Child Protection Cambodia Project #54678

A Safe Space for Cambodia's Vulnerable Children

by Damnok Toek

Project Report | Jul 13, 2026
Beyond the Brick Factory: Sopheap's Journey To School

By Lo Kimsivly | Communication Officer

Sopheap is studying and listening to the teacher.

Sopheap* is an 11-year-old boy from Prey Veng province, whose life changed when his parents moved to Neak Loeung to find work. Like many children from migrant families, Sopheap’s schooling was often interrupted because his parents moved between different workplaces.

When the family moved to Neak Loeung for work at a brick factory, Sopheap’s life became tied to a working environment defined by high risks and hazardous labour, where both his parents are employed. While Sopheap lives with his grandparents and three siblings in Tra Beng Truek, his parents live on-site at the factory to stay close to their workplace.

For many children in this situation, the pressure to contribute to the family income often outweighs the priority to study. Sopheap’s childhood reflects this, as in the morning, he is at the factory helping his parents for some additional income. In the brick industry, he is exposed to dust, ash, and toxic smoke from kilns fuelled by burning garment waste, which can cause long-term respiratory problems. In the afternoon, Sopheap leaves the factory behind to attend classes at Damnok Toek Non-Formal Education centre.

Sopheap joined the Non-Formal Education (NFE) programme in 2024 because he had heard about the programme from other children working at the brick factory. Although he used to study in Grade 3 in public school before dropping out, assessment results showed he needed to restart at Grade 2 to build a stronger foundation. Away from the bricks, the NFE centre provides a warm and supportive environment where Sopheap strives to learn, as well as enjoys spending time with his many friends at the centre.

His teacher, Sok Heng, has witnessed a positive improvement in Sopheap’s performance since he joined DamnokToek’s NFE programme. "As for reading, he is clear and he spells correctly," Sok Heng tells. While his handwriting is still small and has minor mistakes, his teacher is confident that this will improve with time. In the class rankings for December 2025, Sopheap ranks 8th out of 26 students; a significant achievement for a child balancing work and school.

The NFE programme has proven to be vital for Sopheap’s life, as it is a safe environment where Sopheap feels comfortable and valued. He shares that the NFE teachers are kind and not angry like some of his former teachers at public school. All these factors make Sopheap feel motivated and encouraged to participate actively in classes.

Sopheap’s favourite subject is Khmer literature because of a deep pride in his heritage. He tells that, to him, schooling is not just a requirement, but it gives him new knowledge, that he truly wants to possess. Outside of work and study, Sopheap finally has time to play and experience the childhood he deserves. His eyes light up when he gets to play football with his friends during his free time.

Sopheap’s journey shows the power of alternative education. By providing adapted classes to dropout students, the NFE programme enables Sopheap and other children in Neak Loeung to return to school and become integrated into the public school system after Grade 3. Education lays the foundation for a better life for the NFE students in Neak Loeung.

Sopheap no longer sees himself staying at the brick factory forever. Instead, he dreams of becoming a tailor, learning how to sew clothes to secure a more stable and skilled path for his future. His teacher, Sok Heng, has a big compassion on her students and says: "My hope for Sopheap and his classmates is that their parents will value education and continue sending their children to school after they complete Grade 3 at our NFE centre, for the sake of a better future."

Through education, Sopheap and the other students at DamnokToek’s NFE programme in Neak Loeung are laying a foundation to break free from poverty and moving toward a future defined by themselves.

*The names have been changed in order to protect their identity.

Damnok Toek's Non-Formal Education Programme

Links:

Click here to learn about our Non-Formal Education Programme

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Mar 17, 2026
Drop-In Centre: Dreams and Futures are nurtured

By Lo Kimsivly | Communication Officer

Damnok Toek's Peer-to-Peer programme

Poi Pet, a border-city in the northwest Cambodia, is drawing Cambodian migrants who are seeking employment either in Thailand or in Poi Pet. Many migrants come with their children, and are significantly vulnerable to unsafe migration and exploitation. Damnok Toek has been working in Poi Pet since 1999, with the mission to reach the most vulnerable children and families at risk. Nowadays, Damnok Toek offers a range of important services from day care facility, mobile library to family support, community outreach, and protection programmes; all under the facilitation of the Drop-In Centre.

Every weekday, the Drop-In Centre (DIC) opens the day care facility for children aged up to 16 years old. Damnok Toek welcomes any child to come and play, learn, and participate in recreational and educational activities, either as early childhood education or to help catching up on missed schooling. Others come just to be among other children in a safe place, where they are well taken care of by Damnok Toek’s team. In the first half of 2025, approximately 60 children are attending the DIC on a regular base. For those children capable, Damnok Toek facilitates for them to transfer to primary school classes or accelerated classes within Damnok Toek’s NonFormal Education programme or enrol directly into public schools. While the children are at the DIC, their parents can focus on making a livelihood, knowing their children are safe with Damnok Toek.

Kanha*, a 16yearold girl who has made use of the day care facility since age six, tells: “I love it here because they give me study materials and food. The Damnok Toek staff are teaching me many subjects, and I can easily understand the lessons”. Currently, Kanha studies in Grade 5 at Damnok Toek’s Non-Formal Education programme. When Kanha is not at school or at the day care facility, she helps her family to sell vegetables for their daily living.

As part of Damnok Toek’s outreach programme in Poi Pet, the Mobile Library drives into communities twice a month, with a variety of books, learning games, and fun activities. This service is suitable for children who may not have books at home or for children who learn through creative activities. The Mobile Library provides a space outside classrooms for children to learn the importance of education, child rights, and risks of unsafe migration.

Furthermore, Damnok Toek conducts weekday home and street visits across poor communities in Poi Pet; connecting with children and families living in vulnerable conditions. In the first half of 2025, approximately 40 children and their families have already received direct assistance through outreach services. Damnok Toek’s team shares useful information, provides counselling, and facilitates extra support to those families in need and at risk.

“We go out in teams to visit children at their homes and on the streets” says Chheng Ry, one of Damnok Toek’s outreach workers. He tells, that while he is doing outreach, he usually explains about the range of Damnok Toek’s services to children and their families, and talks with them about child protection and child rights. “When a family needs help; for instance, finding a job to make a living, we will step in and assist. We help them write job applications or connect them to job opportunities.”

These outreach visits are a way to quickly respond when a child or their family is in need of help. When suitable, the outreach teams collaborate with Damnok Toek’s Futures Office, also located in Poi Pet, to help parents from very low-income families to get training and empower them to find jobs and make a steady income. Some parents learn new skills like sewing or cooking, while others get help starting a small business.

As part of the outreach programme, Damnok Toek also runs community awareness sessions for parents and caregivers. Here they learn how to protect their children and understanding their rights. These sessions cover a range of topics like safe migration, child safety, and good parenting.

Another service provided by the Drop-In Centre (DIC) team, is training of ChildSafe Agents, such as motor-taxi drivers, shopkeepers and others, to look out for children who are in danger or in vulnerable situations. Currently, there are around 100 ChildSafe Agents affiliated with the DIC in Poi Pet city. When they see circumstances deemed wrong or abnormal for children’s safety, they, as well as anyone else, can call the ChildSafe Hotline (+855) 93 960 303 or (+855) 95 960 303, which is open 24/7. So far in 2025, the hotline has received nearly 300 calls from ChildSafe Agents and other community members.

Sous Sopheap, a primary public-school teacher, as well as a ChildSafe Agent with four years of experience, explains his motivation for being a ChildSafe Agent: “I wanted to help my community, because over the years I have witnessed cases of violence and accidents. Thus, it made me wanting to become a ChildSafe Agent”. He recalls one night when he encountered a child being victim of violence. He quickly called the hotline, and the local authorities immediately came and helped the victim. Like Sopheap, this group of regular community members are the eyes and ears to ensure child protection in their neighbourhoods.

Last but not less, the Drop-In Centre has a Peer Education programme for young people aged 16 years and above. The Peer Educators are trained by Damnok Toek to talk with community kids and teens at similar age about important topics like drug use, family problems, and life skills. Due to similar age, the young Peer Educators have a unique way of connecting and sharing information with other children and young people.

Damnok Toek offers a range of services to children and families who daily are facing tough situations in Poi Pet. Whether through education, counselling, income support, or child safety, the Drop-In Centre and its teams enable people to feel seen, supported, and safe. In every book shared, every smile given, and every help assisted, the DIC teams show that even small actions can make big difference to vulnerable children and their families.

Children are playing and learning.

Community Children come to learn and read books

Outreach team work with children and their family

Links:

Click here to learn more about our child protection programme

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Feb 1, 2024
Family Reintegration from Alternative Care

By Sarah Saunders | Communication Lead

Sophae poses in her classroom

Sophae* speaks with strength in her voice that surpasses her 17 years of age, but her eyes retain a playful wit typical of girls her age. However, Sophae’s life has been far from that of a typical 17-year-old girl, yet she refuses to let her past define her.

She was raised in a village on the outskirts of Poi Pet, a city on the border of Thailand and Cambodia, which is infamous for high rates of trafficking and low wages that put families at risk of unsafe migration or labour exploitation. Poi Pet was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Though increased tourism has helped ease some of the financial burdens, life in Poi Pet remains challenging due to the instability of the job market, a saturation of casinos and the vices that come with them, and the isolated nature of villages where most of the population lives.

It was in one of these villages that Sophae grew up until a series of events forced her family to make the tough decision to temporarily move her to Damnok Toek’s Reception Centre until they could find a safer living situation.

The Reception Centre is part of Damnok Toek’s Alternative Care program in Poi Pet. Due to the volatile nature of Poi Pet, children are at increased risk of abuse, exploitation and abandonment. Alternative Care offers a safe space for these children to live while Damnok Toek’s trained social workers identify family or kinship-based care options. Children living in unsafe situations can stay at the Reception Centre and receive nutritious meals, a safe space to stay, education, and counselling while Damnok Toek social workers locate other family members living in safer situations or until the child’s current family has relocated to a safe location.

Sophae lived at the Reception Centre for four years, took Accelerated Learning classes there, and then transferred to Damnok Toek’s Non-Formal Education program. While in Alternative Care, Sophae also learned life skills such as cooking, cleaning, and handicrafts. She made friends at the Centre and formed close bonds with social workers who provided counselling and kept in contact with Sophae’s family to assess the safety of their living situation.

In 2022, Sophae’s family moved to a new village, and her relatives found stable jobs in the community. Sophae discussed the possibility of moving back with her family with social workers. After a thorough home visit and conversation with her family, who were also eager to have her home, everyone agreed that it was safe for Sophae to reintegrate into family care.

Today, Sophae is in 7th grade at the public secondary school close to her village. She studies general education and takes computer classes once a week. At first, the transition was difficult as she had to make new friends, but she quickly adapted and now has a few close friends. However, she still misses her friends from the Reception Centre whom she rarely sees due to her busy schedule. As part of transitioning from Alternative Care back into family care, Damnok Toek is organising ways for children to stay in contact with their friends still in Alternative Care through gatherings at the Centre where former beneficiaries are invited to join, and social workers help with their transportation.

Sophae has been living again with her family for two years and loves her new neighbourhood. “It is so warm in our household now that everyone is together again,” she says of her home. She speaks fondly of holidays and events where the family gathers together to sing songs and eat food. “I want to be a singer one day, so my family always asks me to sing because they say I have a great voice,” Sophae says.

Her family loves having her back but is grateful that she could stay with Damnok Toek while they arranged a safer living situation. “It is so nice having her back,” her aunt says. “She is so polite and always helps out around the house.”

For families like Sophae’s, deciding to transfer their children to Alternative Care is difficult and is only used as a last resort when a child’s safety is seriously in jeopardy. However, reintegration is always the top priority of Damnok Toek social workers. Through other services, like job coaching and placement through the Future’s Office and direct support with food and school supplies, Damnok Toek works to ensure families have sustainable opportunities that foster safe and nurturing environments for children to thrive in family-based care.

*Name has been changed to protect anonymity.

Sophae helps with daily chores at home

Sophae attends computer classes once a week

Sophae poses with her aunt and baby cousin

Links:

Read more about our work

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