Our heart at Rock Foundation Cambodia is to end the cycle of poverty, which is rampant in Cambodia. For many Cambodians, extreme poverty is their daily reality. This means children lack essentials such as basic nutrition, clean water, hygiene, medical care, and schooling.
The sad reality is that many children are forced to bear adult responsibilities from an early age. Child labor and exploitation are common throughout Cambodia. According to 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Labor, there are over 285,000 children between the ages of 5 and 14 in child labor.
The Sanctity of Childhood
At RFC, we believe childhood is sacred and must be protected. At such a vulnerable age, children need to be shielded from the dangers of the world and offered compassionate care and guidance. Jesus saw the inherent dignity and worth of each child when He invited children to come to Him, despite the discouragement of others in society:
“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 19:14)
As stewards of God’s precious little ones, we are responsible for protecting children in poverty or danger. So when we were approached with Srey Thay’s story, we knew God had placed her in our path to help.
Srey Thay’s Story
On May 6th, Srey Thay, a 13-year-old girl from the Kampot province in southwestern Cambodia, approached one of our staff members, Sithan, during our drilling outreach.
Sithan noticed the girl’s sadness as she watched our volunteer team play with the students. She quickly discovered the cause when Thay asked Sithan if we could please help her enroll back in school.
Thay has missed school since she was 7 due to deep poverty. Her family couldn’t afford a uniform, school supplies, or transportation, since she lives miles away. Instead of attending school, Thay was sent to work. Her family uses her for day labor picking cashews and doing a considerable amount of housework.
Hope is Found in a Classroom
A couple weeks after being approached by Thay, another team member, Vy, contacted Brett to learn the requirements for enrolling Thay in school. After gathering that information, our team visited Thay’s family on May 27.
We discussed the situation with her mother, the school principal, and the village chief and reached an agreement. Happily, we were able to equip Thay with everything she needed to attend school, including a bicycle, uniform, and school supplies.
On May 28, at 13-years-old, Thay attended her first day of school in the first grade.
More Than Survival
Upon visiting the family’s home, we discovered harsh living conditions. Their small, single-room sheet metal structure lacks a toilet, bathroom, or basic homemade wooden and bamboo beds. Some family members sleep on the rough concrete floor, others on wooden beds, and a few in hammocks, and there are no mosquito nets to protect them from malaria and other diseases.
Thray’s mother suffers from a heart condition that prevents her from working, while her stepfather only works part-time in construction or farming. Their uncle, his wife, and three young kids also live with them. The uncle works day labor to survive, but he barely makes enough to provide food or resources for his own wife and kids.
For this deeply impoverished family, their reality is trying to survive today, not planning for a future.
We believe in the importance of providing children and families with sustainable resources, so they are able to not only survive but also find joy and freedom through Christ.
Bring a Hopeful Future to Srey Thay
We desire your prayers for wisdom, opportunity, and means as we find ways to make a long-term impact in Srey Thay’s life. Time and time again, we have witnessed the immense gratitude of the Cambodian people for things we often take for granted in the United States, such as clean water and an education.
Srey Thay’s story is one of countless children around the world. Through your partnership, we are blessed to be making a difference and rolling back the tide of poverty in Cambodia.
If you feel so led, would you prayerfully consider donating to Srey Thay’s continuing education expenses? Your support and generosity do more than improve lives. They radically transform them through the redemptive love of Jesus, demonstrating that sometimes, hope is found in a classroom.