How we work
Our Education and Football Programmes are designed to establish a strong foundation for lifelong learning, while our Community Projects work to address immediate challenges faced by the families. Together, these initiatives create a pathway for students to escape the cycle of poverty.
Why Cambodia
In a nation recovering from civil war and genocide children’s education unfortunately often takes a backseat amidst the challenges of poverty.
Many families that ISF supports come from Cambodia’s rural provinces where farming is the main source of income. Work being seasonal, income is unstable and any unexpected expense leads to unavoidable debt. Families can easily lose the little that they have to loan repayments.
Having nowhere else to go, these families frequently relocate to some of Phnom Penh’s most impoverished communities. Many earn a livelihood through scavenging, factory work, and other low-paying jobs.
Education remains unaffordable for many
According to UNICEF (2023), almost half of children in Cambodia are living in extreme poverty and associated costs of attending school are unaffordable for the poorest families, forcing children to stay home or work themselves.
This reality results in families remaining in a continuous cycle of poverty that goes on for generations.
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Of children in Cambodia are multidimensional poverty poor
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Of the poorest youth will graduate from secondary school
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Of the children in grade three cannot write a single word in a dictation test
How it started
ISF Cambodia began in 2006 when its founder, Peter Slater, provided support for a teacher to rent a classroom and teach English to a small group of 15 young street children.
The dedication of the early trustees, staff, and subsequent ISF members has been instrumental in the organisation’s growth, making a positive impact on more than 8,500 young people and their communities.
ISF Cambodia began in 2006 when its founder, Peter Slater, provided support for a teacher to rent a classroom and teach English to a small group of 15 young street children.
The dedication of the early trustees, staff, and subsequent ISF members has been instrumental in the organisation’s growth, making a positive impact on more than 8,500 young people and their communities.
Education Programme
When a child enrols at ISF, we commit to supporting them on their years-long education journey from our own school all the way through the first two years of University education. Every year, our Education Programme supports over 700 students through primary, secondary, and higher education, as well as vocational training.
Through this support, we are giving these students the best possible chance of completing their education so they can lead dignified lives.
Our holistic Catch-up Education Programme is designed to provide quality education for children aged 8-12 who have been unable to attend school due to poverty. We provide two years of public-school education in one, covering the full national curriculum, plus English, IT and tablet-based learning. Our holistic approach also supports students with two nutritious meals daily, uniforms, stationary, bicycles and weekly sports activities, such as PE, yoga, football and Khmer dance.
Upon completing our Catch-up Education Programme, we enrol students into public schools. We provide students with uniforms, educational materials, school meals, healthcare, employability skills training, as well as family and wider community support. Our holistic support is available for as long as our students remain in school to give them the best possible chance of completing their education.
We provide basics of both Khmer and English typing, as well as how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. For older students, we offer more specialised classes in Photoshop and coding. The enthusiasm for these classes is evident especially among our catch-up students, with an average attendance rate of over 90%.
At ISF, we understand the importance of English in today’s world and the need for our students to have the necessary skills to access higher education and gainful employment. That is why we offer English classes to all our students using creative and fun approaches such as tablet-based activities, singing, project-based learning and contests.
Education Programme impact and reach
We offer the resources and support needed for children and their families to access quality education to provide our students with a better future, employment prospects, and the capability of becoming leaders and serving their community.
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Catch-up students
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Public school students
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Students in higher education or Employment Support
Community Development
We initiated several community projects, providing opportunities for our students’ families and caregivers to gain skills that will help them access legitimate employment opportunities and provide for their family, reducing pressure on their children who can continue to attend school.
We established community and mobile libraries in the areas where our students live to foster an appreciation of education and a habit of reading among our students, their families, and the wider community. The libraries also provide children with a safe place for enhancing their learning and to meet their friends.
Many of our students’ parents lack basic literacy and numeracy skills which limits their employment opportunities as well as their understanding of the value of education. We offer adult literacy classes to students’ parents and members of the local community to improve their skills and opportunities to increase their income as well as promote a culture of learning.
We have set up sewing courses and partnered with other organisations to enable women from the community to find employment or start their own small business. Our trainees learn how to sew as well as how to make and design clothes and other products.
We offer sewing classes for the caregivers of our students. Our project not only teaches technical skills but also economically empowers community members, creating better employment opportunities and improving their standard of living. As a result, parents are now able to provide for their families, and children are no longer forced to drop out of school to support their households. Our training has not only provided valuable technical skills but also brought hope to families that were struggling to make ends meet.
Impact and reach of our Community Projects
We offer the resources and support needed for children and their families to access quality education to provide our students with a better future, employment prospects, and the capability of becoming leaders and serving their community.
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Visits to ISF Libraries
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Of our community members started simple readings in our libraries
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Children and parents have been taught literacy skills by 10 ISF students
Football Programme
Our Programme goes beyond just providing disadvantaged youth with the chance to play football and improve their health. We use Cambodia’s most popular sport to educate, motivate, and empower through regular training, tournaments, and events.
The ISF Football Programme skillfully blends the physical benefits of football with a robust educational framework through our social impact curriculum. This dual approach not only enhances the children's physical fitness and teamwork skills on the field but also enriches their learning off the field with valuable life lessons. Our curriculum delves into critical areas such as respect, empathy, and social responsibility, ensuring that participants gain a holistic education. By fostering an inclusive environment, the programme equally prioritizes physical development and character building, preparing children for a well-rounded future.
Creating a Secure Environment for Holistic Development: At the heart of our programme is the commitment to offering a safe and nurturing space for underprivileged youth. Our dedicated football grounds are more than just playing fields; they are sanctuaries where children can safely explore their potential, build self-confidence, and foster essential life skills. This supportive environment is crucial for their overall well-being, aiding in their cognitive, emotional, and social development, which is foundational for their academic and personal success.
Ensuring Every Child Has the Opportunity to Grow: Our mission is to break down barriers of inequality by making sports accessible to all children, regardless of their gender, background or abilities. The ISF Football Programme is a testament to our belief that every child deserves the chance to play, learn, and thrive. By integrating children with diverse needs, including those with disabilities, into our programme, we foster an inclusive community spirit that teaches respect, teamwork, and empathy, preparing them for a more inclusive future.
Instilling Sustainable Values Through Sport: Understanding the importance of environmental stewardship, our football programme incorporates sustainability practices into its core activities. We aim to educate and inspire our young participants about the significance of environmental care through practical actions, like reducing plastic use and promoting waste management. These lessons extend beyond the field, encouraging children to adopt sustainable habits in their daily lives and become advocates for environmental conservation in their communities.
Football Programme impact and reach
Our bespoke social impact curriculum develops key employability skills, such as teamwork, communications and confidence and helps us address relevant local issues such as gender equality, child rights, and substance abuse to promote positive behaviour change.
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Players in our Football Programme
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Of players want to adopt positive behaviors and motivate their community
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Of players demonstrated improvement in key soft skills
Watch the remarkable story of Sopheak*
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Our home is in an old graveyard. When I was 8, I had to stop going to school, because I had to stay home and help my mother. I was so sad in my heart.
How can you contribute
Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, there are various ways for you to contribute to our cause. Join us in making a difference and empowering communities. Explore the ways you can be a part of our journey towards positive change.
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Where our money goes
For every $1 we receive in donations, 85c goes directly back into our programmes. So, when you donate to ISF, you can be sure that your gift will have the greatest impact possible.
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GOES DIRECTLY INTO
OUR PROGRAMMES
