AT A GLANCE:
Cambodia, a Southeast Asian nation, is known for many things, including a beautiful landscape, a glittering Royal Palace, and a political situation that—to this day—remains unstable.
Over 30 years of political and civil unrest means Cambodia is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world. And so, by extension, Cambodian children are some of the most vulnerable children in the world.
Nearly 600,000 children have been orphaned due to AIDS, malnutrition, or poverty. And today, Cambodia continues to face the devastating, ongoing effects of COVID-19. For many weeks, strict policies prevented hundreds of thousands of Cambodians from leaving home. This left many without food or supplies for long stretches of time.
Families that were already poor or hungry became desperate for basic necessities.
As a result, Cambodians—and specifically Cambodian children—face a number of ongoing challenges today. Child trafficking, child labor, and significant malnutrition are high on the list. Specifically, as many as 40% of children in Cambodia under age 5 are malnourished. So many families cannot care for their children and end up releasing them to live on the streets.
With one-third of its citizens under age 15, Cambodia maintains one of the youngest populations in Asia. Over five million children have incredible potential to be leaders in their homes, communities, churches, and country.
Our goal is to reach children and migrant families in Cambodia with the Gospel.
Meeting the physical needs of families in Cambodia, especially during the global pandemic, has allowed our leaders to build strong relationships with people in the community. Many have listened to the Gospel message, and more families than ever are coming to church and Bible study programs.
Capital: Phnom Penh, the most populous city in Cambodia
Religion: Buddhist (96.9%), Muslim (1.9%), Christian (0.4%)
Language: Khmer (96.3%)
