Empower Girls in Cambodia to Stay Safe & Educated

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We at Free To Shine extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued generosity and commitment to protecting and empowering girls in rural Cambodia. Your support has enabled us to create meaningful change in the lives of vulnerable girls and their families. We’re delighted to share the positive progress and impact achieved over the past quarter.

Over the last three months, our team has worked tirelessly through both our Social Work and Education Programs to protect, educate, and empower girls, while addressing the complex challenges their families face. We’ve also made important strides in strengthening our organisational capacity and partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability and impact.

Social Work Program:
This quarter, our Social Workers provided tailored case management and interventions to 41 girls and their families. Support focused on addressing urgent issues such as child abuse, unsafe housing, and health inequities. Despite staff transitions and a period of onboarding, our team maintained consistent and compassionate support, while deepening collaboration with local authorities to improve child protection outcomes.

Education Program:
Through our education program, we supported 104 families and conducted 256 safety visits across 24 villages. We’re proud to share that every student in our program successfully passed their school exams this quarter — a testament to their resilience and commitment to learning.

Your continued support helps us ensure that girls are safe, educated, and empowered to reach their full potential. Together, we are breaking cycles of poverty and vulnerability — one girl, one family, and one community at a time.

With gratitude,
The Free To Shine Team

Overview

Free To Shine is committed to empowering vulnerable girls in Cambodia by ensuring their safety and access to education. Through targeted interventions, we have made significant strides in supporting girls and their families, addressing both immediate needs and long-term empowerment.

Key Achievements

• Safety Visits Conducted: 307
  Our team conducted 307 safety visits to monitor and support girls at risk, ensuring their well-being and protection.
• Social Work Interventions: 129
  A total of 129 social work interventions were carried out to provide counseling, guidance, and crisis support to girls and their families.
• Bicycles Provided: 3
  Three girls received bicycles to improve their mobility, enabling safer and easier access to school and community resources.
• Emergency Food Packages Distributed: 10
  We provided 10 emergency food packages to families facing immediate food insecurity, helping to stabilize their situation.
• Basic need for enough food support
• 49 packets of vegetable seeds distributed
• 9 nets for vegetable gardens provided
  These resources support families in growing their own food, promoting food security and sustainable livelihoods.
• Educational Support:
• 3 girls received new school uniforms and supplies
• 83 girls received financial support for additional curriculum classes
  These interventions help reduce barriers to education and encourage continued learning.
• Water Filters Provided: 8 families
  Eight families received water filters, improving access to clean drinking water and promoting better health.

Impact Summary

Through these combined efforts, Free To Shine has enhanced the safety, education, and well-being of girls and their families in Cambodia. By addressing both immediate needs and long-term empowerment, we continue to build a foundation for brighter futures.

Looking Ahead

We remain dedicated to expanding our reach and deepening our impact. Continued support will allow us to provide more comprehensive safety visits, educational resources, and essential supplies to empower even more girls to stay safe and succeed in school.