Sponsor a Child in Cambodia

 
Map of Cambodia
  • ChildFund came to Cambodia: 2007
  • Population below poverty line: 31%

Nestled amidst Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand, Cambodia is a land of rice paddies and much poverty. Much of the impoverished rural areas, home to 85 percent of the population, have limited infrastructure and children have reduced access to education, safe water, sanitation facilities or employment opportunities.

More than half of the population is under 25 years old.

Why not sponsor a child in Cambodia?

Children in remote and rural Cambodian communities are benefitting from development initiatives facilitated by ChildFund. Holistic community development initiatives in the education, water/sanitation, child protection, child rights, youth sectors and safe migration sectors focus our work. The child helpline has directly assisted more than 6,000 persons to have confidential counseling and referrals, as required.

A critical feature of our work is that ChildFund prioritizes and is strengthening its partnerships with national, provincial, district and commune authorities, working with government trainers, government construction design plans, relevant departments and personnel to promote sustainability. Activities supported by ChildFund are identified at the community level through consultations and drawn from commune and district plans. All our work informs our policy and advocacy work with the Royal Government of Cambodia.

“I want to have a new school so that other children can come to study.”

– Kador, age 10

Education

In the Svay Chrum district alone less than 50 percent of pre-school children attend kindergarten. In established community-based schools in this district, we are resourcing kindergartens and facilitating government teacher training on curriculum development, lesson planning and child-friendly teaching methods.

Child Clubs have been established in 25 primary schools, providing resources from mini-libraries to life skills and leadership training and sports and music activities. Child Club members are supported to provide peer education within their community.

Since July 2008, six five-room primary school classrooms have been built, six school latrines have been rehabilitated, 16 school latrines have been constructed and 25 schools have received new playground equipment.

More than 2,000 primary students now have school uniforms, 1,390 primary students were given school kits (notebooks, mathematical materials, pens, colored pencils and school bags) and more than 800 students now have bicycles so that they can to get to school more easily. In addition at least 2,000 school children received blankets during the winter and 7,525 mosquito nets were distributed to poor families – both initiatives reduce child and youth sickness and promote continuous school attendance.

“I want to have a new school so that other children can come to study,” says Kador, age 10

Access to Sanitation Facilities

We’ve established Quality and Assurance Committees in each commune to help identify households with the greatest need for a latrine and to oversee their construction and maintenance. More than 1,080 household latrines have been constructed – many are used by more than one household. In addition 80 household wells have been constructed and 20 household wells rehabilitated with pre-testing of water quality for E. coli and arsenic before construction.

Our hygiene awareness efforts include the installation of more than 67 billboards to illustrate health and hygiene information on a regular basis.

Earning a Living

We are teaching young people to earn their own living while helping their communities rebuild after years of conflict. More than 290 youth have received vocational training in sewing, wedding make-up, motorbike maintenance, electrical repair and business planning. ChildFund also helped to establish a latrine construction workshop with one youth group.

We are providing life skills training and additional vocational training in aquaculture, fish farming and integrated pest management. At least 60 youth visited a fish farm to see success in action and to learn new ideas of income generation. Youth are supported to provide peer education in life skills within their community.

Safe migration

Safe migration research in Svay Rieng province was conducted, results disseminated and planning with the government undertaken to identify the next steps to promote safe migration strategies for children, youth and their families. In total 81 information billboards were erected.

Child rights

An milestone was achieved by ChildFund in Svay Chrum district, when the District Governor requested ChildFund to facilitate the training of district, commune and village authorities to increase their skills to conduct comprehensive community consultations that would provide information for the development of a five-year district development plan, which has been approved by the Royal Government of Cambodia. While consultations methodology can continue to be strengthened, it is an important first step. Child rights training continues to be rolled out to children, youth and communities.

Sponsor a child in Cambodia and make a difference in a child’s life.
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