Social Businesses

A unique feature of the center is that each vocational training program works to become self sustainable by operating as social businesses; businesses that provide the city's residents with various services that also enable the students to learn new vocational skills that ultimately provides them with better opportunities to find employment and improve their futures. Some of the programs are already working as highly successful businesses such as the restaurants; Romdeng and Friends Restaurant. Until December 2009, all the profits from all our social businesses were going directly towards our loan repayments rather than re-investing into further expansions and improvements.

Buy a Brick

'Buy a Brick' has been highly successful and has generated a considerable proportion of funds toward the mortgage. Private donors purchase a brick for US$50, painted by one of the children from Mith Samlanh, which is then set into a special wall at the center. In acknowledgement of their donation, donors receive an email letter of thanks and a photo of the brick they purchased with their name on it. This campaign is widely publicized in both our restaurants and on our website and has been extremely successful. However, the rising interest on our loan for the center has increased the shortfall between income generation and bank payments.

Mith Samlanh has also aimed at corporations who may be interested in sponsoring entire ‘Classrooms’ or specific areas that may reflect their own corporate interests.  We have also had a lot of support from our donors and other sponsors over the years in helping create awareness for the center and helping us repay our loan.