Pack for a Purpose
We are proud members of Pack for a Purpose, a charitable organization developed to assist travelers, like you, who would like to expand their generosity beyond their own communities, and bring much needed supplies to the destinations they are traveling to. Uniworld is supporting the “Future of Khmer Children” in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Your contributions are priceless and participation is easy. When you are packing for your “Timeless Wonders of Vietnam & Cambodia” river cruise and tour, simply save a few pounds of space in your suitcase, so you can bring much needed supplies to FKC thereby assisting young people with educational and health care needs. And when you get to Siem Reap, you can meet the people who you are supporting, which will make it even more priceless. Please click here to see what supplies are needed for FKC.
About Future of Khmer Children Organization (FKC)
The Future of Khmer Children Organization (FKC) school provides free education and primary health care education to children ranging in age from newborn to 20 years old. In addition, FKC supports families in rural areas with food supplies and health care. The Future of Khmer Children organization is located in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
There are more than 20 staff members at the FKC, 75% of these are Khmer. More than 30 international and national volunteers donate their time and skills each year. FKC school currently offers students an education, as well as various community outreach programs. Since opening its doors in 2008, there have been about 150 to 300 children visiting FKC Community School. They have a reputation for providing a high quality standard of education and creating a caring compassionate child-friendly environment. Each year, the number of Cambodian families arriving at FKC to register their children has increased.
The children who attend the FKC school for education and the primary health care come from the most part from families from five poor rural communities. Approximately 80% of these families have borrowed money just to pay for the transportation to FKC and arrived there with no food and little belongings.
Every month, many people come specifically for education and to cure their malnutrition. Others are admitted with different illnesses but malnutrition remains a major big problem for poor families in Cambodia.
Although there have been improvements in Cambodia over the last few years, much remains to be done. This is caused by the destruction of a very long civil war. Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, 35% of the population lives below the poverty line, and estimated 15% live in extreme poverty. Poverty levels are highest in rural areas and lowest in urban centers. More than 80% of Cambodia’s population lives in rural areas. Almost half of the people live without access to an improved water source and nearly 80% lack adequate sanitation. The average life expectancy in Cambodia is estimated to be 59 years. The under-five mortality rate is estimated at 83/1000, more than ten times higher than in the US. Nearly a third of the country lives below the poverty line and almost one third of its children are malnourished.
At the Future of Khmer Children (FKC) Center, their goal is to provide sustainable education services and training opportunities to Cambodian children to give them the best chance for a bright future. With health care education, community support activities and direct aid to families in rural areas, they want to improve the living conditions in the rural areas, and help create a prosperous, peaceful environment for future development.