The project began operating in 2004/2005, when St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work, under the leadership of Professor Vladimír Krčméry, Rector, and Dr. Juraj Benca, Vice-Rector, established a residential facility for HIV-positive orphaned children and officially launched the project under the name House of Family.
During this period, Cambodia was facing serious health and social challenges caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This was one of the primary reasons that led St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work to establish the project as a residential care facility providing healthcare, social services, and psychosocial support to children living without parents and affected by HIV.
In 2006, a second orphanage was established and opened in the city of Sihanoukville. However, after 16 years of operation, this second facility was merged in 2022 with the original home in Phnom Penh for logistical reasons, creating a single centralised residential care facility.
We provide a family-like environment for children living with HIV/AIDS who are growing up without parental care through our residential care facility. We support their biological, psychological, social, and spiritual development to the highest possible standard while maintaining a culturally sensitive approach.
The project also includes a new social entrepreneurship initiative – a bakery workshop that provides older children from the orphanage with opportunities to earn income through part-time work while gaining valuable practical skills and work experience.
25 children living in the orphanage (aged 5–19 years) with HIV/AIDS
Young adults aged 18 and above transition to a Halfway House, where they live independently. Currently, 13 young adults reside in four houses in Phnom Penh.
Some young adults continue their studies at universities or vocational training programmes outside the capital, often in regions where they have extended family members. Currently, 42 individuals receive this form of support.
According to their individual needs, House of Family continues to provide ongoing support and care to all of these young people.
The House of Family project, with its twenty-year history and the original health and social vision of its founders, continuously adapts to current development trends and innovations. Its goal is not to create a dependency on aid, but rather to serve as a source of integration and empowerment for young adults, helping them transition to independent living through quality education, practical skills, and social competencies.
We provide children growing up without parental care with a family-like environment through our residential care facility and support their biological, psychological, social, and spiritual development using a culturally sensitive approach. Operational costs are covered by St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work, while individual educational expenses are funded through the Distance Adoption Programme administered by the Dvojfarebný svet Foundation.
Since 2013, we have provided accommodation for young adults aged 18–20 years who are entering university or transitioning to independent living. Through our Halfway House Programme, we offer supervision and support during this important stage of life, including assistance with tuition fees and basic living expenses. Some young adults later move in with extended family members or friends.
Some young people, after reaching adulthood, live with extended family members, partners, or independently. We remain in contact with them, conduct regular visits, and monitor their living conditions and overall well-being. For those continuing their studies, we provide financial support for tuition fees and, when necessary, psychosocial assistance during times of crisis.
Since 2015, we have supported 10 selected children living in extreme poverty, either orphaned or raised by a single parent. The support is focused exclusively on educational needs, including school fees and educational materials.
Since 2023, the project has included a bakery workshop, which provides older children with opportunities for part-time employment and helps them acquire basic work skills and practical experience.
Cambodian Red Cross
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Phnom Penh
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation
