OHF is founded by Robert Kee, an engineer, and entrepreneur in 2001. After a few years of giving money as a philanthropist, he discovered that the funds he gave were not properly accounted for. While donors were happy with photos, a simple report, and a site visit, Robert suspected there is some fraud. As an entrepreneur who runs a manufacturing facility, Robert realized that without proper Standard Operating Procedures and staff trained to follow them, projects are poorly executed. In developing countries with handwritten receipts and an absence of effective checks, corruption spreads like a virus.
In 2002 after a clothes distribution program in Prey Veng, Cambodia, Robert purchased a disused villa and converted it into a children’s home called Hope Village Prey Veng. His second purchase was to build Hope Training Centre which became a training center for rural youths. With his love for children, Hope Village was home to hundreds of abandoned children or children with single mothers who are unable to provide for their daily needs. Dozens of children have graduated from the home with good jobs and several are even running their own businesses.
The programs expanded to community projects building houses, wells, and toilets for the very poor villagers With over 30 staff, OHF has spent S$6,200,000 since 2002 in Cambodia. The program was extended to Nepal where OHF has built a S$750,000 children’s home in Pokhara. The programs in Nepal include livelihood projects such as chicken and goat farms, 150 rice bag houses for earthquake victims, and oxygen concentrators to help covid patients.
OHF wants to spread its work as a charity that provides maximum benefits to the beneficiaries with proper accountability and good project supervision.
