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"Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime."
This is, of course, CFI's educational philosophy...but before you can teach a man to fish, he'll need some
breakfast, clothes and a fishing pole. Only once children's basic needs are met, can they effectively learn and
grow into responsible, self-reliant adults.
Education Programs:
  Public School Access (Basic Khmer literacy and math classes)
Fewer than half of Cambodian children complete primary school, with only 20% ever attending
secondary school. Many children have to work to support their families or simply cannot afford school
uniforms, materials, or the "extra fees" required by most teachers. Others must stay at home and care
for younger siblings so that their parents or guardians are able to work.
Cambodian public schools provide a rudimentary background in Khmer literacy and math. Despite the
inadequacies of public education in Cambodia, consistent attendance in public school is a necessary
starting point for a child’s educational and social development. Children not attending school are often
stigmatized in their communities and alienated from their peers.
We offer “catch-up” classes in Khmer literacy, basic math, and general study skills for children who have
never attended public school, those who have dropped out and those who are at risk of dropping out. The
purpose of this program is to give these students the academic foundation and social skills necessary to
succeed in public school.
* Many children in our Public School Access program require further support. This is provided through our
Social Empowerment Programs.
Enrichment Education (English, computer skills, critical thinking, art, music and sports)
During the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979), intellectuals were labeled as "class-enemies"
and teachers were one of the most ferociously persecuted groups. As a result, current teachers in
Cambodia are severely under-qualified both in terms of academic knowledge and pedagogic technique
-- in addition to being grossly underpaid.
Cambodian public schools lack the necessary resources to give students a first class education. Public
schools provide some basic knowledge, but they fail to stimulate children’s creative, intellectual and
critical thinking skills.
We encourage our students to be creative and challenge themselves through an array of programs that
give each child the opportunity to excel. Our students develop a passion for reading in the library. They
practice English by listening to and singing with The Beatles. On the soccer field they learn teamwork and
communication skills. While notes from guitar and keyboard fill the air (sometimes out of tune), kids are
busy piecing together puzzles, drawing pictures of princesses, and swinging on the tire swing. Our older
students are learning computer skills by creating their own blogs and videos.
Higher Education and Vocational Training (University scholarships, apprenticeship
opportunities)
Without appropriate education, it is impossible to achieve gainful employment and self-sufficiency.
Fewer then 5% of Cambodian children have the opportunity to attend university or receive appropriate
vocational training.
We provide support for students to complete their high school careers and to continue with higher
education. In partnership with a local university, CFI has set up a scholarship program for academically
talented students.
We are working with some of our exceptional students to help them access international educational
opportunities.
In some cases, especially for older children who have never been in school, the most appropriate
educational opportunity is to learn a trade. Along with basic Khmer literacy and math skills, we facilitate
apprenticeship opportunities for these young adults.
Social Empowerment Programs:
Family Support (Rice, school materials, uniforms, books)
Children regularly drop out of school because their families are too poor to support their education.
Some children must work to earn money for their families; others must stay home and care for
younger siblings. Some families are so desperate that they even sell their children to traffickers or send
them to Thailand or elsewhere to find work. Poor children in this area are particularly at risk of
becoming victims of trafficking because of Battambang’s close proximity to the Thai border. These
children often end up in prostitution or forced labor.
We provide family support, where appropriate, to enable children to live at home and attend school. This
may include staple foods, school uniforms, materials, bicycles and teacher fees. We regularly visit CFIsupported
families and our social workers assess their needs on a case-by-case basis.
Family Empowerment (Income generation programs in chicken, fish and pig farming,
vegetable gardening and handicrafts)
CFI is cautious about fostering a dependency on handouts. We believe, however, that it is a priority for
children to be in school, even at the cost of supplying a modest support package every month. Our
ultimate goal is to help families develop self-sufficiency through personalized income generating
opportunities.
For many families, small loans coupled with appropriate guidance are all that is needed to create a
sustainable livelihood and make it possible for children to remain in school. We are currently supporting
families to become independent farmers and craftsmen.
An organic vegetable garden and sustainable fish farm on CFI’s premises will serve as training facilities to
help more families develop sustainable livelihoods (along with helping to feed the children at our homes).
Children's Home (Safe living and learning environment for abused and vulnerable children)
CFI greatly values the family as the ideal social unit for children, and we do everything in our power to
allow children to receive a good education while staying with their families. However, sometimes
children cannot stay with their families because of domestic violence, sexual abuse, alcoholism or other
issues. Other children do not have families.
We have established a Children's Home, where children live without fear and experience love, trust and
respect from our housemothers, staff, and each other. We have created a family-like atmosphere where
the children have household responsibilities and look after one another.
We have established a Children's Home, where children live without fear and experience love, trust and
respect from our housemothers, staff, and each other. We have created a family-like atmosphere where
the children have household responsibilities and look after one another.
Girls' Home (Safe house for abused and vulnerable girls in Battambang city)
Girls are especially vulnerable in a largely male-dominated society like Cambodia, particularly when
they are uneducated. Most rural communities do not have secondary schools or universities. When a
family does have the means to send one or more children to secondary school or university, priority is
usually given to sons. Uneducated girls lack economic opportunities and are in particular danger of
being abused, sexually exploited or trafficked. Abused girls suffer severe stigmatization in their
communities making it impossible to lead a normal life and placing them at imminent danger of further
abuse and exploitation.
Under the care of a housemother, teacher and all of our staff, CFI’s Girls’ Home in Battambang City is a
safe space for girls to live and study. For girls from villages where studying beyond primary school is
nearly impossible, the home’s proximity to high-school, university, and vocational training facilities gives
the girls access to education. In addition to providing safety, food, clothing, and education, the house is a
place for vulnerable and abused girls to form genuine and trustful relationships among each other and to
allow their personalities to thrive in a secure environment.
Emotional Therapy & Play (Creating a safe, fun and loving environment for
children to heal and grow)
The legacy of the Khmer Rouge has left an entire country psychologically traumatized. Just a few
decades ago children and parents, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives were victims, perpetrators
and witnesses to some of humanity’s most gruesome crimes. The legacy of abuse, mistrust and
violence along with Cambodia’s overwhelming poverty have a profound effect on family and community
relationships. Many children have been deprived of their childhoods, worrying instead of about their
next meal or how to earn a few cents for their family. Often they suffer from neglect and repeated
abuse.
At CFI, those who have been victims of abuse or neglect can start to recover from their traumas and
establish friendships, trust and a sense of self-worth. A top priority of our children’s centers is to create a
safe, loving environment where children can learn, grow, and have fun; a place where kids can be kids.
We understand that “play” is an integral part of a child’s development. The benefits of play are twofold.
Most directly, students learn how to trust, respect, and communicate with their peers. Just as importantly,
play and free expression break down their “affective filter,” an emotional block that inhibits the learning
process both in and out of the classroom.
We are partnering with local organizations to provide psychological counseling for individual children in
need as well as training for our staff.
Medical Intervention and Health Education (Facilitation of healthcare access and
basic health training)
In many cases, families do not have access to adequate medical treatment. Even when medical
facilities are available the cost is often prohibitive leading to either lack of treatment or a lifetime of
debt.
In addition, the lack of basic hygiene and health education leads to the proliferation of preventable
diseases and chronic health problems.
Although we do not directly offer care, we arrange for treatment with reputable local doctors or other
qualified organizations when a child falls ill. In addition, we offer basic health education in such areas as
dental hygiene, water treatment, nutrition and feminine hygiene. We are currently working to develop a
visiting doctor and nurse program.*
* Any interested doctors, nurses or other healthcare professionals - please contact us about partnership opportunities.
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