Cambodian Children's Fund: Creating Generational Change Through Education

Cambodian Children's Fund: Creating generational change through education

Avery Dennison Foundation

August 14, 2026

Cambodian Children's Fund: Creating Generational Change Through Education

The Cambodian Children’s Fund provides education programs and essential support to preschool- to university-aged students in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The Steung Meanchey district of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, was once one of the largest landfills for chemical companies, hospitals, and industry in Southeast Asia. It’s one of the most environmentally toxic and dangerous environments in the world, where children and their families in the region were under constant threat of violence, trafficking and disease.

The landfill closed in 2009, but the area remains home to many under-resourced families, with the majority of them crippled by financial insecurity and little to no access to public services to help them achieve and sustain a sustainable livelihood. With many families earning barely enough to meet basic daily needs, such as food, education is a luxury that many parents in Steung Meanchey cannot afford.

CCF has enrolled more than 4,000 students since its inception in 2004.

Since 2004, The Cambodian Children's Fund (CCF) has worked to change that. For preschool- to college-age students in the Steung Meanchey district, CCF delivers comprehensive, ongoing educational programs paired with essential family support, healthcare, childcare, and leadership development. The overall goal is to empower students to unlock their full potential and become impactful leaders driving positive change in their communities.

Photo caption: CCF has enrolled more than 4,000 students since its inception in 2004.

The Avery Dennison Foundation's grant to CCF aligns with its Education Access pillar. The grant funds quality teaching materials and extracurricular programs that build leadership, creativity and critical thinking. The grant has helped CCF maintain strong attendance and keep students moving toward university, vocational training or meaningful work.

“Through this partnership, ADF has contributed to strengthening our program's sustainability and empowered us to continue creating lasting change for children, their families, and the communities we serve,” said Veasna Kong, Head of Education, Cambodian Children’s Fund. “Together, we are helping break the cycle of poverty by equipping children with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to reach their full potential.”

Phea Chandim was 8 years old when her brother enrolled at CCF and began to watch his life change. Growing up in Steung Meanchey, her family knew real hardship–both parents worked tirelessly to make ends meet, sometimes just to put food on the table. When Chandim enrolled in 2013, CCF provided school supplies, rice, health checkups and help with utilities.

Phea Chandim, 17, CCF student

Now 17 and finishing Grade 12, she is planning a university degree in hospitality and tourism management and hopes to run her own business. "CCF gave me hope and the belief that I can achieve my dreams," she said. "Without their support, I wouldn't be where I am today."

“What makes CCF's education program most impactful is our commitment to seeing every child as an individual with unique strengths, challenges, and potential,” said Sokuncharya Kak, Grants Program Manager. “Rather than expecting them to fit into a standard model, we tailor learning to meet them where they are, helping each child build confidence and progress at their own pace.”

CCF classrooms encourage curiosity, collaboration, and independent thinking. Students are taught how to ask questions, solve problems, and take ownership of their learning. Over time, children begin to see themselves not through the lens of their circumstances, but through their potential.

The results speak for themselves. Since its founding, CCF has enrolled more than 4,000 children — 60% of them girls. In the 2024–2025 academic year, CCF enrolled 1,712 students and posted a 98% pass rate on the Grade 12 National Examination. 81% of graduates went on to university or vocational training, and 39% of those students chose a STEM degree, well above Cambodia's 28% national average.

Success has also extended globally with two young women earning Trinity College Scholarships to study at the University of Melbourne, and 14 CCF students currently enrolled at universities abroad; 5 have already graduated. A CCF student named Maly represented Cambodia at the FIRST Global Challenge, an international robotics competition held in Panama, while two student teams won Cambodia's national robotics competition and advanced to the World Robotic Olympiad finals in Singapore.

Nearly 60% of CCF students are female.

“Watching students grow into self-assured young people who believe in themselves is one of the most meaningful outcomes of our work,” added Kak. “These young adults are the first generation in their families to graduate from university and secure full-time employment. This is proof that our model is effective."

Looking ahead, the organization hopes to see a community where families no longer have to choose between meeting their daily needs and sending their children to school. CCF has already seen the first of this transformation. Its graduates are returning to mentor younger students, support their families, and become role models in their communities. This impact can only grow, creating stronger, more resilient communities where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

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Cambodian Children's Fund: Creating generational change through education

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