Cambodia is a country still recovering from its violent and traumatic recent history.  Decades of civil war have left much of the country without an economic and social infrastructure.  During the 1970's around one third of the population died during the infamous 'killing fields' of the Khmer Rouge regime, which has left the next generation struggling to rebuild.

Poverty and lack of education contribute to a large number of social problems in Cambodia.

More recently, the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS is increasing at an alarming rate throughout the country. Many children have been abandoned or orphaned by AIDS and are then easy prey for the traffickers of drugs, forced labour and prostitution.

Child prostitution is a serious problem in Cambodia. Lured from their homes in the provinces with promises of reputable jobs or sold by unscrupulous relatives, many young children end up working in brothels under slave-like conditions. UNICEF estimates that 30 to 35% of all prostitutes are children between the ages of 12 and 17 years.

Riverview Children's Foundation is partnering with the following projects in Cambodia to rescue, protect and empower these vulnerable children: