Cambodian Children's Trust
| Cambodian Children's Trust | |
|---|---|
| Alternative names | CCT |
| Type | Cambodia aid |
| Focus areas | Child protection; family-based care; community-led social protection (the Village Hive) |
| Subjects | Community & Civic Life |
| City | Battambang |
| Country | Cambodia |
| Cambodia operating location | Battambang |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Website | Website |
| Donation | Donation |
| Impact geography | Battambang District, Cambodia |
| Operating status | active |
Cambodian Children's Trust (CCT) is a Khmer-led child protection organization based in Battambang, Cambodia. It works to keep children safe with their families and prevent crises through community-run social protection, and it pioneered the Village Hive model that the Cambodian government adopted as its national framework for social protection in 2025. (Better Care Network, Cambodian Children's Trust; Cambodian Children's Trust, About; Cambodian Children's Trust, home page)
History
Pon Jedtha and Tara Winkler established CCT in 2007 to help 14 children leave an abusive orphanage in Battambang. CCT first ran as an orphanage itself. When it became clear the children were not orphans but came from poor families, it began reuniting them with their families, and by 2012 it had become the first organization in Cambodia to turn an orphanage into a family-based care model. (Cambodian Children's Trust, About; Better Care Network, Cambodian Children's Trust)
In 2013 CCT set up Jaan Bai ("rice bowl" in Khmer), a social enterprise restaurant that employs Cambodian youth in a profit-share arrangement; 51 percent of its profits support the Village Hive. CCT launched the Village Hive in 2019. (Better Care Network, Cambodian Children's Trust; Cambodian Children's Trust, About)
On June 26, 2025, in Phnom Penh, the Village Hive was formally adopted as Cambodia's national framework for social protection. CCT received the 2025 ASEAN Outstanding Social Welfare and Development Award, on the nomination of Cambodia's Ministry of Social Affairs. (Cambodian Children's Trust, The Village Hive; Cambodian Children's Trust, About; Cambodian Children's Trust, home page)
The Village Hive
The Village Hive brings local government, public services and community networks together in one hub focused on prevention and early intervention, covering education, health and social work. The Battambang District pilot, first launched in 2022, aims to build one Village Hive in each of the district's ten communes (62 villages). CCT's goal is ten Village Hives across Battambang District by 2032, and its current appeal is for a fourth, in Preaek Preah Sdach Commune. (Cambodian Children's Trust, The Village Hive; Cambodian Children's Trust, Donate)
Better Care Network reports that CCT's model reaches 104 villages. (Better Care Network, Cambodian Children's Trust)
Supporting the organization
- Donations: through CCT's donation page, which also offers fundraisers, gifts in someone's name and gifts in a will (Cambodian Children's Trust, Donate)
- Australia: Cambodian Children's Trust Australia, a registered charity (ABN 83158383558), provides financial and organizational support to CCT (Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, Cambodian Children's Trust Australia)
- United States: The Hope Effect, a 501(c)(3) organization, accepts donations directed to CCT (The Hope Effect, Donate to Cambodian Children's Trust)
- Phone (Australia): 1300 664 799 (Cambodian Children's Trust, Contact; Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, Cambodian Children's Trust Australia)
- Website: Cambodian Children's Trust, home page
People
People the sources name in connection with CCT: (Cambodian Children's Trust, About)
- Pon Jedtha, co-founder (Cambodian Children's Trust, About)
- Tara Winkler, co-founder (Cambodian Children's Trust, About; Cambodian Children's Trust, Donate)
See also
Sources
- Better Care Network, Cambodian Children's Trust
- Cambodian Children's Trust, About
- Cambodian Children's Trust, home page
- Cambodian Children's Trust, The Village Hive
- Cambodian Children's Trust, Donate
- Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, Cambodian Children's Trust Australia
- The Hope Effect, Donate to Cambodian Children's Trust
- Cambodian Children's Trust, Contact