Since 1997, Light of Mercy Home in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has been transforming the lives of children who may otherwise have been forgotten.
Run by our partner, Jesuit Service Cambodia, this home for children living with disability opens the door to independence for some of Cambodia’s most marginalised people. Bunchy, now 30, was abandoned as a baby due to his disability and his family’s extreme poverty.
After being found in a rubbish bin, Bunchy was delivered to the Light of Mercy Home, where he was loved back to life by the Sisters, staff and other children.
Extreme malnourishment and a lack of understanding of his disability in his early years, meant Bunchy didn’t talk until he was 12, and remained in year 1 until he was 18.
However, supported by people like you, Bunchy grew up loved and cherished by those around him. And, with the help of his teachers and classmates, he worked hard to earn a vocational certificate.
Today, he lives independently in Siem Reap and is employed as a gardener by Sister Denise Coghlan, a Mercy sister from Brisbane, who stays at the Siem Reap Jesuit Reflection Centre. She reports he’s a good gardener who always brings love and joy to those he encounters on his life’s journey.
“My job provided my livelihood and transformed me into a person with inner strength. I am more tolerant now and my life is peaceful.”
Bunchy
To young people experiencing hardship, he shares: “Even with challenges, you can move forward. Read books that nurture your strength. Share what you have.” Every year, our Jesuit Mission family helps the Light of Mercy Home support around 20 students living with disabilities, like Bunchy.
Encouraged to realise their full potential, students learn practical life skills—including cooking, money management, and computer skills—and all are assisted to attend local educational institutions. In 2024, staff and students alike celebrated when every student passed the annual examinations.
Find out more
- This story featured in our Reflections Winter #635 – 2025. Download Reflections.
- About Light of Mercy Home.
- See all our programs and find out how you can have an impact.
