Safeguarding Cambodian Children released from RCFs

A child protection crisis is unfolding in Cambodia. Over 320 vulnerable children and youths were abruptly returned to families without support after 32 residential care facilities (RCFs) run by a US faith-based organization suddenly closed. This Life was invited by DoSVY to address this crisis, which spans 14 provinces. These children face risks such as abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Additionally, another 34 RCFs are threatened with closure.

Our Approach:

• Emergency Aid: Immediate support for children and families affected by RCF closures, including tracing, needs assessment, and providing food, healthcare, and educational support.
• Systematic Reform: Transforming the residential care sector into government-monitored, community-based family care alternatives to improve safety and outcomes for children.
• Capacity Building: Strengthening local and national capacities by working with DoSVY and RCF facilities to plan closures, tracing efforts, and formal placements for children and youths.

Results (January - March 2025):

• 17 children and young people (F=7, 0 identified disabilities) underwent tracing and assessment in Siem Reap and Takeo provinces to evaluate their living circumstances, identify urgent needs, and determine the most suitable support services. These efforts were part of a broader initiative to address the challenges faced by children transitioning from residential care institutions (RCIs) to family-based or community-based care. The tracing process was conducted in collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive understanding of each child's situation, which informed case management decisions. These 17 children were linked to the closure of two RCIs—one in Siem Reap and another in Takeo—reflecting Cambodia's ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on institutional care. However, after thorough assessments, only 14 of these children (F=7, 0 identified disability, were deemed eligible for case management support.
• 15 new children and young people (F=8, 0 identified disabilities) were enrolled in the program, where they received comprehensive and holistic case management support tailored to their individual needs. This support included ongoing monitoring, coordination with local services, and collaboration with families to ensure each child's well-being and stability.
• Eight children and young people (F=0, one identified disability) were formally placed in family-based care following a thorough process aligned with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation's (MoSVY) guidelines. This placement involved active participation from local authorities and officials from the Department of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (DoSVY), ensuring a collaborative and child-centered approach.
• 25 food packages were directly distributed to children, young people, and families, providing essential support to meet their nutritional needs and promote overall well-being.
• 25 hygiene material kits were directly distributed to children and young people, ensuring they have access to essential resources for maintaining daily hygiene practices and supporting their overall health and sanitation.
• 119 cash transfers were provided to families residing in remote provinces, including Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Takeo, Pursat, Kampong Thom, Oddar Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey. These transfers serve as a vital lifeline, enabling families to address urgent needs such as healthcare expenses, purchasing food packages, or supporting their children’s education. Additionally, the flexibility of these transfers allows families to invest in expanding their income-generating activities, thereby enhancing their economic stability and fostering long-term financial resilience. By reaching families in distant and underserved areas, this initiative ensures equitable access to financial resources, promoting economic empowerment and improving their overall quality of life.
• Two families received comprehensive support for income-generating activities, including food cooking and selling, as well as chicken raising. This support will contribute to the economic development of these families, ensuring future stability and resilience. By enhancing their financial capacity, these families will be better equipped to support their loved ones, particularly in funding their children’s education, thereby securing a brighter future for the next generation.
• 119 face-to-face visits and 140 non-face-to-face visits were conducted with children, young people, and their families across eight target provinces. These visits aimed to ensure that families are living in improved conditions, fostering well-being and resilience. Additionally, the visits helped identify emerging challenges faced by these families and facilitated the development of solutions to address them. The face-to-face visits were conducted in collaboration with local authorities and DoSVY (Department of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation) officials in each region. This collaborative approach ensures that local authorities are informed about the challenges affecting families and enables them to contribute to finding effective solutions, ultimately supporting the families in overcoming their difficulties.
• On 30th January 2025, the This Life Reimagining Care team, in partnership with the Department of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation (DoSVY) and staff from the Cambo Friend’s Centre, made a formal decision to close the centre. This decision initiated a process to trace and assess the living conditions of former residents, resulting in the identification of 10 young people (F=5, 0 identified disabilities), who were evaluated for emergency needs and assessed for their current living situations. The centre was formally closed on 4th March 2025, with an official notification sent to the district administration and copied to DoSVY in Siem Reap Province, ensuring transparency and compliance with administrative protocols.

Challenges:

The termination of USAID funding had profound impacts on This Life Cambodia (TLC) and the vulnerable communities it supports. It disrupted the delivery of critical services, including child reintegration, family reunification, vocational training, and prevention of child-family separation. This created significant gaps in care for at-risk children, families, and care leavers. Financial strain has also intensified, affecting 105 children and families under TLC's caseload, alongside challenges in supporting 90 care leavers and job insecurity for eight staff members. These setbacks have weakened trust between TLC and its beneficiaries and revealed broader challenges within Cambodia’s child protection ecosystem.

To address the impact, TLC has undertaken various measures, such as reallocating donor funds, reducing non-essential costs, and engaging in advocacy efforts with MoSVY and other stakeholders for sustainable social service funding. Additionally, TLC is mobilizing alternative funding sources, securing partnerships with corporate donors, and using digital advocacy campaigns to maintain community engagement. Collaborative efforts also include integrating affected families into government assistance programs and exploring long-term solutions to ensure continuity of essential support and services.

Beneficiary’s Quote:

• "Thanks to This Life Cambodia and its donors, our lives have been continuously transforming," said the mother from Trach village, Kampong Thom province. "Their support gave us hope for a better future by providing education, healthcare, and opportunities for our family to thrive. We are eternally grateful."

• "I am truly delighted by the support my family and I have received from This Life Cambodia and its generous donors. They have provided us with food, school supplies, and the opportunity to start a chicken farming business, which has transformed our lives. Their help during the difficult time when the center was closed has been invaluable. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the staff and the organization and wish them endless prosperity and good health. May they always be blessed," said a young person from Trapeang Veng village in Kampong Thom province.

Links:

• http://www.thislifecambodia.org/
• http://facebook.com/thislifecambodia/