Who's Involved - Khmer Children's Foundation

Who's Involved

The Khmer Children's Foundation consists of US Volunteers and Cambodian Staff. The only paid employees are our Cambodian In-Country Coordinator, our Driver-Translator, and of course the nannies who care for the infants in our program.

began working with Cambodian children and adults in 1979 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the exodus of Cambodian refugees to the United States. As the Program Director of Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Law Center for twenty years, she has had the opportunity to work for the United Nations Border Relief on the Thai/Cambodian border. Along with her Cambodian husband, Ms. Brener-Sam has worked religiously with Cambodian families both in and out of Cambodia.

After the death of her husband in 1997, Ms. Brener-Sam founded

, inc., to work exclusively with orphaned children in Cambodia. She provided facilitation services to families wanting to adopt a Cambodian orphan. Through her vast understanding of Cambodian culture and U.S. immigration policies, Ms. Brener-Sam was able to assist over 300 adopting families with a wide range of services and advice while they were in Cambodia adopting their children. A large portion of the fees which adoptive families paid for their adoptions went directly to the orphanages to purchase formula and food, pay the salaries of the nannies who care for the children, provide medical care, and maintain the orphanages.

Ms. Brener-Sam founded the Khmer Children's Foundation in 1999 as a way for adoptive parents to contribute back to Cambodia in the form of educational and humanitarian projects. In 2003 she received a medal called a "medai" given by His Excellency Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, for the humanitarian work she had done in Pursat Province in regard to building schools, supplying school children with school supplies and uniforms, supporting children in orphanages, assisting in flood relief, and general work with the poor.

In addition to having three grown biological children, Ms. Brener-Sam is also the adoptive mother of a Cambodian child. Ms. Brener-Sam resides in the United States but visits Cambodia as needed to oversee projects.

is the In-Country Coordinator for the Khmer Children's Foundation as of September 2006. Charya graduated from the University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh with a degree in law in 2002. After graduation, Charya traveled abroad, spending two months in Utah on an intensive English course and eighteen months in Australia teaching children and adults. Upon her return to Cambodia, she taught English to primary school children for two years at Modern International School. Charya's main responsibilities with the Khmer Children's Foundation include reporting current program and project progress to the foundation in the United States, researching and planning new programs and projects, and managing all aspects of the foundation's budget in Cambodia. Her excellent command of both the Khmer and the English languages are imperative for clear communication ties when discussing project ideas with the orphanage director and when reporting back to the Khmer Children's Foundation in the United States. Charya loves working with children, and especially enjoys her weekly visits to Pursat Provincial Orphanage in order to oversee the children's program and to help improve the lives of the orphaned children of Pursat.

is the full time in-country coordinator for the Khmer Children's Foundation. A certified elementary school teacher, Ms. Meyer runs all educational programming for the foundation. She oversees the daily functions of the orphanage and ensures the welfare of the children. She coordinates medical visits, meal planning, and all aspects of the orphanage budget. Ms. Meyer speaks Khmer, the native language of Cambodia. This is essential when planning projects with community leaders and communicating with orphanage staff.

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, known to some as "Sam" or "Mr. Lucky", helps plan and execute projects for the foundation. Phart was a driver, translator and tour guide for many years. He currently runs a small business in Cambodia and works one day per week for the Khmer Children's Foundation with translation and program assistance. His knowledge and resourcefulness are essential to us in planning and implementing projects.

has an extensive background in child welfare and international adoption. She holds a license and Master's degree in social work. Ms. Batshaw spent many years working in the child welfare system in the state of Pennsylvania, where she worked with foster children. It was while she was working with

that Ms. Batshaw first met Harriet Brener-Sam, who was also employed by LCFS. Ms. Batshaw worked with many foster children who were eventually adopted by their foster parents, which sparked her interest in adoption and eventually in international adoption. She conducted home studies and post-placement visits for international adoptive families in Pennsylvania.

A relocation to the Washington, D.C., area led Ms. Batshaw to work with international adoption. She worked for

Incorporated where, in addition to working on adoption programs in many countries around the world, she helped to develop the Cambodia program. In December of 1999 she made her first trip to Cambodia. As she describes it, "I fell in love with the children of Cambodia." Ms. Batshaw's subsequent trips to Cambodia deepened her commitment to the children. She has been in the country with families during the completion of many adoptions. In January of 2004, during her fifth trip to Cambodia, Ms. Batshaw evaluated the special needs of the orphanages during the Immigration and Naturalization Service suspension of U.S. adoptions from Cambodia. She is married and has three grown children.

has been involved with the Khmer Children's Foundation since its inception in 1999. Lisa writes, edits and produces the foundation's newsletter, Khmer Connections. She also plans and develops new projects, assists with fundraising, and runs the office. She is an active participant in the Southeastern Pennsylvania FAMCAM, Families with Cambodian Children. She and her husband are parents of a Cambodian child they adopted in 2001.