"In that brothel, I felt like I was in hell and would never escape. I thought I would die there, never to return home. I couldn’t believe I had become a sex worker. I felt so hopeless, so worthless, like I had no value. I was trapped in that brothel for an entire year."
— Client VNK
WHY WE EXIST
Daughters of Cambodia exists to provide a lifeline for sex workers seeking a way out. We never turn away anyone who comes to us looking for a new life. Our mission is to help them walk permanently free from the sex industry and experience holistic healing across every area of their lives.
UNDERSTAND COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
In Cambodia, commercial sexual exploitation has escalated over recent decades into a vast “industry” affecting children, young women, and men. Many complex factors trap young women in this life, making escape nearly impossible:
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Social stigma and lack of education leave few alternative job options.
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Trauma from sexual abuse destroys hope and self-worth, often leading victims to the sex industry.
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Family obligations lead some to feel they must support their families financially, even at great personal cost.
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Cultural beliefs instill a sense of sacrifice, with some believing that supporting their families might lead to a better reincarnation.
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Avoidance of shelters—many victims prefer not to live in shelters, wanting to maintain dignity, choice, and ties to their families and communities.
The young women who come to us do so voluntarily, seeking a true change. Daughters of Cambodia is not a shelter; we empower them to make independent, lasting transformations in their own lives. Each woman chooses where she wishes to live, with most opting to stay in the community to retain essential relationships and support networks.
Instead of fostering dependence, we work to build their inner strength and provide the external resources they need to create sustainable change within their social and cultural contexts. Our approach centers on empowering transformation that is internal, voluntary, and sustainable—not imposed.
OUR FIRM FOUNDATION
Our mission is inspired by the teachings of Jesus, who brings light and hope to the world. Isaiah 61:1-3 beautifully captures this calling: "The Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners....to comfort all who mourn...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." It is through Jesus' love and sacrifice that we are driven to do this work.
