COUNTRY STOP

Cambodia

Where your monthly gift brings healing to
survivors of human trafficking and abuse. 

 

 

 

 

 

Suostei | (Soo –a sdei)
(Khmer)

Welcome to Cambodia – the next stop on your journey with World of Difference!

While Cambodia is known for its Angkor Wat temples and incredible natural beauty, the country is also known globally for its dark underbelly: modern day slavery and trafficking. With high levels of unemployment, poverty and debt, people in Cambodia are desperately searching for ways to support their families. This makes them susceptible to the lies and schemes of traffickers who prey on their vulnerability.

Join us to see the world of difference your monthly gift is making for survivors of human trafficking and other forms of severe abuse.

Where is Cambodia?

Home to 16.7 million people, Cambodia is a Southeast Asian nation bordering Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Cambodia’s two largest industries are textiles and tourism, while agriculture is the main source of income for many Cambodians living in rural areas. 

SHOW MORE

 

Cambodia's Slavery Status 

 

83,000

People are estimated to be in some kind of slavery across Cambodia.

Global Slavery Index

Trafficking risk

Cambodia does not meet the global minimum standards to effectively confront its high level of human trafficking.

TIP Report

29.3M People

Are living in slavery in the Asia-Pacific region.

Global Slavery Index

The journey from abuse to recovery

Tearfund’s partner in Cambodia, provides a wide range of recovery services to survivors of slavery, trafficking and other forms of severe abuse. Our partner walks alongside these women and children for their entire recovery journey and does whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to see them healed. 

In addition to finding safe accommodation, creating an individualised recovery plan and offering counselling services, our partner also provides legal support and economic empowerment opportunities. This gives survivors, like Sreyphin, a fresh start and hope for a better future. 

SHOW MORE

Bondage to Freedom

Sreyphin is a survivor of human trafficking. Her family was struggling financially. To help, Sreyphin agreed to go to China and marry a man in exchange for money to send back to her family. Once she arrived, Sreyphin found he was abusive and would threaten her. The man sold her to another man, and she was sold again by her new owner.

Sreyphin lived as a slave for over two years before she eventually escaped. However, she was arrested for being undocumented and held in a detention centre before being deported to Cambodia. On arrival, Tearfund's partner was waiting with open arms and gave her the support she needed to recover from her trauma. Once she was back with her family, our partner helped the family generate a sustainable income to make them less vulnerable to being trafficked.

“I am happy because my family has a good income. My brother and sister have enough food, and my family are able to pay debt and access health care services. Thank you to Tearfund’s partner for supporting me and my family,” says Sreyphin.

Awareness initiatives empowering communities

In addition to walking the whole journey of recovery with survivors of abuse, Tearfund’s partner is also passionate about trafficking prevention. 

Our partner comes alongside local leaders to raise awareness of trafficking and abuse and champion community education initiatives. Vulnerable groups have consequently gained knowledge and understanding of the risks of unsafe migration and trafficking and now understand their rights and how to keep themselves safe. 

SHOW MORE

“I learnt about child safeguarding and how to protect myself from being abused, exploited, or trafficked. It felt so good when I learnt that children also have rights. I shared what I learned with my classmates, especially how to protect ourselves from the trap of trafficking, which is a major problem in our communities. I am now conducting awareness-raising initiatives on human trafficking and unsafe migration in communities.” 

Vet Nan-Noeung, 15 years old. 

Did you know?

According to early inscriptions, the construction of Angkor Wat was thought to have taken 30 years, 300,000 labourers and 6,000 elephants to construct it!   

Thousands of tourists travel to the temples every year and get up early to take the perfect photo at sunrise!

There is also a famous half marathon event through the temples every December. Our partner’s staff and survivors from the programme have taken part in previous years to raise awareness and funds for their work. 

Whether you run or walk at the event or get up early for the perfect picture, be sure to add Angkor Wat to your future travel plans. 

 

SHOW MORE

We hope you enjoyed your visit to Cambodia and saw a glimpse of how your donations are making an impact! Next stop? You’ll have to find out...