Why We’re Here

In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge genocide killed one quarter of the Cambodian population. They targeted anyone with an education, killing teachers, artists, doctors, and more.

Today, the children in Battambang still feel the effects of this tragedy. Living in a community still coping with trauma, a community where caretakers are unable to guarantee them a safe and healthy childhood, these kids are forced to grow up too quickly. Children as young as five leave home to work in the fields or factories. Girls as young as seven lured into the sex trade.

Children’s Future exists to help this community heal, one child, one family at a time.

Our Programs

Each child we work with is unique. We address the specific problems facing the individual. Our three main programs work together to create meaningful and lasting change for the children who need it.

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For a child to succeed in school, that child must be happy, healthy, and safe. That means they must have enough food, a safe place to live, a caretaker who can help them deal with emotional stress, and much, much more. Our social workers know each of our students intimately, and make sure that these needs are being met. If a student is in need, we offer things like food support, emotional counseling, independent living options, and free access to health care.
  • 190 community members treated at the Health Center
  • 80 students fed daily
  • 54 families given rice each month
  • 5 urgent social work cases processed each week
  • 35 bicycles provided for safe and easy transport
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Children’s Future operates an independent Learning Center in Battambang. Our Education program first gets children up to speed and in school. Then, through our after school learning and enrichment programs, we give our students the competitive edge needed to succeed and thrive in today’s world.
  • 251 students at Learning Center
  • 119 students in English class
  • 67 students enrolled in Khmer
  • 84 students enrolled in math
  • 41 students enrolled in computer courses
  • 11 students attending college
When families and local staff are able to care for children themselves, the community takes ownership of much of the work done by Children’s Future, and prevents many of the problems Children’s Future addresses. Furthermore, Community Development provides children with adult role models from within the community.
  • 584 community members served
  • Monthly family workshops covering issues including: nutrition, reproductive health and domestic abuse
  • 95% local Cambodian staff employed at the Learning Center
  • Monthly professional development workshops for staff members
  • 1 microloan each month to support family-run enterprises
  • 5 professional internships at the Learning Center for CF graduates

Sochin’s Story

When Sochin was 9, she was working on a construction site in Battambang. She needed the money to feed her family, but she knew that there was a brighter future through education. Sochin had a dream of becoming a lawyer. With Children’s Future’s support, Sochin was able to get back into school and up to speed. For a while, she was thriving.

But one day Sochin went missing. Our teachers and social workers noticed her absence and contacted her family. They found out that Sochin had signed up to work with a maid agency in Malaysia.

Cambodia faces an epidemic in human trafficking, especially of young girls. Girls often travel to Malaysia and Thailand on the promise of profitable work, only to be subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor. Fortunately, Children’s Future stepped in before Sochin left, and convinced her family to keep her in school.

Sochin excelled in high school, and was admitted to one of Cambodia’s top universities. She is now studying to become a lawyer.

In the fall of 2015, Sochin reached out to Children’s Future to say that she was confident she could make it on her own, and no longer needed our support.

At home, Sochin is a role -model for her younger siblings and other students in the community. She is proof that education pays off if students like her stick with it.

Every student has this potential within.
You can help them realize it.

Children’s Future currently supports 251 students like Sochin, who face daily challenges in continuing their education. Our work is not possible without your support.

Invest in a Child