Strengthening Families, Safeguarding Futures

Thanks to your generous support, Free To Shine has continued to strengthen community and family systems across our target communities in Siem Reap, Cambodia, prioritizing safety, wellbeing, and access to education for school-aged girls. Between July 1 and September 30, 2026, our dedicated team delivered crucial social work interventions, educational supplies, and health education to ensure girls stay safe in school and thrive.

Quarterly Impact at a Glance

• 13 Students Passed the Grade 12 National Exam: A total of 13 supported girls completed their high school.

• 9 Students Passed the Grade 9 National Exam: Nine younger students reached an important academic milestone.

• 24 New Girls Enrolled: Expanded our reach to support 24 newly enrolled girls and their families.

• 251 Safety Visits & 144 Social Work Interventions: Social workers provided regular safety assessments and home visits to mitigate risks of trafficking and exploitation.

• 135 School Supplies & Uniforms Provided: Prepared girls for the upcoming academic year with essential learning materials.

• 20 Bicycles Delivered & 4 Exits to Safety: Provided reliable transportation for long school commutes, while four families achieved stability and safely transitioned out of the program.

Supporting Menstrual Health and Wellbeing

For families experiencing severe financial strain, the added cost of menstrual products is often out of reach. Coupled with limited access to reliable information and social stigma, girls frequently face challenges managing menstruation safely and comfortably, directly impacting their confidence and school attendance.

To address these barriers, Free To Shine partnered with the Cambodia Rural Student Trust's (CRST) Project G Empowering Girls initiative. After Project G facilitated a comprehensive training session for our team on reproductive health and hygienic kit care, Free To Shine purchased reusable menstrual health kits from CRST and distributed them to girls in our program. Each kit includes reusable pads, snap-on holders, underwear, soap, a towel, a carry pouch, a drawstring bag, and a cycle-tracking card.

Alongside physical kits, social workers provided psychosocial support and age-appropriate information, giving girls a safe environment to ask questions. As 12-year-old Grade 7 student Dina shared after receiving her kit:

"I am very happy because the pads are easy to use and comfortable on my skin. They feel similar to disposable pads from the market, and they are easy to wash after use."

Celebrating Graduation Success: Leakhena*'s Story

Reaching Grade 12 graduation is a landmark achievement for girls facing financial hardship or safety risks. This quarter, we celebrated 19-year-old Leakhena, who completed Grade 12 and passed her National Examination in September after starting school later than her peers.

Leakhena has been supported by Free To Shine since primary school. When financial pressures threatened her education, Leakhena, her mother, and her social worker collaborated to find practical solutions. Leakhena attended additional curriculum classes, studied diligently, and passed her exam. With her Grade 12 diploma, Leakhena is now looking forward to achieving her dream of becoming a teacher.

As another Grade 12 graduate reflected:

"Through their support, I have grown as a person, becoming more positive in my thinking and more responsible... If you have the opportunity, continue your education at university, because education and knowledge are important for building a better future." 

Your support makes these milestones possible, from providing reusable hygiene kits to guiding young women like Leakhena through high school graduation. Thank you for empowering Cambodian girls to build safer, brighter futures!

Name of the girl was changed to protect her privacy.