"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. Our mission is to help them walk permanently free from the sex industry and experience holistic healing across every area of their lives. We recognize that sex-exploitation is a violation of their human rights, is not God's design for them, and is destructive to every area of their lives, psychologically, socially, physically and spiritually.
UNDERSTAND COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
In Cambodia, commercial sexual exploitation has escalated over recent decades into a vast “industry” affecting children, young women, and young men. Many complex factors trap young people 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 to support their families financially, even at great personal cost.
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Cultural beliefs that making a sacrifice of your life to support your family will 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 people who come to Daughters from the sex industry do so voluntarily, because they are looking for change. Daughters of Cambodia does not run a shelter; we provide jobs, and capacity building, teaching them how to bring about transformation in their lives. So, instead of fostering institutional dependence, they live in the community and retain family and community relationships whilst learning a new mindset and skills to create sustainable change within their social and cultural contexts. Our approach centres on empowering them to experience transformation that is internal, voluntary, and sustainable—not imposed. Our social work team secure safe housing for those needing safety.
OUR FOUNDATION
The catalyst for our mission is the gospel of Jesus Christ, who offers life and hope to the world.
Isaiah 61:1-3 is one bible passage that is integral to our mission: "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."
Jesus' love, grace and transformational power is the reason behind our mission for this work.
