World Vision - Cambodia

History

World Vision first entered Cambodia in 1970 in response to the government of Cambodia’s international appeals for assistance. World Vision International President Dr. Stan Mooneyham led a convoy of trucks carrying $100,000 worth of medicine and supplies from Saigon to Phnom Penh. World Vision stayed in Cambodia and, in the following five years, carried out various relief and development activities. This included building the National Pediatric Hospital, constructing schools, sponsoring children, building housing units for refugees, remodeling and staffing medical clinics, conducting emergency feeding and distribution programs for refugees and holding leadership-training seminars for the Khmer Evangelical Church. During this time, Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge forces continued to widen their control over the countryside. Refugees flooded into Phnom Penh seeking shelter and protection. In April 1975, World Vision conducted Operation Lovelift, transporting food into the capital city from Bangkok and Los Angeles. Phnom Penh needed 750 tons of food each day to support its surging population. Cambodian and expatriate staff continued to serve until the siege of Phnom Penh by the Khmer Rouge in April 1975. Subsequently, all expatriates and several national staff member were evacuated. All WV programmes ended. The Deputy Director of World Vision in Cambodia, Minh Tien Voan, elected to stay and was later killed. In 1979 World Vision re-entered Cambodia with the Vietnamese overthrow of the Khmer Rouge. Only three of the original 270 World Vision staff members survived the genocidal Khmer Rouge reign. The initial focus of World Vision's return to Cambodia included meeting emergency needs, assisting in restoring social services, rehabilitating the food producing sectors of the economy and restoring the National Pediatric Hospital which had been used as a torture and execution center for political prisoners by the Khmer Rouge.

Mission

To follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God

Vision

Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so.