Support 2000 Students in Cambodia

This Life in Families (TLIF) is a program that aims to support families with a parent in prison and works to prevent family separation and child institutionalization. This Life In Families provides holistic support to families, covering their basic needs, education, health, livelihood, and counseling. TLIF also works with prison authorities, social services, and other agencies to facilitate family visits, reunification, and reintegration. TLIF also advocates for the rights and interests of families affected by incarceration and raises awareness about their situation and challenges.

One of the stories of significant change that illustrates the impact of TLIF is Leb’s story. Leb’s situation was one of the more challenging we have come across, as she had comprehensive challenges. She had no income, struggled with homelessness, and had no hope when her husband was imprisoned for a crime in 2013. She struggled to care for her toddler daughter. She was left alone and helpless in a society more inclined towards shame and stigma than lending a helping hand.

In 2019, This Life in Families contacted Leb, whose case was referred by prison authorities. TLIF staff visited her regularly, gained a comprehensive understanding of her problems, and supported her using a holistic approach which included;

• Support to visit her husband in prison (Visiting incarcerated relatives is often logistically and financially impossible for those who are not well off).
• Food, health, and counseling support 
• Education support for her daughter, including study materials, extracurricular fees, and a bicycle 
• Chicken-raising business support, which gave her a source of income and means of self-reliance.

Leb overcame her difficulties and built a better life for herself and her daughter. She improved her living conditions, expanded her chicken-raising business, and joined a saving scheme with another NGO, LEAP. Her outlook and optmisisn has changed significantly. She is proud of her daughter, who continues to study and maintains a good relationship with her father. She said: “TLIF has been like a family to me and given me hope. I’m grateful not only for the material support I received but also for the support that has made me stronger emotionally, spiritually and made me feel like I am not alone”.

Leb’s experience is a story of resilience, empowerment, and self-reliance- despite facing adversity when the head of a household is imprisoned. Nurturing a family’s well-being, maintaining opportunities in education, building financial self-reliance all make a sustainable impact for a brighter future. TLIF has the hope of reaching more families who are affected by incarceration, and believes that providing a holistic package of support that covers their basic needs, education, health, livelihood, and counseling, while also engaging with other agencies, services and groups can bring about lasting change.

Leb’s story also shows how TLIF can prevent child institutionalization, which is the placement of children in orphanages or other residential care facilities. According to UNICEF, 80% of of children in residential care have at least one living parent. Extensive research shows that child institutionalization has many negative impacts on children’s development, well-being, identity, and rights. Children like Leb’s daughter are much better off being able to stay at with family and it is heartwarming to see the strides she continues to make.