Poverty remains a significant issue in Cambodia, particularly in rural areas where access to basic necessities such as clean water, nutritious food, education, and healthcare can be limited. As a result, many children in Cambodia face significant challenges and hardships due to poverty.
Poverty often prevents children from attending school, either due to the cost of school fees, uniforms, and supplies, or because they are needed to work and contribute to their family’s income. As a result, many poor children in Cambodia are unable to access quality education, which limits their opportunities for a better future. Poor children in Cambodia may lack access to adequate healthcare services, including vaccinations, preventive care, and treatment for illnesses. Malnutrition and preventable diseases are common among impoverished children, contributing to high rates of infant mortality and stunted growth. Economic hardship often pushes children into the labor force at a young age, particularly in rural areas where families rely on children to help with farming, fishing, or other forms of work. Child labor deprives children of their right to education and exposes them to exploitation, abuse, and hazardous working conditions.
Poor children in Cambodia are vulnerable to various forms of exploitation, including trafficking, child marriage, and involvement in the commercial sex industry. These children are at risk of being exploited by traffickers who deceive or coerce them into dangerous situations. Poverty restricts the opportunities available to children in terms of access to nutrition, healthcare, education, and recreational activities. This lack of opportunities perpetuates the cycle of poverty and hinders the social and economic development of Cambodia’s most vulnerable populations. Despite these challenges, there are organizations and initiatives in Cambodia working to support impoverished children and families, providing access to education, healthcare, nutrition, and protection services. These efforts aim to address the root causes of poverty and create pathways for children to escape poverty and build better lives for themselves and future generations.
