In Siem Reap province, each school day offers an invaluable opportunity for children to learn, grow, and build a brighter future. Yet across vulnerable communities like the Doun Kaev commune, childhood well-being faces steep daily hurdles from preventable waterborne illnesses and chronic malnutrition.
In rural Cambodia, waterborne diarrhoeal diseases remain a leading driver of childhood mortality, compounded by national health data showing that roughly 10% of rural children suffer from acute wasting, a critical risk factor for preventable death.
Today, we are overjoyed to announce a transformative partnership with The Randal Charitable Foundation. Their generous support brings to life a comprehensive health, nutrition, and clean water programme that has already begun actively safeguarding over 2,000 children across seven rural primary schools. Consistent, fortified nutrition serves as the vital first line of defence in protecting young lives.
Daily Breakfasts at Our Prasat Char Campus
Since field operations began in mid-June, the communal kitchen at our Prasat Char campus has bustled to life each morning to serve hot, balanced breakfasts to 343 core students. Between June and August 2026, the programme prepared and distributed a total of 8,476 nutritious meals (2,560 in June, 2,848 in July, and 3,068 in August).
For many of these young learners, this warm morning meal is their only dependable source of nourishment for the day, directly reducing the risk of acute malnutrition and turning hunger into sustained classroom focus, vitality, and joyful energy. Alongside daily meals, reliable access to clean water is essential to breaking the cycle of waterborne infections before they begin.
Clean Water From 21 Bio-Sand Water Filters
Through a close technical partnership with the Trailblazer Foundation, the project completed the fabrication of 21 high-efficiency bio-sand water filters. Built from heavy-duty concrete casings and multi-layered sand filtration media, these units eliminate up to 99% of biological pathogens from local groundwater sources.
Following detailed consultations with primary school directors and village elders, priority locations were mapped to ensure this clean water infrastructure provides sustainable protection to thousands of family members and school children, fundamentally reducing severe gastrointestinal illness.
The Local Team Leading Health Outreach
Behind every intervention is a deeply trusted human connection. Kong, a dedicated social worker who has lived in Prasat Char village her entire life and worked with Helping Hands since 2014, leads community and family outreach with unmatched local trust. She has been joined by Kin, an inspiring graduate of our school now pursuing a university degree in Public Administration, who has taken on the role of Nurse Assistant. Together, they have spearheaded practical hygiene and handwashing sessions that are transforming children's daily habits, facilitated the monthly distribution of 540 bottles of essential children's vitamin supplements, and prepared for the arrival of a full-time certified nurse in October to launch comprehensive clinical screenings.
Health Monitoring and Electric Tuk-Tuks in Rural Cambodia
By monitoring individual child health cards and catching early warning signs of illness or deficiency, our team ensures vulnerable students receive timely, life-saving care before conditions become critical.
To overcome rural distances and navigate dirt paths prone to seasonal monsoon flooding, community health outreach now features clean, sustainable mobility: two electric tuk-tuks. These zero-emission vehicles allow our social work and healthcare teams to conduct routine home visits, transport medical supplies between partner schools, and provide swift, reliable emergency transport when a child falls ill and requires hospital treatment.
With operational backing from Randal, our frontline team has a dependable, environmentally conscious transport solution tailored to the demands of the rural landscape.
Thank You to The Randal Charitable Foundation
We extend our deepest gratitude to The Randal Charitable Foundation. Their compassionate commitment does far more than provide meals, water filters, and medical checkups, it creates a lasting safety net that shields children from preventable harm, nurtures their growth, and empowers an entire generation across Doun Kaev to grow up healthy, strong, and full of promise.