Riverkids Project
Stop child trafficking in Cambodia
Cambodia
The Kingdom of Cambodia, called Kampuchea in Khmer,
is a small state in South East Asia. Cambodia borders
Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. The capital is Phnom Penh with
about 4 million people. Cambodia is a parliamentary
representative democratic monarchy, and the current King is
HM Norodom Shiamoni.
Most of the 13 million population is ethnic Khmer, followed by ethnic Vietnamese, Chinese, Muslim Cham and some hill tribes. Most people are Buddhist, with animists and Christian minorities. Most people are young and poorly-educated. There is a dramatic lack of professionals and expertise, as the Khmer Rouge specifically targeted educated people.
The Khmer Empire ruled most of the region from the 11th to 14th century, leaving behind amazing architecture like Angor Wat. The French colonised Cambodia, and it was known as the Paris of the East. In the 1960s-1980s, one of the worst genocidal civil wars began. After political coups and with the Vietnam War next door, the Khmer Rouge took power and began systematically dismantling culture, infrastructure and families. Up to 3 million Cambodians are estimated to have died during the war and subsequent starvation. Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978, occupied the country for a while and peace efforts by 1991 led to a settlement and a somewhat stable government, excepting factional fighting, corruption and the occasional assassination.
Cambodia's economy was once largely agriculture, then relied on foreign aid. However, it is improving and diversifying with tourism and the garment industry growing rapidly. Rice, fish, timber, garments (lots of international brands made in Cambodian factories) and rubber are major exports.
Cambodia has major problems with landmines, child prostitution, rural poverty and corruption.
Great articles
Why is Everybody Going to Cambodia? - New York Times
Five (Cambodian) foods you should eat before you die
Great books
When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge (Chanrithy Him)
The King's Last Song - Geoff Ryman
Bones That Float: An adoptive mother's story of her adoption from Cambodia that led to setting up a school and more in her son's community.
Great websites
Tales of Asia
Khmer440 (note that this site includes offensive and satirical humor)
The Cambodian Genocide Project (Yale)
Other NGOs
Grady Grossman School: Cambodian-adoptive family's school in their child's community.
LICADHO: the leading human rights NGO in Cambodia
Chab Dai: Coalition of Christian anti-trafficking NGOs
Most of the 13 million population is ethnic Khmer, followed by ethnic Vietnamese, Chinese, Muslim Cham and some hill tribes. Most people are Buddhist, with animists and Christian minorities. Most people are young and poorly-educated. There is a dramatic lack of professionals and expertise, as the Khmer Rouge specifically targeted educated people.
The Khmer Empire ruled most of the region from the 11th to 14th century, leaving behind amazing architecture like Angor Wat. The French colonised Cambodia, and it was known as the Paris of the East. In the 1960s-1980s, one of the worst genocidal civil wars began. After political coups and with the Vietnam War next door, the Khmer Rouge took power and began systematically dismantling culture, infrastructure and families. Up to 3 million Cambodians are estimated to have died during the war and subsequent starvation. Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978, occupied the country for a while and peace efforts by 1991 led to a settlement and a somewhat stable government, excepting factional fighting, corruption and the occasional assassination.
Cambodia's economy was once largely agriculture, then relied on foreign aid. However, it is improving and diversifying with tourism and the garment industry growing rapidly. Rice, fish, timber, garments (lots of international brands made in Cambodian factories) and rubber are major exports.
Cambodia has major problems with landmines, child prostitution, rural poverty and corruption.
Great articles
Why is Everybody Going to Cambodia? - New York Times
Five (Cambodian) foods you should eat before you die
Great books
When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge (Chanrithy Him)
The King's Last Song - Geoff Ryman
Bones That Float: An adoptive mother's story of her adoption from Cambodia that led to setting up a school and more in her son's community.
Great websites
Tales of Asia
Khmer440 (note that this site includes offensive and satirical humor)
The Cambodian Genocide Project (Yale)
Other NGOs
Grady Grossman School: Cambodian-adoptive family's school in their child's community.
LICADHO: the leading human rights NGO in Cambodia
Chab Dai: Coalition of Christian anti-trafficking NGOs