Disability Rights Cambodia Project #70979

Community Disability Support for 240 Children

Project Report | Aug 4, 2026
Building More Inclusive Communities

By Lisa Yunker and Check Channy | Disability Tech Advisor and ESP Program Manager

DWPWD Training for Government Staff

The Enhancing Service Provision (ESP) has now finished the short term project for which we had received funding from Amyas Valora Foundation. Here is what has happened since our last report:

Training For National and Provincial Trainers

The ESP program was honored to, once again, have the opportunity to collaborate with the Department of Welfare for Persons With Disabilities (DWPWD), in organizing the "Training on Community-Based Care Techniques for Children and Persons with Disabilities" for national and provincial trainers. This is the fourth module that ESP has been invited to provide. DWPWD is a department of the national Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and a total of approximately 150 people from all across Cambodia participated in the event.

For this round, the focus of the training was on supporting communication development and behavior in children with communication and other impairments. We are encouraged to see the participation of government officials, provincial departments, rehabilitation centers, development partners, and students working together toward a common goal: ensuring that every child and person with a disability can access quality care, support, and opportunities within their communities.

CIF is grateful to have a role in building a more inclusive support system for children and persons with disabilities across Cambodia. We know we can't do it alone, but we also know that there is a lot that we can contribute and we're thankful for the invitation to be involved.

Respite Care

CIF's ESP team continued to provide support to community-based Respite Care Services in two locations. We told you about the launch of the new center several months ago at Jesus Loves You Church (JLYC) at Kraol Kou Commune. The other center is located at the CIF office which had previously been operated by CIF staff but has now primarily shifted to community volunteers. Each center serves roughly 8-12 children two times per week. Altogether, a total of 30 children have received respite services during this project. Volunteers provide full day respite services with snacks and lunch provided. The children practice hygiene skills with support as needed, and engage in activities throughout the day to develop social skills, communication skills, cognitive skills, motor skills, and other self help skills. The CIF team has provided ongoing coaching and support to the volunteers.

Peer Support Networks

CIF's ESP team continued to support additional meetings with the five peer support groups we had reported launching previously. Through these groups more than 60 families have a forum to share experiences and resources. Most recently the ESP team shared tips for reducing stress and caregiver self care.

Community Mobilization

Through Community Mobilization events and follow up with individual families afterwards, the ESP team has helped several families to access services and equipment that they had not had opportunity to access previously. This included braces, a wheelchair, and rehabilitation support for a ten-year-old boy with cerebral palsy whose only means of independent mobility had been crawling on his hands and knees. After receiving the braces, his parents built parallel bars out of bamboo and he is now practicing standing and taking steps while wearing his braces. Another child with cleft lip and palate was helped to access life-changing plastic surgery in Phnom Penh. Two sisters, ages 16 and 22, received rollator walkers which has made it possible for them to finally get out into their community. They had previously been homebound as they had to rely on holding onto furniture to keep their balance. They were so excited with their newfound freedom! Prior to ESP's intervention these young ladies had never received any kind of support to address their disabilities. Now they have a chance to think of their lives and futures in a new way.

Thank you so very much to those who have contributed to this project so far! We received a nice boost through the July Bonus Day campaign, so we have now raised $13,419.00 of our $150,000 goal. Every dollar you give makes it possible for us to continue building the capacity of the current communities while also expanding into more communities.

Respite Care

Parent Peer Support Group

Community Mobilization - before/after surgery

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