In 2006, Amjad and Fauzia Ghori visited Cambodia to oversee the filming of a documentary about an orphanage in the Tonle Bassac region of Phnom Penh. Here they first witnessed the magnitude of struggle for underprivileged children in Cambodia and wanted to help. At this orphanage they met Nader Ebrahimi a volunteer. Their meeting led to a dialogue and friendship that culminated in the vision of opening a grassroots children’s center.

Amjad, Fauzia, and Nader set their sights on making a sustainable and meaningful change in the lives of Cambodia’s neediest children. Nader took on the direction of this project for the Aziza Ghori Charitable Foundation. Beginning in July of 2006, Nader began to look for a suitable location (with priority given to proximity to a Khmer public school) and keep track of potential residents. When the appropriate site for the center was located, extensive construction work was begun to ensure that the collective vision for Aziza’s Place could take shape.

Nader’s background as a professional artist resulted in the design and color having a dominant place in the physical infrastructure of the future home of Aziza’s Place, and continues to shine through the vibrant colors and visual arts emphasis of the center today. He has succeeded in guiding the children to explore their unbridled creativity.

In 2009, Nader Ebrahimi tragically passed away. Despite this devastating loss Aziza’s Place continues to go from strength to strength under the management of Socheat, Dan and Ali. Nader’s passion, enthusiasm and compassion continues to run through the heart of Aziza’s Place.

Now, twenty-one children are growing and striving at Aziza’s Place. Each of their stories are unique, but mirrors the larger obstacles impoverished children face in Cambodia. Their destitute life on the dumpsite, parents with HIV/AIDS, and even being sold into slavery do not hold back the will of these children to learn and succeed.

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