Reuniting Families in Battambang, Cambodia

Since 2015, you have been changing the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children around the world. Thanks to you, more and more children have gotten out of orphanages and into loving families – where they belong.

The family care movement continues to gain momentum. In fact, one year ago, we announced The Hope Effect’s expansion into Southeast Asia as we entered Chiang Mai, Thailand. And now, we are excited to share that our presence in Southeast Asia is growing.

The Hope Effect is now in Battambang, Cambodia! (Click here to watch the announcement video from The Hope Effect’s founder, Joshua Becker!)

Thank you for making this possible! We’re thrilled that more children in Cambodia will grow up knowing the love of a family because of you.

And there is such a need to help children and families in this area. Read on to learn more about how you will change lives in Cambodia!

THE NEED IN CAMBODIA

There are approximately 17,000 children living in orphanages in Cambodia…but many of those children don’t fit the traditional definition of an orphan. The primary reasons for family separation in Cambodia are 1) poverty, and 2) a prevailing view that orphanages provide an opportunity for advancement for children.

Research indicates that three out of four children in Cambodian orphanages have at least one living parent or close family member who could care for them. But often, those families are struggling with poverty and send their kids to orphanages thinking they will have safe shelter, nutritious food, and access to quality education.

In addition, nobody knows how many orphanages are in Cambodia, because there are hundreds of unregistered institutions with no oversight from the government. This puts children at a much greater risk of abuse, exploitation, and severe developmental delays.

OUR APPROACH IN CAMBODIA

We know there is a better way. These children deserve to grow up knowing the love of a family.

With your support, we are working with our experienced partner in Battambang to get more children out of orphanages and into loving families. We are joining forces with Cambodian Children’s Trust to focus on two key areas: reintegration and prevention.

• Reintegration: We are working to get children out of institutional care and back in their families. We will facilitate the reintegration of children who are currently living in orphanages back into their loving families. We support families through this critical transition by providing access to education, therapy, counseling, and other tools to ensure a healthy family dynamic.

• Prevention: By focusing on prevention, we are working to keep more children with their families in the first place. We provide education and resources to raise awareness within the community about the dangers of institutional care and the benefits of raising children in a family. It’s our goal to strengthen families and prevent them from surrendering their children to an orphanage.

Because of you, more children in Cambodia will get out of orphanages and into loving families. For your continued support and partnership! This is all possible because of you. 

We can’t wait to share stories of the lives you’re changing in Battambang. And if you’d like to help us hit the ground running in Cambodia, read on for a wonderful opportunity coming up in November!

GivingTuesday: Every Child Deserves A Family

You are making such a difference in Cambodia. And in just a few weeks, there's an opportunity for you to once again be a hero to orphaned and vulnerable children around the world.

GivingTuesday is coming up on November 29. We would be honored if you would partner with us on this global day of generosity to help more kids find loving families.

Your generosity on last year’s GivingTuesday allowed us to continue growing family care across the globe. This GivingTuesday, our goal of $125,000 will be used to help us grow in our current locations AND expand into our next new location in 2023! That’s right…we’ve already identified another opportunity to change lives around the world! Your donation will help more orphaned and vulnerable children find the love of a family.

And on GivingTuesday, you can double the impact of your gift! A generous team of donors will match every gift dollar for dollar, up to $62,500! If we reach that matching gift amount, we’ll meet our goal of $125,000!

Stay tuned for more information about GivingTuesday as we get closer. But if you'd like to jump in early, our donation site is up and running! All donations made through that link will be matched.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support. We are so grateful for you! Together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans!