Project Initiatives
Education
In Cambodia, many young women are forced to leave school due to family poverty, pushing them into work for survival and increasing their vulnerability.
At UPO, we address this by identifying at-risk youth and providing financial aid to help them stay in school. Additionally, we offer extracurricular life skills training to further support their development.
By combining educational support with practical skills training, we enhance their future prospects and significantly reduce the risk of exploitation.
Village Led Development
In addition to providing educational support, we contribute to projects that benefit local communities. We collaborate with local leaders and residents to drive initiatives that improve their areas.
Our efforts include addressing sanitation issues, renovating village homes, helping establish microbusinesses for families, and organising clean-up projects. UPO plays a key role in fostering collaborative solutions and promoting sustainable community development.
Stories
Cambodian Village Chiefs
In Cambodia, local village chiefs play a crucial role in overseeing the well-being of their communities. They manage essential tasks such as issuing ID cards, birth certificates, and family books, while ensuring the general welfare of their residents.
When assisting with clients and addressing village needs, our team first connects with the village chief to collaborate and gather insights. The chief advises us on community needs, recommends projects, and identifies families requiring urgent attention.
Over the past two years, we have worked closely with several village chiefs to support various initiatives, including educational assistance for children, sanitation projects like building toilets, village clean-up programs, house repairs, and micro-business development.
Client Stories
UPO has helped a client who was in a difficult situation. With our support, she is now able to attend university. Our case worker meets with her regularly to offer basic counselling as needed.
We’ve also extended our support to her family and community through a sanitation project, providing food packages, building toilets and outhouses, repairing a village roof, and assisting with repairs to her mother’s house.
Education and Life Skills Training
Over the past two years, our education program has been dedicated to helping young women complete their schooling. We provide monthly support for daily food, books, and equipment.
While schools cover basic subjects, some require additional funding. We also offer life skills training in personal well-being, money management, and awareness of human trafficking risks.
Sanitation Projects
During meetings with Village Chiefs, our case workers found several families who needed toilets and outhouses. This basic need became a major project to help families in our clients’ villages.
Without proper sanitation, families are at risk of diseases that can affect the entire community. To address this, we started a project to build toilets and outhouses.
Since 2023, we’ve built eight toilets and outhouses in two of our clients’ villages, each costing $750. This has been made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors.
Micro Business Projects
UPO has assisted a family of two adults and four children in a client’s village to start a small business. The family had no steady income, so our team helped them identify their skills.
The father’s experience with raising chickens was a key asset. We provided him with the equipment and live chickens needed to begin. He was able to sell the eggs and chickens to support his family.
The income they earned also allowed them to start a vegetable garden, which they now use to sell produce to the village.
