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The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 ESV
Daughters of Cambodia exists to empower those trapped in
the sex industry to walk free and to find fullness of life,
with healing, wholeness, and the means to prosper.
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After five-years of in operation, Daughters' most successful business, our Visitor Centre near the River Front, received a new look and a much needed upgrade. To remain competitive, attract new customers, and to boost productivity, the upgrade is both functional and aesthetic. Re-styled by Emma, our designer, the interior and new layout makes room for more customers within a gorgeous setting. It is one that not only increases the available space but tells the incredible story of our young women and men.
Leaks in many walls were re-plastered, sagging and faded seating was replaced, we moved the counter and work station to a different area to increase seating space, added electrical outlets and water pipes, and re-decorated the walls with a new colour palate and custom-designed murals. These changes provide a gorgeous and appealing environment to relax in, whilst boosting efficiency in the operations of our kitchen and café. Our intention is that people do not only eat and shop at our Visitor Centre; but that they catch the vision of our work and the hope generated for those walking free from sex work and finding new purpose.
Harnessing the talents of our staff and volunteers, most of the work was carried out by our own people, saving on outsourcing.
We are excited to show you the results of our hard work, and we welcome you to visit and experience our beautiful new Visitor Centre.
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Help Us Find 100 New Sponsors for our Daughters (and Sons)!
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We need to raise additional sponsorship for our clients, to help cover costs incurred as we train and support them through the challenges of life-style change. Please help us by telling your friends and church members about this opportunity to give a different future to the most vulnerable members of Cambodian society. Sponsorship is either $35 or $70/month which covers a portion of the client's living stipend whilst they train, counselling, medical treatment, educational programs and other support services. Please consider partnering with us to bring about the opportunity of a life time for the young women and men we reach.
Enable one of our Daughters (or Sons) to THRIVE - get in touch with us by clicking HERE or contact Dany at sponsor@daughtersofcambodia.org.
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Catalogs and Potential Vendors
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In our production businesses, we are venturing into an exciting season of growth and exploring new markets. A new volunteer, Alicia from the US, recently teamed up with our talented Cambodian stock room manager. Together, they are overhauling our costings and stock room materials, as well as, putting together a catalog of our entire product in categories.
We have been busy with photo shoots, creating catalog layout, researching shipping methods for overseas distribution, and updating our costings calculations.
We plan to start selling our products in the UK this year, so please watch this space for the developments with that exciting venture. The ultimate goal of all we do in our businesses is to provide vocational skills training to enable sex workers to exit the sex industry, at the same time as increasing our sustainability so that we can help more men and women exit sex work.
Thank you for being a part of this incredible mission.
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'I was hungry and you fed me...'
It has been on our hearts for some time to start a feeding program for the very poor, those without enough food. In April our CEO, Ruth, launched a small new program at Daughters in which some of Daughters' own income has been set aside to provide food for the poor in the Daughters' community. We have called this The Hunger Fund. Along with feeding the poor and destitute, part of this fund is also earmarked for repairing homes of our clients. Many clients' homes have enormous holes or missing areas in the roof or walls that allow in rainwater or intruders. In addition to the security risks, rainy season has begun, and homes are being flooded already. Most of these clients have young children in their homes; to address this we therefore decided to repair one home per month with a portion of the money from the Hunger Fund.
This week we started the repairs of the first home. This is a home without any roof or front door at all, and with 2 small children under the age of 3.
We thank God that we are in a position to help, and we want to increase this fund and help more of those who are destitute. What a privilege it is; when we do this for them, we are doing this for Jesus.
If you would like to know more or to give towards this fund, please contact communications@daughtersofcambodia.org
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We love Customer Feedback!
Visitor Centre:
"If you are in Phnom Penh....please go and visit this place. It's such a worthy cause, they do a great job there. The ladies working there are Truly inspirational.
I loved everything about it!
The food upstairs was the best we have ate since being in Cambodia!! The fish burger and chocolate brownie was really fantastic!!
Please call in this little places and see the amazing work they are all doing." April 2015
White Linen:
"This hotel is in a quiet, and relatively clean street, an easy five minute walking distance from the Russian Market. Breakfast is supplied from Sugar and Spice restaurant just around the corner - if you stay here you have to try the homemade passion fruit and pear jam (I could eat it by the spoonful!).
We were here for over a week, first in the Frangipani room on the roof, then one floor down in the Jasmine room. The amenities in both are the same, but the Jasmine room shares a kitchen and eating area with the Lily room. The rooms are clean, fresh and air-conditioned - you do need to be able to climb stairs though. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. Highly recommended. (Oh, and you are helping the charity Daughters of Cambodia - a great place for you money to go.)" March 2015
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Thank You and Farewell
Daughters of Cambodia is blessed with incredible volunteers from all over the world. One such volunteer, Janelle, has been managing our Sugar and Spice Garden Cafe near the Russian Market. Her natural leadership skills, wisdom and maturity were a great asset when working with the girls. In addition she worked to produce excellence in customer service, organize kitchen costings, and improve recipes. She also managed the opening of our new spa opening in the premises, taking much pressure off the Director of Outlets.
We also recently said "good-bye" to Daughters' Intercessor/Prayer Leader, Sue Parker. Sue worked as Daughters' intercessor for five months, leading daily intercession, and managing intercession teams at Daughters of Cambodia's four locations. She recently returned to the UK. Sue made an incredible impact on the spiritual foundation at Daughters and on the staff and volunteers who she interceded for and built relationship with. We value her input hugely. We are looking for more intercessors to join us in country!
We are so thankful to Jannelle and Sue, they have been incredible assets, and are greatly missed.
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Our Clients
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Our social work team helps clients to work through and find ways to overcome their domestic and psychological difficulties. Some recent cases they have been working on include:
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1. Client SM was advised by a local hospital to seek an abortion, as she is HIV+. Unknown to our staff, SM went to an uncharted, back alley clinic for a cheap, unsafe abortion procedure. Following these improper procedures, she was admitted to hospital as an emergency in great pain and had to undergo further procedures. She later returned to work, where we learned about this. Please pray for her, as she is struggling physically, emotionally and spiritually with this.
2. Please pray for DT who has separated from her current partner; he is a prolific drug user. He abandoned DT and their twins, aged two, to immerse himself in a drug-taking lifestyle. DT wants to give her twin girls up for adoption because she has other priorities for her life, including using drugs herself. She is under pressure from her aunt and her grandmother to return to sex work with which her entire family is involved.
Please pray that DT would break the cycle of sex work in her family and for the best outcome for her twin girls, where they can be safe, loved, properly cared for, and have opportunities for a different life.
3. Please pray for integrity amongst all at Daughters. We particularly want to eliminate stealing from our businesses. It creates harm for us in a number of ways including: the spiritual impact on Daughters when the door of the demonic is opened by somebody from inside our organization; the spiritual and emotional impact on the other staff and clients when it is uncovered; the loss of income for Daughters and therefore sustainability. The less income we have, the more girls we have to turn away who come to us for help in leaving the sex industry. Please join us in praying God will expose every hidden thing and stealing will cease.
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We use the term 'clients' in referring to the girls and boys we work with, because it is a term of dignity and respect, more than alternatives such as 'victims' or even 'survivors', and in a context of confidentiality and professionalism as with clients one would assist in a social work or counselling setting.
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