Phnom Penh – the capital of Cambodia – is a bright and busy tourist destination dotted with hotels, bars, restaurants and parks.
But behind these attractions lies desperate poverty. Cambodia is a Buddhist-majority country, and Christians are a small minority.
“Families live in poor conditions with limited access to basic amenities like proper bathrooms or eating areas,” says our project partner.
Many children live in poverty and disadvantage, with no way of getting the education that they need to hope for a better future
Many impoverished parents cannot afford to send their children to school. Those who can do so find that the quality of education is deliberately poor, giving teachers an excuse to request extra fees for further tuition.
“This ultimately leads to students dropping out of school at a young age and getting stuck in the cycle of poverty due to their illiteracy,” adds our partner.
“Children as young as five are often left to care for themselves and their siblings during the day when their parents are at work, exposing them to various dangerous influences.
“Some areas are popular hubs for child drug trade. Children are used to distribute drugs as they can’t be incarcerated.”
In this way children are led into a life of crime.
Restore hope to Christian children today
Our project partner has nearly ten years’ experience of intervening on behalf of Christian children caught in the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.
They describe their mission as “providing a safe space for children to be taught basic education as well as to help them grow in their faith with Christ”.
Our project partner provides “a safe space for children to be taught basic education as well as to help them grow in their faith with Christ”
Children are taught maths, English, science, and other foundational subjects, including Bible study.
Nine-year-old Srey Leak is just one of the children who has already been helped to learn literacy and numeracy skills that will set her up for a better life. “Besides that,” she says, “I learnt how to pray and talk to Jesus. I love praying, going to church, and learning all I can about Jesus!”
But we need your help to expand this work – to reach even more children, to give them the skills that they need, to help them to learn more of their Lord and Saviour.
Srey Leak has developed literacy and numeracy skills, as well as growing in her knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Can you give more impoverished children the same opportunity?
Our project partner plans to reach even more children. This means employing more teachers, increasing the number of programmes offered to children and teenagers, and renovating a new educational centre that will better serve the needs of these young people.
Will you pray for the success of this work? Could you give towards the costs of maintaining and expanding this vital ministry?
How you can help
£42($50; €46) could pay for a week’s worth of teaching materials for the school (stationery, craft supplies, flash cards, etc.).
£62.50 ($75; €68.75) could cover a teacher's salary for a week.
Ten gifts of £125 ($150; €137.50) could cover the full cost of refurbishing the new educational centre.
