A Promise Kept

As a valued supporter of AusCam Freedom Project, you should know what steps we are taking to ensure the safety of our girls, families and staff in Cambodia. Even during this challenging time, the girls wanted to extend their thoughts and best wishes to each one of you, because helping each other in this global community is critical right now.

Factors that leave girls vulnerable to trafficking are compounded during times of crisis. Our team has worked hard to create a plan that keeps everyone safe – safe from COVID-19 and safe from exploitation. 
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While we keep fighting for the freedom of girls in Cambodia, here are some things we’re putting in place to ensure that we all remain healthy enough to pursue our mission.

• Our social workers will continue their case management and support our most vulnerable girls.    
• Preventative hygiene measures have been increased at our offices in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and we will remain open for girls and families if they need support. And we’ve enhanced what can be done remotely either via phone and online communication.
• Our staff has been split into 2 teams; one team will work in the office (distanced) and the other team will work from home and alternate weekly. This will reduce our risk of losing staff capacity in the case a staff member becomes infected. This could change in the near future. 
• We're establishing creative ways to interact with the girls via online learning platforms such as setting up Facebook groups for our life skills, career counselling, girls clubs, and university girls.
• Pandemic officers will contact staff daily with any COVID-19 updates, even if it’s just to provide encouragement and a feeling of connectedness.
  
  

For us, the impact of COVID-19 is compounded by the existing vulnerable situations our girls face every day. Parents are at risk of losing their jobs, unable to pay their debts and putting pressure on girls to find ways to make money. This is the sort of vulnerability that traffickers prey upon, so AusCam is needed more than ever right now. 

We have promised safety and a protected future to the girls in Cambodia and that is a promise we intend to keep. 

Thank you for standing with us. If you'd like to help from where you are, please contact jessie@auscamfreedomproject.org. 

From all of us at 
AusCam Freedom Project