“M’Lop” means shade or protection in the Khmer language. The Tapang tree, also known as the umbrella tree, provides shelter from the elements. In 2003 M’Lop Tapang (MT) was created by a small group of foreigners and locals. It began as a simple initiative to feed and offer safety to six children who slept under a large Tapang tree on the beach every night, and who were extremely vulnerable to exploitation, but quickly blossomed into a much wider program. Today they work with over 5,000 children, youth and families in the Sihanoukville area.