The Situation

Across Cambodia, children with disabilities face significant barriers to mobility, safety, inclusion, and education. Families - particularly those in rural and impoverished villages, have no access to therapy, specialised equipment, or the knowledge needed to support children with physical or intellectual disabilities. Without these supports, many children miss out on schooling, community participation, and basic developmental opportunities, leaving them isolated, at risk and often abandoned.

In 2025, a visiting team of Australian therapists identified an urgent need for sustainable disability support within Sunrise Cambodia and surrounding villages. Sunrise Cambodia provides residential care for children who have experienced trauma, poverty, and neglect, and supports more than 400 disadvantaged children from neighbouring villages each day. Among them are many children with disabilities who require safe equipment, specialised intervention, and consistent support to participate in everyday life.

However, disability-specific services in Cambodia remain extremely limited. Suitable equipment is rare, often unsafe, or quickly becomes unusable without trained staff to fit, adapt, or maintain it. As a result, children with disabilities continue to be excluded from school, community life, and opportunities for independence; unable to reach their full potential without targeted, long-term support

The Objectives

Sunrise Ability Cambodia is a disability support project led by experienced Australian therapists who travel to Cambodia each year to provide hands-on therapy, deliver essential equipment, and work directly with caregivers and community members. Between visits, the team provides ongoing mentoring and support through remote training and consultation, ensuring continuity of care and building local capacity year-round. The project will:

• Provide therapy and disability support

Deliver hands-on Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech Pathology to children with physical and intellectual disabilities, supporting mobility, communication, participation, and daily living.

• Supply and adapt safe, appropriate equipment

Source, fit, repair, and adapt mobility, seating, communication, and self-care equipment to improve safety, independence, and access to education. Wherever possible, reuse and modify existing resources to reduce waste and maximise impact.

• Build local capacity for long-term sustainability

Train Sunrise caregivers, teachers, staff, and local community members in therapy strategies, trauma-informed care, safe equipment use, and basic maintenance skills so children can be supported confidently long after visiting teams return home each year.

• Strengthen inclusion in schools and communities

Support children to attend school safely, participate in daily activities, and engage with friends. Work with local leaders, community groups, and schools to promote inclusive attitudes and accessible environments.

• Provide outreach to surrounding villages

Conduct community-based clinics to identify and support children and young people who have never had access to equipment or therapy, bridging the gap for families living in extreme poverty.

• Establish a sustainable long-term partnership

Work collaboratively with Sunrise Cambodia to deliver a program that is culturally respectful, responsive to community needs, and grounded in accountability and long-term community empowerment.