Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity

Infobox Organization
name = Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity


image_border =
size = 162px
caption = The CASC Logo


msize = 162px
mcaption = Cambodia
abbreviation = CASC
formation = 2006
type = INGO
status =
purpose = Supporting and empowering acid burn survivors and eliminating acid violence.
headquarters = Phnom Penh
region_served = Cambodia
membership =
language = English and Khmer
leader_title =
leader_name =
main_organ =
affiliations = Children's Surgical Center (CSC)
num_staff =
num_volunteers =
website = [http://www.thecasc.org CASC]

The Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity (CASC) is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-religious organisation located in Cambodia, Phnom Penh, committed to empowering and supporting survivors of acid burns and eliminating acid violence through legal reform and preventative education.

Introduction

The Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity (CASC) was established in 2006 by its sister organization, The Children’s Surgical Center (CSC), in response to a growing number of acid burn survivors accessing the centre for treament. It was perceived that the extensive and unique treatment needs presented by survivors of acid burns required a separate organisation dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, social and economic needs of survivors. CASC is the only organization in Cambodia dealing exclusively with the issues of acid burns and acid attacks. Using a holistic approach, CASC works at several different levels to support and empower survivors of acid burns, as well as towards the elimination of acid violence altogether. CASC is an INGO registered in the Alaska, US under AK Entity number 110501. In Cambodia, CASC is registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as the Ministry of Health.

Services

CASC services include:

1.Surgical, medical, and psychological treatment
2.Vocational training and social reintegration projects
3.Legal assistance and advocacy for legal reform
4.Awareness raising, research, education and advocacy to eliminate acid violence altogether

The four petals in the CASC logo reflect the different aspects of CASC’s work.

All CASC services are free of charge.

Activities

Since CASC's formation in 2006, it has been providing survivors of acid attacks with shelter, occupational training, educational funding, specialist surgery, physiotherapy and psychological counseling, both on an individual and group basis. In an attempt to curb social marginalisation and keep survivors connected after leaving CASC, a monthly Acid Burn Survivors' Support Group was established. CASC also runs several social reintegration projects for survivors. One CASC project trained four survivors as masseurs and opened a massage parlour, Kanya Massage, as a means of providing the survivors with a skill, work experience and an income. In addition, CASC runs a scheme entitled ‘babs', or bags by acid burn survivors, where survivors (some of them blinded by the acid) are trained to crochet bags that are then retailed by CASC on their behalf. CASC also continues its partnership with CSC, enabling its survivors to have access to vital medical services.

External Links

* [http://www.thecasc.org Official site of the Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity (CASC)]
* [http://www.csc.org Official site of the Children's Surgical Center (CSC)]
* [http://www.ccc-cambodia.org Official site of the Cooperation Committee of Cambodia (CCC)]