In our last blogpost, we shared about our new programs.
We explained how awareness and education are essential in preventing human trafficking and modern slavery— but many challenges, such as poverty, still remain.
Poverty forces many families to send their teenage children into unsafe working conditions, despite known risks, so they can contribute to the family’s income.
For this reason, we have started strengthening families in becoming more self-sufficient. This includes supporting small business ideas that we plan and implement together with them, as well as self-sustaining models such as small chicken farms. We shared more about this in our previous newsletter .
OUR VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM
Another important step toward helping people break out of poverty in the long term is our vocational training program, which we were able to launch last year.
The goal is to connect young people — especially those who are unable to continue their education — with vocational training centers in the city of Siem Reap, and to support them closely throughout their journey..
At first glance, this may sound simple, but in reality it comes with many challenges. Still, it is worth the effort—because it significantly reduces the risk of exploitation and helps families build a more stable future.
WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE?
Many young people in the villages have not completed their education. Some follow in their parents’ footsteps and become farmers. However, many are sent by their families to work in cities, other regions, or even abroad. This is where the risk of exploitation becomes very real. Without sufficient education or vocational skills, they are vulnerable to unsafe or dangerous jobs, poor or no pay—and in the worst cases, even forced labor or prostitution.
One day, our team received a call from a woman in one of the villages we work with.
She was not yet part of our program but had heard that we support families in need.
She told us about her daughter, who was working in a casino in a coastal region. At first, this might not sound concerning—but casinos are often environments where young women are at risk. We had previously received reports of women starting with regular jobs in casinos and later being forced into more exploitative situations. Many of these casinos in Cambodia operate illegally, increasing the risk of abuse.
We were able to find a place for her 17-year-old daughter in one of our partner training programs in Siem Reap. Thankfully, she was able to leave the casino without complications.
Today, she is learning a profession in the tourism sector alongside nine other young people from our programs. For her, her family, and for us, this is already a powerful story of hope and change.
BETWEEN SURVIVAL AND EDUCATION
However, many families in remote areas are not even aware that vocational training is an option. This means that awareness and education are essential—not only about the risks, but also about the long-term value of learning a profession instead of earning money as quickly as possible.
At the same time, it is incredibly difficult for many families to send their children into training, as this often means they will not be able to contribute financially for a period of time. For this reason, we support families whose children enter vocational training programs.
Some families receive regular food packages during this time—especially if their children previously played a key role in supporting the household.
Without this support, it would be nearly impossible for many families to choose education over immediate income..
ORDINARY THINGS — BUT NOT A GIVEN
Stories like these remind us how valuable it is to grow up in a country where parents can provide for their families, where safe jobs are available, where children receive a strong education, and where young people can learn a profession or pursue higher education—often with support from their countries or families.
We don’t share this to create a sense of pity or to portray Cambodia in a negative light. But for many families, these opportunities are far from guaranteed. And sometimes, we forget how much we ourselves have been given.
What are you grateful for today?
Which things in your life might feel ordinary—but are actually a big blessing?
For us, it is not something we take for granted that we are able to do this work in Cambodia. We are deeply grateful for the many people and churches who support this mission through prayer and financial giving. Thank you so much.
We hope to offer even more young people a path toward a better future.
Currently, we are supporting 10 young people in vocational training, along with their families. But the need is much greater . This year, we hope to support up to 40 young people through this program..
For each of them, this is a life-changing opportunity—and a powerful step in protecting them from exploitation. This is exactly what we are working for.
Would you like to be part of this?
Supporting one young person and their family costs approximately $875 per year—less than $75 per month.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
We would love to hear from you.
Thank you for helping us protect children and young people from exploitation.
