Friends International

Cambodia

Friends International aims to reduce the number of children living or working on the streets by providing stable jobs and sufficient incomes to their parents. Extreme poverty takes children out of school and forces them into unprotected street labor, where they are at risk for HIV/AIDS, violence, and trafficking and prostitution. Parents who earn a fair living wage can provide for their children and keep them in school. The fate of the current generation of children will affect the future development of communities and countries: if children are not educated and protected now, future generations will also be born into poverty. Friends International directly helps 1,800 children and families through artisan employment, and supports 20,000 at-risk children through outreach programs.

Artisan Voices

“I am very happy to have a job and to know that my daughter is attending school and has the chance for a bright future. She no longer has to beg on the streets."”
— Thol Chantha