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Life on the landfill
At 11 years old, Sophy lived and worked on the Steung Meanchey garbage dump. Sophy grew up here, raising her siblings, scavenging for food, and helping to support her family.
Today, she's a graduate from the University of Melbourne in Australia and is back in Cambodia, working and living independently.
Read Sophy's Remarkable StoryAlthough officially closed in 2009, the surrounding areas of the Steung Meanchey garbage dump remains an entry-point into Phnom Penh for destitute children and families with no option but to scavenge or beg.
CCF is breaking the cycles of poverty and abuse and creating change in Cambodia by building the capacity of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable communities: those with the most poverty, the greatest health and social problems, and the least access to basic resources.
Education is our driving force for change, but building resilient young leaders requires more
The community programs that support these two pillars help ensure an uninterrupted education, one that allows the child to study, grow and lead, knowing that their families are not sliding further into poverty without them.
However, our objective is not just to have young adults leave CCF with an education and the ability to look after themselves, but to have them become passionate, engaged young leaders who care for their community and their country.
Awards & Recognition
Over the past two decades, Cambodian Children's Fund has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions that reflect the impact of our work and the dedication of our team.
No NGO in Cambodia has impressed me more than CCF. CCF, with relatively little funding and even less administrative overhead, has literally changed and saved hundreds of lives of children.
Childhood Poverty
More than two-thirds of CCF’s children once worked as scavengers. Very few had access to education and nearly all of the children were living in extreme poverty. Domestic violence and child abuse is widely reported, as are perpetual health problems resulting from malnutrition and environmental hazards.
The financial hardship of families is often the main obstacle preventing children from receiving an education. Parents simply cannot afford to lose a source of income by having their kids stop working.
Help make this the last generation to know poverty in Cambodia
Take an evening walk with Scott
Since 2004 Scott has visited the community nearly every night of the week he is in Phnom Penh. His days are filled with meetings, calls, and emails to fundraise for CCF. The evenings are for the community, for connecting with as many people as possible, for trying to understand their needs and how he can help.
Read Scott's storyScott Q&A
In the first of a special series, we sit down with Scott Neeson, CCF Founder and Executive Director, and chat with him about CCF’s work and development in Cambodia
In the second of our series, we sit down with Scott Neeson, CCF Founder and Executive Director, and chat with him about CCF’s work and development in Cambodia
In the last part of our special series, we sit down with Scott Neeson, CCF Founder and Executive Director, and chat with him about CCF’s development in Cambodia
In 2026, CCF celebrates 22 Years of Transformation of the children and families of Steung Meanchey
As of 2025, CCF's Maternal Care Program celebrates zero maternal deaths across more than 1,600 births
In 2024, over three hundred thousand meals were provided to students and the most at-risk members in the community
Child Protection Unit
In a decade of transforming Cambodia's most impoverished kids by delivering education, family support and community development programs, CCF witnessed, with regularity, the collapse of criminal proceedings against suspected child rapists and those that injure children. This was almost entirely due to poor investigations, inappropriate or unenforced laws, and lack of education within the criminal and judicial systems. In response, CCF diversified its operations in 2013 to establish a Child Protection Unit to tackle issues of serious child abuse and commit to providing the highest level of services to child victims of abuse or assault across Cambodia.
Impact at a glance
“Throughout the world there is a surging demand for independence and self-determination. CCF is a shining example of how this can be achieved.
Our Partners
Our commitment to global action
Our approach aligns with the top six Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
Our model explained
Watch this short animation on how CCF's community-based education model has evolved to more than 60 projects supporting the Steung Meanchey community.
