Peace, Hope & Love: Davith's Story

Life in Rural Cambodia

When you think of childhood, you probably picture school days, messy snacks, and afternoons spent playing. But for many children in rural Cambodia, childhood feels very different. Poverty, unstable food supplies, and family struggles can pull children out of school and into cycles of hardship before they even have a chance to dream.

Yet even in a place where childhood feels fragile, peace can offer calm, hope can open doors, and love can change the ending.

Meet Davith, 9

Her cheerful smile is the heart of our Peace, Hope & Love: Gift Catalogue 2025/26. She comes from a rural village in Cambodia. And her dream is to be a doctor so she can help the children in her community. She hopes to be able to make a living and provide for her parents and siblings some day in the future.

But dreams can be hard to hold onto in the face of daily challenges.

Davith’s mother, Phann said, “What I always been thinking is about how hard it is that we don't have enough to eat. My children are still young. I would want my children to keep studying. If they are well educated and able to move forward in life, I'm happy for them. If they are unable to pursue forward, then we just stay the same.”

Davith’s parents does farming and labour works. Some months, there’s enough income. Other months, there’s almost nothing. Sometimes Davith’s parents had to go away to find work, and Davith had to go too, resulting in her missing school and being at the bottom of her class.

This isn’t uncommon. Many children living in rural areas of Cambodia share similar struggles:

• Unstable food security
• Lack of proper nutrition
• Missing school because of household responsibilities or financial stress
• Limited access to safe learning environments

What might have been a life of struggle and uncertainty for Davith is now touched by peace, hope, and love because of the steadfast support of our World Visions sponsors.

The Difference It Makes

Through World Vision’s Child Sponsorship programme, sponsors are helping Davith unlock her potential. Empowering and equipping her family and community to overcome challenges.

1. Better Nutrition & Health

To improve children’s health, parents are trained on children’s nutrition, healthcare and development, and their growth is monitored so that signs of malnutrition can be identified and treated early. Communities are also trained on hygiene and sanitation, and understanding the dangers of open defecation. Giving families the peace of mind as children are protected from preventable diseases so they can grow up well and healthy.

2. Well Equipped for Learning

To improve children’s education, community reading camps for children have been set up to improve literacy skills through songs, games and other activities. Local volunteers have been trained to run the centres and they are equipped with books and learning materials like posters, workbooks and pencils. Schools also received resources like a library and a playground, and teachers also get professional development training to hone their skills and also help boost their students’ learning. Igniting hope of a brighter future where there is no limits on what a child dreams to be.

3. A Safer, More Supportive Environment

To better protect children, adolescents have been part of Keeping Children Safe training and are sharing what they’ve learned about violence prevention, appropriate touch and gender equality with younger children through children’s groups, and advocating to community leaders on child protection. And Davith joins in the local Child, Adolescents and Youth (CAY) club to learn about child rights and life skills. Her parents have been part of Celebrating Families training workshops that encourages healthy relationships and positive parenting techniques. Bringing love into homes and nurturing every child to know their value and identity.

Davith added softly, “World Vision helps provide me with books, bicycle, pens... It makes me happy. With their help, I must study hard and pursue higher education. When I grow up, I will be able to make a living and provide for my parents and siblings.”

It doesn’t just change a moment in a child’s life. It changes their future. You can be that turning point for another child.

Sponsor a child or choose a gift that brings peace, hope, and love to children, families, and communities in Cambodia and beyond.