The Cambodian Children's Painting Project was inspired by the experiences of Roger Dixon, professional painter from Ibiza, Spain, who came to Sihanoukville in January 2004. While he was painting on the town's main beach of Ochheuteal (also known as Serendipity Beach), the children selling there came and asked him if they could paint too. Upon his return a year later Roger initiated the painting project using locally bought materials (oil based paint and wooden panels). The activity proved so popular and successful with the children that Roger Dixon made it into a regular feature, and now over one hundred children (roughly equal number of boys and girls) come to paint.

Backed by an enthusiastic group of volunteers the activity grew in size and scope, and diversified. In April 2006 the project was registered as an NGO to provide it with a legal platform and to make it possible to sustain and expand the activity.

The children we work with are between five and fifteen years old and they fall into the following categories: orphans who have lost one or both parents, children who are living with uncaring or abusive parents/relatives, children from families that do not have the means to provide proper care.

The children come to the beach to sell fruit or bracelets, or to collect cans and bottles for recycling. Poverty drives them to work on the beach, but the beach is a dangerous place. They are out on their own without water, food, advice or protection. Our aim is to support them.

We have an outdoor gallery and painting area. The paintings sell for US$4. Two dollars go to the child and two dollars, which used to go for financing the project, will now be going to the communal education fund to be used to cover school costs for all of the children. The children themselves sell the paintings to tourists on the beach and through the gallery. So far they have produced well over eight thousand paintings and sold over a half of them.