A well-known African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The Cambodian Children’s Fund takes this wisdom to heart with their model, by essentially creating a healthy village alongside the Steung Meanchey garbage dump in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh. 

The landfill is home to a community deeply impacted by poverty. Many families rely on picking through the waste to find recyclables, metal scraps, and other items they can sell for income. It’s not the place one would expect to find a school full of thriving students, but that’s exactly what it is. The Cambodian Children’s Fund operates a village of schools, medical clinics, and family homes adjacent to the dump, serving families from the neighborhood. The CCF villages offer a striking contrast to the harsh landfill environment, providing an opportunity for a brighter future.

When Scott Neeson, a former Hollywood movie studio executive, recognized the community’s urgent need for education back in 2004, he founded CCF with just 45 students. Today, CCF’s award-winning education program serves over 2,000 children, providing opportunities for themselves and their families. 

But it’s not just an education program. 

CCF begins with addressing families’ basic needs: food, clean water, and shelter. In some cases, families live in on-site villages built by World Housing. Additionally, the organization operates various on-site schools and offers services such as financial planning, leadership training, foster care, emergency assistance, and more – a true village!  Scott still visits the communities living in the dump each evening, forging strong bonds with families in Steung Meanchey and identifying children eligible for enrollment in the organization’s educational programs.

Their medical services are equally comprehensive. Eligible children receive vitamin A and deworming treatments provided by Vitamin Angels. According to Dr. Keo Sopheara, CCF’s Healthcare Project Manager, the students’ health is strong, and attendance remains high. The Maternal Care Program boasts a remarkable record of zero maternal deaths – an incredible achievement considering many women previously lacked access to prenatal check-ups, faced financial barriers to seeking medical help, and gave birth unattended at home. CCF’s holistic approach considers these challenges, providing a wide range of support and services for women and their babies.

Sephoeara finds CCF’s approach unique because it focuses on long-term solutions rather than short-term aid. “We teach people how to build a future,” he said. One example of how the community has changed over the years is that children are now becoming self-sufficient and seeking healthcare when needed, even for minor issues. “The most impressive thing is how the children now come on their own when they get sick,” he noted.

CCF believes that with the right support, a single child can lift their family out of poverty, and an educated generation can change society. Their holistic approach tackles the complexities of poverty and has shown long-term results, helping students graduate from universities and build independent lives.