By Sam Ven | Children and Families Section Lead
Quarterly Update: April-July 2026
When 32 residential care facilities operated by a US faith-based organisation suddenly closed, more than 320 children and young people returned to families without planned support. Across 14 provinces, This Life Cambodia is working with the Department of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (DoSVY) to help children remain safely in family-based care and prepare for the potential closure of another 34 facilities. From April through July 2026, your support combined urgent assistance with individual case management, family strengthening and coordinated work to reform residential care.
During the quarter, the team completed 412 in-person and remote follow-up contacts and provided 160 cash transfers to help families meet basic needs. We enrolled 47 children, including 26 girls, in holistic case management, while 64 cases exited the programme. Families received 53 food packages, 48 hygiene kits and 12 counselling sessions. We also participated in 18 provincial and district coordination meetings and workshops involving 829 people, including 456 women. Four care-leaver meetings engaged 99 participants, including 62 women and girls. Nine families received livelihood support; five children received school materials; seven families received solar panels; two children received bicycles for school travel; and one vulnerable family received support to construct a toilet.
One young person behind these results is Matha (a pseudonym), a 16-year-old who spent much of his childhood separated from family in residential care after economic hardship made it difficult for his family to meet his needs. When the facility began transitioning children to family and community-based care, This Life Cambodia worked with DoSVY, local authorities and relatives to assess his situation and reintegrate him with extended family. His individual support plan included regular case management, food and hygiene assistance, education and transport support, and household livelihood assistance through poultry raising. Because Matha expressed a strong interest in hairdressing, your support also helped cover transport and learning materials for a one-year vocational course.
Matha has learned haircutting, styling and colouring and gained a practical skill that he enjoys and can use to build a more independent future. “I am very happy that I had the opportunity to learn a skill that I truly enjoy. Before, I was unsure about my future, but now I have confidence that I can earn an income and build a better life for myself,” he said. His grandmother says, "When he returned to our family, we worried about how we would support him. The assistance from This Life Cambodia helped us through a difficult time and gave him the opportunity to learn valuable skills for his future".
Now reconnected with relatives and community life, Matha hopes to open his own barber shop and help support his family. His growing confidence shows how your support can help children and young people move from an uncertain transition towards safety, skills, and hope. Thank you for helping young people like Matha return not only to family care, but to safety, belonging and opportunity.
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