Strengthening Families, Safeguarding Futures

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you for your continued trust and generosity in supporting Free To Shine’s Community Training Project. Your support remains vital as we work to protect and empower girls in rural Cambodia through stronger, more resilient communities.

Over the past few months, our team has been reviewing and redesigning the Community Training Program to ensure it remains effective, evidence-based, and responsive to the changing needs of the communities we serve. While the project has been temporarily paused during this review, important progress is being made behind the scenes to strengthen its future impact.

We are pleased to share that Mr. Sokchea has recently joined Free To Shine as our Program Manager. With over two decades of experience in social work and community development, Sokchea brings deep knowledge and leadership that will guide the next phase of this program. Under his leadership, we are integrating lessons learned from our Social Work and Education Programs, ensuring that community training better aligns with our mission to protect, educate, and empower girls.

In parallel, we are finalizing our new five-year strategic plan, which will define clear priorities, improved monitoring systems, and stronger partnerships to enhance community engagement and child protection outcomes.

Although activities in the field are paused, this period of reflection and planning is paving the way for a more impactful relaunch of the Community Training Project — one that will equip families and communities with the knowledge and skills to keep girls safe and in school.

Your ongoing support and belief in our mission make this progress possible. We look forward to sharing more exciting updates once the program resumes in the coming months.

With gratitude,
The Free To Shine Team