In this nation that is trying to rebuild itself after enduring unimaginable horrors under the devastating reign of the Khmer Rouge, poverty and need have become a stark reality. Particularly at risk are the children. Infant and under five mortality rates in Cambodia are unacceptably high, with 1 in 12 children dying before they reach the fifth birthday, most from preventable diseases such as diarrhea, measles and pneumonia.
We are committed to supporting World Relief’s Light for Life Child Survival and Hope Child Development programs which promote health, immunization and education. Mothers learn how to care for their children, empowering them as women, and improving their children’s chance for survival. Communities begin to cope with and understand the growing AIDS crisis through education and assistance. Orphans of AIDS victims and other children at risk are paired with mentors who encourage, teach and often take care of their needs.
“Life is very hard here,” a woman named Chrab told a World Relief worker, “But it would be much worse if World Relief had never come. For us, death used to be part of everyday life. Now, our children do not die…You have brought life to our village.”
World Relief
To learn more about World Relief, visit their Web site; www.worldrelief.org
