Keeping our Safe Haven open for women of Siem Reap

Over the last four months of 2025, the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) in Siem Reap has significantly advanced its mission to empower women and girls while fostering community resilience amidst ongoing regional tensions.

Through the Safer City for Girls project, WRC successfully increased awareness of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) among youth, engaging over 300 young people through interactive workshops and digital campaigns, and training 48 service providers to improve youth-friendly access to information. The center also launched peer-led campaigns and community campaigns that reached thousands, helping to challenge stigma and promote gender equality.

Simultaneously, the Counseling and Positive Parenting initiative provided vital mental health and domestic violence support to nearly 100 women and children, while empowering 38 parents and 20 men with positive parenting skills and awareness, thereby strengthening family units and community bonds.

In addition, WRC continued to build safe spaces for vulnerable families, delivering workshops that significantly increased understanding of gender roles and gender-based violence, and facilitating recreational activities that engaged nearly 3,000 community members. The Young Women Entrepreneurs project also made notable strides, providing entrepreneurship training and micro-loans to 40 women, many of whom reported increased income and economic independence. Despite challenges such as cultural sensitivities and logistical constraints, WRC’s adaptable strategies: like engaging local authorities and leveraging digital outreach, have enhanced community participation and advocacy efforts. Overall, these initiatives have contributed to tangible improvements in health, economic resilience, and gender equality, laying a strong foundation for sustainable community development in Siem Reap.