Protecting 300 girls from exploitation in Cambodia

AusCam's  Change Agents have been amazing advocates - recently they spent a day working with  the Cambodia National Council for Children (CNCC), a council made up of representatives from a wide range of National Ministries. During the day they gave feedback on progress on the 5 year national action plan to reduce Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE).

AusCam shared the way everyday heroes and a sisterhood of change agents can become the movement that is able to prevent the tragedy and damage of online Child Sexual Exploitation in Cambodia. With estimates that there are 160,000 children impacted in Cambodia and research indicating this rate is growing, we know that the only realistic response is one that can be scaled and sustained, and that can have a credible behaviour change impact. 

Our Change Agents shared their suggestion to reduce OCSE in Cambodia:

1. Conduct workshops on OCSE to schools in Cambodia, including teachers, and students to prevent OCSE for children who are vulnerable.
2. Include Online Child Sexual Exploitation as a lesson in the textbook for students.
3. Communes and villages to have an OCSE protection workshop for parents, followed by discussion.
4. Social media companies to strengthen their systems for reporting and blocking sexual material on social platforms.
5. Ask for measures to punish the perpetrators
6. Print outthe Hotline poster to display in schools, communes, and villages; so children can ask for help if they face OCSE problems.
7. Advertise on television and radio
8. Influencers or content creators to raise awareness about OCSE and give  tips for safety online
9. Mobilise Change Agents as agents to spread awareness
10. Post a big banner about OCSE awareness at the traffic lights. 

This is the second time this year that our Change Agents have met with the CNCC, and in addition they have visited schools, universities, other NGOs - they have presented, coached, been part of debates and spoken with leaders,  and they have sat with new campaign groups so as to multiply their impact - the movement is gaining momentum, as they gain confidence and lean into their identity as active heroes who are protecting Cambodian children. 

Links:

• Our website

Sok (name changed to protect her identity) is no longer the shy, reserved girl she once was growing up in Phnom Penh. With patience, guidance and support, the 22-year-old has developed skills that help her shine brighter as an empowered change-maker on the public stage. 

Sok is one of AusCam Freedom Project’s 122 scholarship holders in the organization’s development program, which offers psychological support, university scholarships and the materials needed to enable students to be successful. 

AusCam has supported over 3,000 girls and young women over the past 11 years to undertake life skills education, career counselling, girls’ clubs, and other supplementary support. 

Sok’s personal growth was no more on display than when she anchored the recent ‘Safe Online World for Girls’ campaign as the Master of Ceremonies. 

Sitting in the audience of more than 100 people, including 80 AusCam-supported girls and parents, was Sok’s mother.

‘My daughter is now so brave, strong, and patient,’ she said. ‘I’m so excited to see her like that. As the MC of the campaign, she made me so proud. Thank you AusCam, you have helped my daughter shine brighter.’

Nowadays, Sok is a fourth-year student studying Food Engineering at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. She is the eldest of four siblings in her family.

Before enrolling in the AusCam scholarship program, Sok said she was afraid and not brave, ‘always thinking inside the box’. 

‘I am so thankful for AusCam, which has helped my family and me so much,’ she said after completing her Master of Ceremony duties. 

‘Since enrolling with AusCam, my life has changed almost unbelievably. 

‘I have learned a lot of new things that I never knew before about health, soft skills, and life skills.’ 

Sok loves the support of the AusCam program, specifically the Protection and Empowerment teams. The Protection team provided her with emergency and counselling support, including rice for her family and personal consultations. 

‘They made me so welcomed, warm, and happy,’ she said. 

AusCam’s social workers often followed up with Sokea, listening to problems and helping her find solutions. 

Following the support, the Empowerment team invited Sok to several workshops. 

‘I became braver and started answering questions when I joined the workshops.’ 

AusCam’s Career Development team invited Sokea to a career planning, resume writing, and career counselling workshop. These skills complemented her university studies in Food Engineering and prepared her future professional career goals. 

Sok feels the work done by the AusCam Freedom Project on creating awareness of Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE) is essential for girls and young women when using social media.

‘I think the girls must know about it because it can help them escape online sexual exploitation. 

‘If the girls know about OCSE, they can increase their vigilance when using social media.

‘When they know more about online child exploitation, they can help other girls and families. 

‘I will share my knowledge about OCSE with other girls and my community. I don’t want to see them become victims of OCSE.’

Sok’s passion for being a change-maker within her community is the passion AusCam seeks to mobilise. 

As we connect girls, draw in influencers, enable campaigns, and use digital tools, such as a chatbot, for change, we look to a future where change agents like Sok are preventing the tragedy that is OCSE across Cambodia.

Links:

• Our website