Orphans Disabled Arts Association (ODA) is a grassroots NGO that was founded in 2003 by Leng Touch, an accomplished Artist. Orphaned by the Khmer Rouge, Leng was drawn to help as many orphans as he could and provide the children with better lives.
Leng’s hard work and struggle has brought him notoriety in the local community in which people now contact him of new children needing help. The children are often orphans living on the street or from poor families who are unable to feed them.
Now, with the assistance of his wife, Sry Om, and Sophan Sen, ODA currently supports 15 children at their residential orphanage. Although the children can be adopted, Leng and Sry Om have created a home where they are all a family. They all live, eat, struggle, survive, play, and take care of each other as one big family.
In addition to public schooling, the children have English lessons and Leng teaches them his skills in Art. Leng’s training in fine arts include watercoloring, oil painting, carving/sculpture, and shadow puppetry. Unfortunately, due to the lack of stable funding for basic necessities, Leng had to discontinue the latter three projects.
