Type of help
Education
Project partners
Helen Fares
CENTRAL Cambodia
STELP is helping since
2021
Three million people, mostly women, and thus one fifth of Cambodia’s population, work every day to produce textiles and garments for the global market. Their factory accounts for 70% of the country’s total export volume. In December 2019, journalist and presenter Helen Fares was in Cambodia for a few weeks for the documentary film “Mode.Macht.Menschen” (Fashion.Power.People) by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and director Patrick Kohl. She learned on site what our European consumption of clothing and textiles means for Cambodia – and especially for the workers in the factories.
Despite a six-day week in textile factories and additional part-time jobs, many families in the provinces around Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh do not have enough income to pay their children’s school fees. Yet education is the most promising opportunity to break the cycle of poverty for these children. Especially with the help of English skills, they could gain a foothold in the emerging tourism industry and lead a self-determined life with their wages.
To enable more children to attend school and English lessons, Helen has launched the “Better Chance” project with STELP and the local NGO “CENTRAL Cambodia”, which is currently supporting 5 families. The campaign for this has been a great success and the need for education has already been met. In addition, the donations will also cover medical emergencies and basic health care.
With further support, we want to ensure that more families are included in the project and that reserves are built up for the families.
Click here for Episode 7 of the documentary “Fashion.Power.People” with Helen Fares and Siek Hong:
Our partner in Cambodia:
Soon you can find more news about our project in Cambodia here.
