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DID YOU KNOW...

-36% of the population of Cambodia lives below the national poverty line? 1

 

- 35% of Cambodian children age 6-14 do not attend school? 2

 

- 49% of Cambodian children who start school drop out before finishing grade 6? 2

 

The statistics are even more staggering in Poi Pet Commune, an area in northwestern Cambodia, along the Thai border. Over 60% of Poi Pet's inhabitants are economic migrants who have settled here in hope of making a living from cross-border trade or through work in Thailand.

 

The reality, though, is that economic opportunities for people with low levels of education, no skills, and no capital are limited. As a result, many adults are day laborers and struggle to provide for themselves and their families day-to-day.

 

CYCLE OF POVERTY

It's not uncommon for children to forego school to help support their families, either through work at home or on the border. Hundreds of children are at the border each day, pulling carts loaded with goods or people, smuggling clothes past customs officials, scaling fish in the Thai market, holding umbrellas, or begging from tourists. Engaging in such work makes these children vulnerable to human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

 

Equally important, they are deprived of the education that would otherwise enable them to improve their long-term livelihoods. Their families are trapped in the cycle of poverty.

 

poverty cycle

 

Carpets for Communities aims to empower families to break the poverty cycle. Learn more about our approach

1 UNDP Human Development Report 2003
2 Ministry of Planning CMDG Report 2003