Cambodia, China, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched a new partnership on Wednesday to improve quality, inclusive education, healthcare, nutrition, and hygiene services for Cambodia’s most vulnerable children.
According to a joint press release, the launch event was attended by Cambodia’s Minister of Health, Chheang Ra, China’s Ambassador to Cambodia, Wang Wenbin, and UNICEF Representative, Will Parks. The statement noted that this partnership will provide educational materials and resources to 10,000 teachers and 80,000 pre-primary and primary school students, including 600 children with disabilities.
Supported by China Aid, this initiative will also strengthen the capacity of 600 healthcare workers across 200 medical facilities and 800 Village Health Support Group members, enabling them to provide critical healthcare and nutrition services. In addition, essential hand hygiene supplies will be distributed to vulnerable households in flood-prone areas, addressing urgent gaps in access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.
Chinese Ambassador Wang Wenbin expressed hope that through this project, Cambodia’s most vulnerable children would feel the warmth and care of the Chinese people. “Children are the future of a country and a nation. We must work together to support their healthy growth,” Wang stated, emphasizing that children are not only the inheritors of the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia but also the future representatives of global development.Wang reaffirmed China’s commitment to working with Cambodia and relevant international organizations under the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to enhance support for education and healthcare in Cambodia’s most vulnerable communities.
UNICEF Representative Will Parks highlighted the critical role of this partnership in ensuring that every child, regardless of their background or circumstances, has the right to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.