Our work

Today, our mission is centered on transforming lives through education. TAFC Scholars are enrolled at leading Cambodian institutions, including the Royal University of Phnom Penh, Build Bright University, ACLEDA University, and Phsar Daeum Thkov High School. By pursuing studies in law, finance and banking, education, and Khmer literacy, these students are gaining the tools to break cycles of poverty, support their families, and become leaders in their communities.

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Our history

For more than 20 years, The Assistance Fund of Cambodia has been committed to breaking the cycle of poverty and illness for families in need. TAFC was founded on a straightforward premise: a child's health should not determine the limits of their future. In the early years, our work centered on essential medical care and surgeries for children born with cleft lip and palate. Working alongside partners including Operation Smile, All Ears Cambodia and others, we covered the cost of treatments, surgeries, and follow-up care that families could not afford on their own.

Over time, we saw another significant barrier facing young people across Cambodia: the cost of continuing their education. In response, we expanded our mission to fund higher education, covering tuition and related costs for students pursuing trade school and university degrees across Cambodia. Today, education funding is our primary focus, and it represents the same goal we started with, interrupting the cycle of poverty. We continue to respond to urgent medical needs as they arise, staying connected to the work that built this organization.

TAFC impact since 2006

Transported over 200 children from rural villages to hospitals for cleft lip and pallet surgery.

Cleft lip surgery

Helped 20+ children facing significant health challenges receive the care, medications, and supportive environment they needed to thrive.

Essential medical care

Sponsored students through graduation with degrees in fields such as accounting, pharmacy, teaching, and business.

Educational support

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A smiling woman in a pink shirt and gray pants holding a book stands on a dirt path in a lush green outdoor setting.

Past students

A young woman wearing a white coat and beige pants stands indoors in front of kitchen shelves filled with various food products and cleaning supplies. She is smiling softly and wearing polka dot slippers. A metal ladder is visible behind her, and a potted plant is on her right.

Srey Pov

After high school, TAFC helped Srey enter an intensive hospitality training and English immersion program, equipping her with skills that created real economic opportunity. Today, she is an assistant manager at one of Phnom Penh’s leading riverside restaurants, building a successful career in Cambodia’s growing hospitality industry and supporting a brighter future for herself and her family.

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Chhea

Chhea grew up in a family facing poverty. With educational and housing support, she completed high school, attended trade school, and secured employment. Today, she is raising her own family and building a brighter future for the next generation. Watch her inspiring journey in this video.

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Kosal

With the financial and housing support of TAFC, Kosal was able to pursue a degree that would have otherwise been out of reach. She graduated from pharmacy school and today works as a pharmacist for Cambodia’s largest retail pharmacy chain. She has achieved financial independence and is creating new opportunities not only for herself, but for her family’s future as well.