In 2010 it was estimated there were approximately 63,000 adults and 7,000 children living with HIV and AIDS in Cambodia

The total transmission of HIV has declined, however the majority of children living with HIV and AIDS has swelled to 440,000 due to limited access to a reliable government supply of anti-retroviral drugs, and other care and support.

We offer community based support structures to children and their families ensuring that vulnerable children, particularly orphans and children affected by HIV and AIDS are safe in their community, attend school, receive health care and psychosocial support, and are not discriminated against. The aim is to mobilise community support for the children and to provide community based alternative care to prevent these children from ending up in institutions.
Additionally, Save the Children improves income generation and supports home-based care and formal education to orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS. Through  pagoda committees and child clubs, thousands of vulnerable children and their families have been receiving direct and indirect support such as food supplies, study materials, bicycles, skills training and income generating grants.

In addition, we educate communities, especially pregnant women on effective prevention of mother to child transmission, HIV,  AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. We facilitate access to anti-retroviral treatment and emergency referral services.

Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVC) Project

The program has been running in Cambodia almost three years and is funded by the Global Fund, Elton John AIDS Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

The project aims to protect, care and provide support to Orphans & Vulnerable Children who are infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. Save the Children, in partnership with local Buddhist pagodas and monks, provide a number of services and support for children and their families, including:

• nutrition - provision of food supplied by the World Food Program to vulnerable families in need of immediate assistance;

• health - provision of support to enable OVC and family members to undertake health checks and receive necessary treatment;

• education - provision of support so children can attend school and have the necessary school materials and transportation to ensure attendance;

• shelter - construction or rehabilitation of housing to ensure safety and well being of children and family members;

• psychosocial - provision of counseling and support where trauma has been prevalent;

• livelihoods - provision of livelihood training (farming, animal rearing, sewing etc.) and start up capital to parents/caregivers to work towards self reliance.

Save the Children is currently reaching 9,626 children through this project.

This includes:

• 6,176 (2,928 girls) orphans

• 1,530 (694 girls) of whom are double orphans, which means they have lost both parents.

• 4,646 (2,234 girls) of whom are single orphans, which means they have lost one parent.

64% of all the children who are benefiting from our OVC program are orphans. As only 8% of all children in Cambodia are orphans, the project is successful in reaching the most vulnerable and marginalised children.

Gain insight into the OVC project - Lulu in Cambodia for the Elton John AIDS Foundation