PSE in Cambodia: 30 years of fighting poverty and a new strategic plan to transform lives

For over three decades, the Pour un Sourire d'Enfant (PSE) association has worked tirelessly to save children from the most extreme poverty in Cambodia, by offering them access to education, vocational training, protection and personal development.

This battle, which began in the open-air waste dumps of Phnom Penh, is now facing new challenges and making great strides, with more than 7,000 children already saved and another 7,000 currently being supported in the association's various programmes

The new 2025-2028 strategic plan, presented in the latest PSE newsletter, aims to strengthen this educational and social impact by adapting to the contemporary realities of the country and its beneficiaries. Its priority? To provide comprehensive, individual support for each child, from nursery school through to university or professional integration, including support for families, not to do things for them, but alongside them, in order to promote their lasting autonomy.

A social mission in full adaptation to contemporary challenges

Cambodia continues to be a country where five million people live on less than 3 dollars a day, and where a large proportion of young people suffer serious deprivation, particularly in terms of food and healthcare. The educational crisis exacerbated by the pandemic has also resulted in a significant backlog. Public schools, often overcrowded and poorly equipped, are struggling to catch up, and families, lacking resources and skills, are not always able to support their children in their learning.

In response to these challenges, PSE has decided to step up its educational initiatives, in particular by supporting the 4,000 children enrolled in the state system, by reinforcing support classes and English language learning, and by developing remedial schooling that adapts to pupils' rhythms and aspirations. The idea is to prevent young people from dropping out of school and to prepare them for long-term employment.

Diversified pathways for successful integration

The PSE vocational training institute is evolving with the creation of new courses to meet the needs of the Cambodian market, particularly in web and mobile development. Short courses have also been restructured to make them more flexible, while special support is reserved for graduates who go on to higher education thanks to scholarships. The aim is clear: to help young people out of poverty in the long term through employment, while respecting their abilities and dreams.

The testimonies speak for themselves, like Chi Mey, a former student in room service and laundry, who thanks to PSE was able to find a stable and fulfilling job and encourages the new generation to choose studies that they love in order to succeed.

Working with families: towards autonomy and empowerment

One of the major ambitions of the strategic plan is to move from a model of “doing things for” to one of “doing things with” families. By providing more support and encouraging the use of public services, which are often still inadequate, PSE aims to empower families so that they can take charge of their own future. This helps to limit dependency and encourages lasting emancipation.

The funding model and the commitment of volunteers: pillars of sustainability

PSE's almost exclusively private funding, based on voluntary work and sponsorship, is the foundation of its sustainability. Faced with inflation and increasing needs, the association is seeking to strengthen its partnerships with companies, foundations and major donors, while mobilising and modernising the means of commitment of volunteers and sponsors.

Volunteering remains a key strength, limiting administrative costs and enabling maximum resources to be allocated to social missions. Volunteers are offered a wide range of practical actions, from raising awareness to fundraising, to support the cause effectively.

Concrete hope through every gesture

Sponsorship, starting at 47 euros per month (after tax deduction), not only covers the cost of a child's education and training, but also provides comprehensive support including care, food, secure accommodation and extra-curricular activities. Far from being a simple one-off payment, this support profoundly transforms the lives of children and their families.

Our collective efforts are driving PSE's mission forward, with an unchanged ambition: to change the lives of thousands of vulnerable children, by giving them back hope and a dignified future.

https://www.pse.ong/