Our work in Cambodia
Since 2008, Richmond Road Dental has provided dental treatment for children in Sihanoukville, a province of Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand, via the non-governmental organisation M’Lop Tapang.
Maggie Eno and a group of other foreigners and locals created M’Lop Tapang in 2003 as an initiative to feed and offer safety to a group of small children they discovered living on the beach under an umbrella tree. M’Lop means shade or protection, and Tapang is a large local tree (otherwise known as an umbrella tree) that provides shelter from the local elements.
M’Lop Tapang has now grown to over 200 staff (98% of whom are locals). They work with over 5,000 children, youth, and families in the Sihanoukville area in ten specialised centres prioritising education, health, safety and mental stability. They offer the children:
- formal and non-formal education
- protection from abuse
- counselling
- food
- medical care
- schooling and
- family reintegration.
The community centre contains offices, classrooms, playgrounds and a medical facility. Children can access a library, computers, dance, sports, and craft classes, as well as basic needs such as bathing and meals, all within a safe environment.
How Richmond Road Dental became involved
In March 2008, Dr Petrina Bowden, who worked with Richmond Road Dental between 1994 and 2016, headed to Sihanoukville alongside our Practice Manager, Elaine Lancaster and 75 kgs of donated dental equipment and supplies. Dr Petrina played a vital role in establishing the dental clinic at the community centre and is a wonderful advocate for this program.
Since then, dentists and support staff from Richmond Road and dental clinics worldwide have taken the time to volunteer their skills and services to the children of Sihanoukville. Richmond Road Dental supports the program by donating dental supplies and sending staff to continue the work at M’lop Tapang.
For more information about M’lop Tapang and to make donations, click on this link http://www.mloptapang.org (Opens in a new tab)
Timeline and photographs
2008
Dr Petrina Bowden and Elaine Lancaster established the dental clinic at M’Lop Tapang.
2014
Dr Trish and Elaine volunteer.
2014
After volunteering in Cambodia in March 2014, Dr Jane and Kellie were featured on the cover of The Globe, the Journal for the International College of Dentists.
2015
In 2015, Dr Sarah donated her time to the dental clinic at M’Lop Tapang. She was also able to assist a Cambodian woman who had a medical emergency.
When Sarah booked a massage, she got more than she bargained for when one of the massage therapists collapsed.
The local Cambodian people practise coining, a technique used to treat many illnesses since ancient times. It is a form of dermabrasion therapy widely practised in South East Asia. This ancient treatment method is employed to rid the body of “heatiness” or “negative energies”. Dr Sarah was able to offer a more Westernised approach to help.
2016
Dr Elaine Lim, Dr Alice Huynh and dental assistant Chen volunteered at M’lop Tapang. Apart from treating many children, they visited sites in Phnom Penh, such as the Killing Fields and the Genocide Museum. This gave them a better understanding of the history of Cambodia and why, even today, families face so many hardships. All three of them agree that volunteering is a very rewarding experience. How can you not love helping children like this little cutie?
2017
In December 2017, Dr Elaine Lim ran the Angkor Wat Half Marathon. She had enough energy left in the tank to volunteer at M’Lop Tapang for the rest of the week.
She was joined by Richmond Road dental assistants Chen and Helen. Many thanks to Henry Schein Halas for supplying consumables and equipment for this trip.
2017
Dr Jane, Dr Petrina, and Seonmi spent last week volunteering at the M’Lop Tapang dental clinic. Thank you to Mario from Dentsply and Thea from Henry Schein Halas for their generous donations, which enabled us to provide much-needed dental care to underprivileged children in Sihanoukville.
