You are making a difference in Cambodia!
A glimpse of what your sponsored child’s life is like in Cambodia:
HOME LIFE
- Aged parents often live with their adult children and grandchildren.
- Traditionally, home meals are served on mats on the floor and eaten in shifts according to status. Rice and fish are staples, and a strong-smelling fermented fish paste called “prâhok” is the quintessential flavoring of Khmer food.
- During festivals, elaborate dishes are prepared with curries, spiced fish sauces, stir-fry, and sweets.
SCHOOL AND EDUCATION
- Education is culturally important, and schools emphasize copying texts and memorizing.
- A lack of buildings, books, and trained teachers has long presented challenges, but in the past 10 years Cambodia has built nearly 1,000 new schools.
- Cambodia has strengthened gender equality in education, with girls now comprising 48.2% of primary students.
CAMBODIAN CULTURE
- The most popular holiday in the city of Phnom Penh is the Water Festival in November, which includes colorful longboat races and illuminated boats in the evening.
- 97% of the population practices Theravada Buddhism. Pagodas dot the country and images of Buddha hang in homes above altars. Fortune tellers select the lucky day for couples to wed, and caged songbirds are released for good luck (for a fee).
- Traditional Cambodian music is played during weddings, festivals, and theater performances, featuring lutes, flutes, hand cymbals, and small drums.
COUNTRY INFO
Cambodia is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.
- Capital: Phnom Penh
- Population: 16,249,798
- Language: Khmer, French, and English
FH IN CAMBODIA
In 1990, Food for the Hungry (FH) began working in Cambodia, providing relief and aid to those living in refugee camps during the civil war. In 1992, FH began partnering with vulnerable communities in the Kampot Province and later expanded into northern Cambodia. Since then, efforts have focused on community development and improving living conditions. Additionally, Cambodia is what is called a “sensitive” country, where traditional evangelism is ineffective or even illegal. FH still strives to share the love of God in a culturally appropriate way.
AS A CHILD SPONSOR:
- You are supporting families in agricultural activities, such as backyard gardening and animal care, to help families earn a steady income.
- You are training mother leaders to promote positive health practices within their own communities. This helps families in the areas of hygiene and sanitation, proper food handling, breastfeeding, and prevention of common illness.
- You are training teachers and local leaders to mobilize, manage, and lead children’s clubs, where children learn basic courtesy, language skills, and more.
