Who are the people?
The Khmer people, who are thought to have migrated from China before 200 B.C., constitute 90 percent of Cambodia’s population, followed by the Chinese and the Vietnamese. Today, the population is remarkably young. Thirty-seven percent of all Cambodians are under age 15. Most live in rural areas, while more than 1 million live in the capital city of Phnom Penh. Many Cambodians work in agriculture, or in fisheries and forestry. In rural areas, parents often arrange marriages for their daughters as early as age 15.

Educational opportunities are limited due to the cost of tuition and school books. Sponsored children sometimes even leave school for a few months to help with farming. This can explain why an 11-year-old child may still be in the second or third grade.

One in every 236 Cambodians has lost a limb due to land mines. World Vision is helping in the immense task of ridding the country of the plague of mines. We also help provide skills training for the disabled, among others.

Most Cambodians don’t know their birthdays and don’t celebrate them, nor do they celebrate Christmas. Instead, they have an annual Water Festival which celebrates the rains that sustain life in Cambodia.
The Khmer people, who are thought to have migrated from China before 200 B.C., constitute 90 percen

Country Comparison	Cambodia	United States
Population	13.8 million	295.4 million
Land Mass	68,154 sq. miles	3,537,439 sq. miles
Life Expectancy	57 years	78 years
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000)	80	7
Literacy Rate	74%	97%
Primary School Enrollment	65%	92%
Access to Safe Water	34%	100%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)	$320	$41,400

Religion

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What is it like to live there?
Cambodia consists of large plains surrounded by highlands with densely forested mountains. About 11 percent of the land is cultivated, with agriculture employing 84 percent of the labor force. The climate is subtropical, with a dry season from November to May and a rainy season from May to November.

Thanks to relatively newfound peace and freedom, life is far better now for the people of Cambodia than in recent decades. The country continues to recover from 25 years of civil war and the brutal Khmer Rouge communist regime, which ruled from 1975 to 1979. Development is progressing, yet daily life is still difficult for many people.

Health conditions are improving, but one
child in seven still dies before age five, many from preventable diseases such as polio, diphtheria, and malaria.

The National Pediatric Hospital in Phnom Penh, founded by World Vision, treats more than 100,000 children each year. Health workers also educate families about hygiene, nutrition, and other basics of preventive medicine.
Cambodia consists of large plains surrounded by highlands with densely forested mountains. About 11
Cambodia Projects
With the support of generous donors like you, World Vision is partnering with families throughout Cambodia to build brighter futures filled with hope for their children.

Many activities are under way to help meet immediate needs and promote lasting changes that will strengthen communities and move families toward self-reliance.

Overall program goals include:

• Building and repairing schools so that children have access to a good education.
• Conducting immunization campaigns to protect children from potentially deadly diseases.
• Offering workshops to teach families about the importance of hygiene and nutrition.
• Promoting literacy by teaching parents and children how to read and write.
• Training farmers in new agricultural techniques and giving them seeds and tools to improve food production and their family’s nutrition.
• Helping families start small businesses to provide financial stability and better care for their children.

• Pray that your sponsored child might respond to God’s love and grace.
• Ask God to guide your sponsored child as he or she learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
• Pray for God to protect the health of your sponsored child and his or her family.

Unfortunately, at this time, online picture folders are not available from Cambodia.

You may still be able to sponsor a child from Cambodia by clicking here and submitting a special request.