Orphans into loving families in Cambodia

Dear friend,

Across our three project sites in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Battambang, families are opening their doors and their hearts. So far, 19 children have been placed in safe, nurturing families, each one a story of restoration and belonging. In Phnom Penh, seven children are now thriving with families trained and supported through our programme. In Siem Reap, eight more have found loving homes, and in Battambang, a milestone moment was celebrated this quarter: the first child has just been placed with a local family.

These moments represent more than numbers. They are lives transformed; children learning to trust again, to play freely, and to feel the unconditional love of a parent for the first time. Families describe the experience as life-changing, both for them and for the children they care for. Their courage and compassion are the foundation of a growing movement that is reshaping Cambodia’s approach to care.

Behind these stories are hundreds of people being trained and mobilised to make family care possible. Over fifty training sessions have equipped 270 government staff, social workers, and local partners to identify, assess, and support family carers. Through one-to-one coaching and mentoring, government teams are gaining confidence to lead this work independently. At the same time, more than 860 people have attended community events spreading the message that children belong in families, not institutions. Each conversation helps shift mindsets, replacing fear and stigma with hope and understanding.

While progress has been steady, it has not been without challenge. The shortage of social workers and the persistence of outdated beliefs about institutional care sometimes slow the pace of change. Yet the direction is clear. Families are stepping forward. Children are being placed. Government staff are growing in skill and commitment. And new local champions are emerging to lead the next phase of transformation.

We aren't stopping here. Our focus is on scaling placements and ensuring every child placed continues to receive the support they need to thrive. We will keep training and coaching social workers, helping families prepare for long-term care, and encouraging new families to come forward. This is only the beginning of a national shift that will see every child in Cambodia growing up in a loving family.

With every placement, Cambodia takes one step closer to a future where no child grows up in an institution, only in the love and security of a family. Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are helping to change a nation, one family at a time.