Offering young people living in disadvantaged circumstances in Cambodia the opportunity to study and working with them to reduce the mountain of plastic waste. This is Chikara Cambodia’s mission. We believe that a cleaner world starts with education and awareness. This is why we give study grants, run environmental workshops and work on the collection and recycling of plastic waste.
about chikara
Cambodia is a very low-income country whose young people are highly engaged. About 45% of its inhabitants are below 24 years old. These young people want nothing other than having a good education. But many do not have the financial means for this. Chikara Cambodia believes that education is essential for the country’s sustainable development. This is why we support a group of disadvantaged, talented young people through grants, study counselling and work experience projects in the field of sustainability and the environment.
Anyone walking in the countryside in Cambodia will see plastic waste everywhere. The waste is harmful for humans and nature, but a lot of people are not aware of this. The Chikara Cambodia students raise awareness through workshops at schools. In doing this, they encourage the children to collect the plastic waste. We recycle it and turn it into educational materials. This closes the plastic loop.
What we already achieved
Chikara Cambodia was founded by Carina van Silfhout and Giel Hagelaar in 2019. About 15 administrators and volunteers joined them. We celebrated our first five-year jubilee in 2024.
In 2022-2024, 25 primary schools in the Siem Reap region had workshops about the environment, hygiene and plastic waste. These were given by our students on grants.
Not only do we reach the school children in the workshops, we also reach their communities. This means that we raise awareness about the environment among more than 10,000 people in Cambodia every year.
This is why Chikara Cambodia proudly works with partners in Cambodia and the Netherlands.
We can only achieve a cleaner Cambodia with the help of many people. Do you also want to sponsor a student? Or help us move our environmental project a step further? Then support us with a one-time donation, a monthly donation, or hands-on help. Contact us to see what you can do.
Are you interested in knowing how things are going with Chikara, or want to know the projects we are working on, and how our students are developing? Subscribe to our newsletter! You will only receive an email twice a year.
