Our Mission
Transforming the most impoverished children into tomorrow's leaders
We're transforming the lives of the most impoverished, marginalized and neglected children in Cambodia through high quality education, leadership training and direct support programs.
Life on the landfill
At 11 years old, Sophy lived and worked on the Steung Meanchey garbage dump. Sophy grew up here, raising her siblings, scavenging for food, and supporting her ailing mother.
Now she is on a full scholarship at the prestigious University of Melbourne in Australia.
Although officially closed in 2009, the surrounding areas of the Steung Meanchey garbage dump remains an entry-point into Phnom Penh for destitute children and families with no option but to scavenge or beg.
CCF is breaking the cycles of poverty and abuse and creating change in Cambodia by building the capacity of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable communities: those with the most poverty, the greatest health and social problems, and the least access to basic resources.
Education is our driving force for change, but building resilient young leaders requires more
The two guiding pillars of CCF are education and leadership. Education is the driving force of CCF’s operations, with the development of leadership skills key to success.
The community programs that support these two pillars help ensure an uninterrupted education, one that allows the child to study, grow and lead, knowing that their families are not sliding further into poverty without them.
However, our objective is not to just have young adults leave CCF with an education and the ability to look after themselves, but for them to be passionate, engaged young leaders that care for their community and their country.
CCF has helped more than 4,300 children and their families with a pathway out of poverty
1,800
Students currently enrolled
70%
Of the first 200 students to join CCF have gone on to university
12,145
Local community members currently accessing CCF services
Childhood Poverty
More than two-thirds of CCF’s children once worked as scavengers. Very few had access to education and nearly all of the children were living in extreme poverty. Domestic violence and child abuse is widely reported, as are perpetual health problems resulting from malnutrition and environmental hazards.
The financial hardship of families is often the main obstacle preventing children from receiving an education. Parents simply cannot afford to lose a source of income by having their kids stop working.
Take an evening walk with Them
Since 2004 Scott has visited the community nearly every night of the week he is in Phnom Penh. His days are filled with meetings, calls, and emails to fundraise for CCF. The evenings are for the community, for connecting with as many people as possible, for trying to understand their needs and how he can help.
A Joyful Connection When Kieran Henderson first heard about Cambodian Children’s Fund through a friend, he never imagined the growing bond he’d form with a young boy named Leap. When Kieran Henderson...
Apsara Granny 2.0 Ageing with Honour, Wrinkles with Pride Last year, two CCF grannies became the first Apsara Grannies. Granny Mao, 104, and Granny Rin, 79, – were selected to participate in a...
From Phnom Penh to California 8 CCF Students Chosen for Global Leadership Summit in the US Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) has launched the country’s first specialist facility for child victims of...
