Misconceptions and their Explanations

NGOs have specialised language they use when reporting on cases, their programmes and progress, often using words or mentioning concepts that may come across as confusing or misleading to international supporters. Each country has their own ways of using words and describing events, and for supporters who fund projects in multiple countries, keeping track of these different terms may complicate things. M’lup Russey values trust and transparency between the organisation and its supporters, so hopes that by providing some contextual explanations about MRO’s work, some common misconceptions might be resolved.

One such common misconception is that orphanages in Cambodia are full of orphans, however this is not the case. The UN defines ‘orphan’ as someone under 18 who has lost one or both parents, but many supporters assume that all the children in orphanages are double orphans, that is they have all lost both parents. This is not true, as research shows that 80% of children and youth living in residential centres in Cambodia have one or more living parents who could be supported to care for them; and half of those children and youth actually report that their parents live in the same province. In addition, more often than not, children and youth who have neither living parent to care for them have other family members such as grandparents or aunts and uncles who could support and provide for them as parental figures. M’lup Russey hopes that more people realise that reintegration from orphanages into such family-based care is vital for a child’s development.

People often have certain thoughts and opinions about why children should or shouldn’t be in residential care. There are some people that believe that certain children need to be in residential care; such as those with disabilities, illness, struggles with mental health, or those who have been exploited. M’lup Russey intentionally supports reintegration with the strong belief that every child has the right to grow up in a family, no matter what their circumstances. Many people think that if a family is poor, then they cannot bring up their children well by themselves; this is entirely untrue, they may just need some support. Family-based care is incredibly important for the emotional and physical development of all children and youth. Regardless of a child’s situation or personal circumstances, no child should have to grow up without a family, not necessarily their own, or be forced to become separated from their families to live in residential centres.

The term ‘family separation’ can also often be misinterpreted to mean that parents have divorced and their children have been left in confusing situations. When M’lup Russey mentions the term in reports, it is actually referring to the physical separation of a child from their parents or family. Sometimes, this comes in the form of parental migration, for example when either one or both parents migrate to other cities or countries for work, leaving their children with relatives or placing them into residential care. MRO recognise that many terms use in reports might lead to misunderstandings, as supporters may have very different ways of phrasing certain ideas and concepts. M’lup Russey sometimes mentions ‘being cautious’ in reports when talking about its assessments or planned actions and interventions. The team also doesn’t give many details about their cases or the situations of their beneficiaries. This can be misunderstood as a sense of hesitation when conducting assessments or taking action while providing services, and may even give the idea that MRO’s assessments aren’t in-depth enough. The reason MRO doesn’t give overly detailed accounts of the situations of their beneficiaries in our reports is because it values confidentiality. Instead, the team uses words and phrases that work for the reports and minimises the public exposure of vulnerable people’s information at the same time. Giving too much information away about clients and partners and their situations can lead to safeguarding and child protection issues as well as a loss of beneficiaries’ privacy and dignity. It is important to MRO that it maintains the anonymity of partners and protects vulnerable children, adults and adults from external scrutiny. MRO hopes that supporters trust the team when they say their assessments are in-depth, even when in-depth details about vulnerable people are not provided.

M’lup Russey hope to clear up some of these misconceptions, recognising that many NGOs forget that the language and concepts they use internally may not always be self-explanatory to the supporters who make their work possible. By prioritising thorough explanations and genuine collaboration, MRO remains committed to building and promoting lasting trust and transparency between the organisation and its supporters.