Friendship with Cambodia

We help destitute women improve their lives. Most of the small loans for women programs are administered by small Cambodian NGO's (non-governmental organizations) run by women social workers in rural areas.  The women are part of Women's Self-Help Groups that provide support and guideance.  The participant sets a goal, for example, buying a bicycle so her daughter can attend school.  Then she decides how she wants to increase her income, for example, by raising pigs.  She gets a small loan to buy piglets.  After she succeeds in paying back her loan she sets another goal.  This process of setting and achieving goals helps change the "doomed to poverty" mind-set into an attitude of self-confidence and hope.  The women are empowered.  They have learned how to make positive changes in their lives and most get involved in helping other women and their community.

We work to stop the exploitation and slavery of women and children for sex and begging through education and advocacy.

We support a shelter for street children in Phnom Penh The shelter can welcome up to 25 children. Some of the children who come to the center were trafficked and many are orphans. The children receive food, shelter, love, counseling, medical care, and informal education. Social workers work with the children to either help them return to their families, if possible, or move to one of our family houses or child protection centers. We help the younger children go to school and the older teenagers usually prefer vocational training.

Providing healing and empowerment workshops; small grants for income generation projects, house repair, wells, latrines, wheelchairs, bicycles, education and vocational training; and peer to peer counseling.