2025 has been an eventful year, and with Christmas just around the corner, we have two wonderful reasons to celebrate — and to give thanks together with you and the people we serve. So much has happened this year, and none of it would have been possible without your loyalty, prayers, and financial support..
We would like to share a brief overview of our work and the areas in which we have been active. Behind every number are real people — children, families, and communities — who are at the heart of everything we do.
EDUCATION & PREVENTION
Every week, over 400 students participate in our classes and awareness programs.Many of these children face difficult circumstances at school, while others struggle with challenges at home such as poverty, abuse, health issues, domestic violence, or a lack of care and support.
Nutritional deficiencies are common among the children we work with.On some days, many eat only rice. That’s why, during our classes this year, we distributed nearly 10,000 healthy snacks to help support their well-being..
One of Cambodia’s greatest challenges is limited access to quality education,especially in remote areas, where few children complete ninth grade. Thanks to your support, we were able to provide 705 children this year with essential school supplies, including uniforms, notebooks, pencils, and backpacks .Without this support, many would have had to leave school because their families could not afford these basic materials.
In addition, twelve children received bicyclesto help them travel long distances to school, ensuring they could attend classes regularly.
This progress is largely thanks to our dedicated team, who invest time, care, and encouragement to help children stay on track with their education.As we have shared in previous newsletters, many children leave school early for various reasons, but our team’s work has enabled nearly all of them to continue learning.
SCHOOLS & TEACHERS
All four schools where we work received new books and materials to support the development of small libraries. For some schools, this was the first time children had access to reading books. Without these basic resources, improving the quality of education would be extremely difficult — so these steps bring great joy.
Over 35 teachers also completed a first aid course organized by us this year..
The teachers in the four schools work closely with our team and are an essential part of our preventive work against exploitation.They immediately inform us if children are facing difficulties, are at risk, or have stopped attending school. Their vigilance helps us protect children in their communities and ensures they can have a safe and stable learning experience..
Thanks to this cooperation, we can act early and make sure no child goes unnoticed.
OUR WORK WITH FAMILIES
This year, we have provided intensive support to over 25 families in our village visits.These families were carefully selected together with teachers and village chiefsbecause they face particularly challenging circumstances.
As we have shared in previous newsletters, supporting these families requires consistent attention, regular visits, and close collaboration to address their specific needs.This work is not about numbers—it is about creating meaningful, lasting change. In difficult situations, it requires time, patience, and trust.
Each week, we conduct around eight home visits, providing hands-on support,, assisting families in emergencies,offering educational guidance, and sharing hope through prayer..
In addition to individual family visits, we promote community development and provide awareness-raising sessions for youth and adults through regular group meetings..
NEW PROJECTS — EXPANDING PREVENTION
In the second half of the year, we launched two new projects.
As we have often noted, widespread poverty is largely caused by limited access to education and vocational training, as well as a lack of safe and fair employment opportunities.
To address this, we are now partnering with vocational training centers in Siem Reapto provide young people with skills and apprenticeships. In the villages where we work, this opportunity was previously unknown. Most young people were sent to low-paying or exploitative jobs without proper training.
Our second initiative focuses on self-sufficiency and small-scale entrepreneurship..
We work with disadvantaged families who have potential but lack opportunities. These projects help families contribute to their own basic needs and gradually break the cycle of poverty..
Both initiatives are supported in part by SAM Global from Switzerland and will play a major role in our work next year. We look forward to sharing more updates with you.
FAITH & HOPE
One of our greatest joys this year has been starting faith groups in two villages,open to anyone who wants to learn more about Jesus. Our work creates opportunities to share hope, pray with people, and answer questions about faith.
We believe in offering support to everyone in need, regardless of religious belief. It is a blessing when people open their hearts and experience freedom through faith. This year, we hope to celebrate this hope together during a special Christmas event..
Most people here follow a Buddhist understanding of the afterlife, offering sacrifices to collect good karma. Yet these practices cannot provide assurance for a free and peaceful life—they often create dependence on rituals and offerings.
While this may seem unusual from a Western perspective, belief in spirits and supernatural forces is very real and part of everyday life. Many people make sacrifices for their deceased loved ones and live in fear of ghosts and traditional spirit mediums..
In one village, we were repeatedly warned about “magicians” who are believed to curse, harm, or even kill. Villagers treat these individuals with great fear and respect. Still, we are confident that God protects us — nothing is stronger than Him.
This is why the Christmas message is so powerful. We want to share the hope that God has taken our sins upon Himself, loves us deeply, and has conquered death, so that everyone can live freely.
Our vision and heartfelt desire is for people in these villages to experience freedom in body, mind, and spirit..
Through our work — with the government, schools, families, village leaders, adult groups, and faith groups — we actively combat exploitation.
We aim to ensure that children grow up safely, gain a sense of hope, and have real opportunities through education.
This is why we do what we do.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THIS WORK?
Here's how you can support us:
PRAY
Support our work through prayer—for the safety, hope, and opportunities of children and families. Please also pray for wisdom for our team and for peace between Thailand and Cambodia..
SHARE
Tell friends, family, and your church about our work so that more people can learn about our mission.
SUPPORT
Every donation makes a difference, whether one-time or regular. Your support makes our work possible.
Currently, there is a special campaign on Betterplace: every Advent Sunday, donations receive an extra 25% for our project — up to €25 per donation — while the €10,000 budget for each Sunday lasts.
Together, we can protect children, strengthen families, and bring faith, hope, and love to these villages. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for
walking this path with us.
