In the Shadows of Phnom Penh’s Landfills, a French NGO Brings Hope to the Most Vulnerable
- Editorial team
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
In the Shadows of Phnom Penh’s Landfills, a French NGO Brings Hope to the Most Vulnerable
AMUR – “At Least One Meal” – nourishes, educates, and restores smiles to children from the slums.
Soon, the charity show “Vertiges de l’Amour”, presented at the French Institute, will carry this chain of solidarity even further.
Birth of a Mission
In Richelieu, Indre-et-Loire, a trip to Cambodia deeply moved two men – Éric Idier and Martial Leotard. In 2012, they founded AMUR, determined to turn outrage into action. Since then, the association has fought urban poverty with determination: 15,000 meals distributed in 2025, 500 families supported in slum areas.
Its “Domaines School,” a true educational gem located about a hundred kilometers from the capital, welcomes 80 students, while the Seiha Center supports 50 sponsored children.A clear and powerful slogan: “€1 = one full meal.”
Julie Pietri, the Star with a Golden Heart
An icon of the 1980s – remembered for Ève, lève-toi and Salut Captain – Julie Pietri joined the adventure in 2017 during a charity gala in Touraine. Moved by the cause, she wrote the preface for Regards du Cambodge, a moving portrait of a country both radiant and wounded.
In February 2025, the artist set foot in Cambodia. At Domaines, she inaugurated a classroom to the applause of amazed children, before distributing meal bags in the midst of the dumps.
“These smiles are worth all the gold records,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion, in an interview on France 2.
On Instagram, her live broadcasts reached over 50,000 followers, boosting donations by 30%. Next milestone: a concert dedicated to Francophonie 2026, with all proceeds going to charity.
On the ground, local coordinator Mealy Sophoan Som affectionately calls her “Beautiful at heart.”
From Rice to Future
At the Domaines Center, everything breathes renewal: organic gardens, solar panels, and a modern library. The success rate there reaches 95%, compared to a national average of 40%.Uniforms are spotless, and educational outings are frequent – Siem Reap in November, Kirirom in December.
At the Seiha Center, letter exchanges between Khmer children and French sponsors weave lasting emotional ties. After the monsoon, food distributions become essential.Total transparency: 100% of donations go directly to field operations, with annual audits made public.
“Without AMUR, my children would be scavenging garbage,” murmurs one emotional mother.Julie Pietri adds, “Saving one child is saving the world.”And for Éric Idier: “Every euro builds a future.”
Simple yet powerful words — a true manifesto of humanity.
With a new goal of 20,000 meals, an expansion toward rural areas, and the dream of a ‘Pietri School,’ AMUR continues its journey with faith and grace.Under the Phnom Penh sun, a Franco-Cambodian chain of hope is being woven — one meal at a time.
From €30 a month, become a sponsor. Give a meal. Change a life.
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