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Don Bosco Cambodia, or Salesian Delegation Cambodia, is an organization owned by Salesian Don Bosco under Salesian Province, Thailand, which began its activities at the Cambodian Refugee Camp in Thailand in 1988) with a technical school and children’s fund invited by the United Nations. The Royal Government of Cambodia requested Don Bosco in 1990 to come and live in Cambodia for the reconstruction period.

The Don Bosco Child Fund (DBCF) was founded by the Salesians in the 1980s in a refugee camp in Cambodia to ensure that children could continue going to school while being protected from dangers such as human trafficking, child abuse, and child labour. Today, DBCF continues its mission by providing sponsorship opportunities for vulnerable children, most of whom live with their families or in centres not directly run by the Fund. Dedicated social workers follow each child’s progress, helping them overcome obstacles so they can thrive in their education. Sponsors are invited to make a lasting difference in a child’s life, with a suggested contribution of just US$25 per month. Your support helps open doors to learning, safety, and hope for these children.’

The Don Bosco Child Fund (DBCF) began in a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand when the United Nations and the Office of Jesse invited the Salesians of Don Bosco to establish six technical centres across refugee camps along the border. Launched in 1986, this initiative aimed to bring hope and support to Cambodian children living in difficult circumstances, providing them with education, skills, and opportunities to build a brighter future.

• Jan 1989 – Repatriation of Cambodian refugees, UN received approval from the Thai Government to conduct technical preparation courses in the refugee camps.
• Feb 1989 – COERR (Catholic Office of Emergency Relief and Refugees) assigned collaboration experts in technical fields including Salesian Brother Roberto Panetto from the Don Bosco school in Bangkok to hire teaching staff, technical instructors and purchase machinery and equipment. Later the Salesians were chosen to take over the Cambodian project.
• Aug 1989 – The 2 first vocational centres in the refugee camps are completed along the border between Thailand and Cambodia.
• Oct 1989 – Salesians and staff went to Macau to prepare shipment of various machines and equipment, part of which was aimed at the Cambodian refugee camps.

Within 2 years, as many as 3,000 young people were trained in electricity, mechanics, welding, automotive and graphics. Some staff have remained with Don Bosco since the refugee camps, translated technical books. Both the quality of work and the dedication from staff and Salesians build up the good reputation of Don Bosco. When Cambodian refugees were about to be repatriated, they constantly asked if we were coming with them to Cambodia. Several Cambodian instructors in the refugee camps cared so much for Don Bosco and the children, that they joined in for the reconstruction projects of their country.

Aug 1990 – Official proposal for Don Bosco Vocational School in Phnom Penh is submitted to the Cambodian Minister of Education.

May 1991 – The Cambodian Ministry of Education approves the Don Bosco Phnom Penh Technical School project and presented it to the Council of Ministers who granted permission to proceed. Two Salesians moved to live in Phnom Penh.

Sep 1991 – Opening of Welding and Electro-mechanics in the orphanage of Preik Pneu

In 1992 – The DBFC established the Don Bosco Children’s Fund.
Salesian Sisters open Vocational Training Centres for Young Women and Kindergartens for orphans.

Jan 1992 – Purchase of land and with Government agreement, start of Phnom Penh School campus building, a Technical School for underprivileged Youth.

Jan 1992 – Salesians begin the Children Fund Program.In the 1^st year, 78 elementary school children were helped.

Jun 1992 – Salesians look for land in Battambang

Apr 1992 – Salesians agree with the Governor of Sihanoukville to acquire land for Technical School Project.

Jul 1992 – Assembly of the donated Pyramid Hall in Phnom Penh. Many donors are helping.

Aug 1992 – Visit of the Princess Sirithorn of Thailand to the Preik Pneu orphanage. In appreciation, Her Excellency kindly donates medicines and sports equipment. She was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and 70 officials.

Feb 1993 – Visit of the German Ambassador, Religious leaders from the Vatican, discuss the Cambodian Don Bosco Projects.

May 1993 – Don Bosco Phnom Penh construction of the kitchen, dining room, multipurpose hall and the warehouse/workshop.

Sep 1993 – 2-Year course in mechanics, electricity and printing start at Preik Phneu.

Dec 1993 – The entire Salesian Community and young people move to New Phnom Penh even though the school was not entirely completed because challenged by thieves stealing the construction materials at night time. The nearly ready facilities included: multipurpose building, kitchen, dining hall, storage room, teachers’ residence, caretaker’s house, generator room, playgrounds, bathrooms and toilets.

Jan 1994 – His Excellency, the First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Robbariddh, presides the inauguration ceremony of the Don Bosco Technical School Phnom Penh in front of a crowd of about 2,000 people. His Excellency words included: ‘Don Bosco has truly helped the Khmer people; I promise to facilitate every practice of the Don Bosco Schools as much as possible and I invite you Ambassadors and Benefactors to help.’

The Don Bosco Technical School is strategically located in the upcoming industrial area of the city known as ‘New Phnom Penh’; it is close to a higher technical school, so anyone wishing to pursue their studies can do so in the without travelling far. Meanwhile, the demand for skilled personnel in the fields of mechanics, electricity and welding is growing significantly and all our qualified students were rapidly employed.

May 1994 – Father Visser return from a visit Europe with the task to study the possibility to assist with the construction of the Graphic Arts Department.

Feb 1995 – The FMA Salesian Sisters bless the new construction of Don Bosco Vocational training Centre Tuol Kork.

Feb 1995 – Prince Rannariddh presided the official ceremony of the Kindergarten and the houses that Salesians purchased in Phnom Penh.

Jun 1995 – Father Visser and Brother Roberto Panetto receive the ‘Servitor Pacis’ award from the UN.

Oct 1995 – Printing Workshop 2-storybuilding construction starts together with other structures: interior building (4 floors), classroom building (4 floors), boarding quarters, administrative offices, concrete roads and toilets.

May 1996 – King Norodom Sihanouk was invited to the opening ceremony of the Phnom Penh Don Bosco School, due to his absence abroad, instead, His excellency the second Prime Minister Somdaic Hun Sen honoured us all by his presence. Various Ministers, Ambassadors, Benefactors and many distinguished guests participated and enjoyed the Military Band and the Honour Corps performances.

This school purpose is to prepare students to become expert workers in mechanics, welding, auto mechanics, electro mechanics, electronics and printing. When selecting students, we give preference to orphans and students from disadvantaged and large families, working towards work to escape the vicious cycle of poverty.

Nov 1996 – Purchase of one hectare of land in Phnom Penh near the Don Bosco school for staff housing.

Nov 1996 – Sihanoukville, shaping up of initiative around the Children Fund project.

In 1997 – Opening of the Don Bosco Technical School in Sihanoukville (Cambodia’s only deep-sea international port).
The same year, DBFC established two Literacy Centres I Battambang Province.

Sep 1998 – Preparation for the opening of the Sihanoukville Don Bosco school

Oct 1998 – Don Bosco Sihanoukville begins its first year of classes with 79 students in the mechanics, electricity and sewing sections.

Jan 1999 – Don Bosco feast day on the 31^st, symbolic ceremony for the transport of the Don Bosco monument to Sihanoukville. Five hundred attendees including children and teachers from the Phnom Penh school were also present.

In 2000 – Building of a Children’s Shelter in Poipet.
New land acquisition in Kep. In 2007 – Inauguration of Don Bosco Sihanoukville School inaugurated by his Majesty Norodom Sihamony.

In 2011 – Kep Don Bosco Technical School opening.
Offer and establishing a project of a Technical Centre in Ratanakkiri.

The Sala Don Bosco Technical Schools of Cambodia seeks to equip young Cambodians from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with practical technical skills, helping them increase their chances of securing meaningful and sustainable employment. In doing so, these young people can improve the standard of living for themselves and their families. Each year, students apply for a two-year training program in various technical fields. During the application process, the school board assesses each candidate’s social and economic background. The number of students accepted is limited, reflecting the generosity and resources of Don Bosco. Sponsors are warmly invited to support the school, enabling it to continue its vital mission of training and empowering Cambodian youth.