loves to read. He's happy. He will have a good journey in life, what we have to do is to accompany him. To be with him and to give him the means to keep strengthening his capacities.”

How you can help

Fundraising is an excellent way for students to reach out and empower children with disability like Dara, as well as support their Cambodian brothers and sisters in need.

Click here to go to the Fundraising Ideas page to learn about how you can make a difference today!