Creating Pathways Out of Poverty in Rural Cambodia
On the edge of Poipet, near the Cambodia–Thailand border, many families live in a place few people see—a rubbish dump community where entire families live in unstable housing, with no access to land, clean water or reliable income.
This community faces severe poverty, with families caught in cycles of domestic violence, gambling, child labour, and hopelessness. Children growing up here face stark futures; even with access to education, their job prospects often lead only to casinos, sweatshops, or street work.
But a different future is possible.
A Sustainable Way Forward
The Poipet Community Farm was created to offer families a real, sustainable pathway out of poverty. Located on a 5-hectare site outside the city, this land is transforming from a barren field into a thriving agricultural and residential hub.
The project will support up to 50 families to relocate from the rubbish dump and urban slums to a safer, more stable environment—away from the vulnerabilities of life on the dump. Each family will receive:
- Secure interim shelter in simple village-style housing
- Garden land for food production
- Access to clean water and year-round irrigation
- Training in agriculture, health & nutrition, food processing, and animal husbandry
- Ongoing mentorship and support
- Catch-up education for children and literacy for adults
- A safe, structured environment free from drugs, alcohol, and exploitation
Building Pathways Out of Poverty
The ‘Pathways Out of Poverty’ Project is a journey toward self-sufficiency. Families first learn to grow food in community gardens at the rubbish dump. Those ready to journey further relocate to a purpose-built farm, where they receive training in sustainable food production—including vegetables, fish, chickens, mushrooms, and more. The farm uses an agri-cycling model, where each food production activity supports the next. With ongoing support, families build confidence, earn income, and take steps toward a stable, independent future.
Project Impact
- Up to 50 families relocated from the rubbish dump community and urban slums, each with 5 or more children—helping over 250 plus children
- Restoration of connection to land and skills lost due to displacement
- Improved access to health, education, nutrition and employment
- Promotion of literacy, self-reliance and holistic wellbeing
- Creation of social enterprises (e.g. mushrooms, fruit processing, fish farming)
- Plans to form a cooperative and launch an organic market and restaurant in the city
Why This Matters
In Cambodia, more than 70% of the population lives on less than $3 a day, and 90% of the poor live in rural areas. Most rely on agriculture to survive, yet without access to land, opportunity to escape poverty is nearly impossible.
This project is about more than food—it’s about restoring hope, purpose, and independence. It’s about giving families trapped in crisis the chance to thrive.