Two Decades in Sihanoukville: Enfants de Klang Leu Marks 20 Years and Calls for Urgent Action on Children’s Health

As French-Cambodian NGO Enfants de Klang Leu (EKL) celebrates 20 years of service in Sihanoukville, the organization is issuing an urgent plea for partners to support a growing health crisis among vulnerable children and families in the Klang Leu community.

What began two decades ago as a modest effort by French and Cambodian volunteers building homes for local families has expanded into a crucial lifeline. Over 20 years, EKL has reached more than 1,300 people, assisted over 260 youth, and built deep-rooted community relationships. Today, the organization supports 60 children aged 3 to 20 and over 300 family members through its Day Care Centre 250 days a year.

“In 20 years, EKL has changed lives,” said Samrith Keo, President of EKL Cambodia. “Every success story reminds us why this work matters. We are deeply grateful to every one of our partners who have made this work possible.”

A healthy lunch shared at the Centre

A Proven Track Record of Impact

EKL’s daily operations focus on four core pillars:

  • Education: Provides 25 hours of weekly tutoring in Khmer, math, English, and computer science. In 2025, the NGO achieved zero dropouts and a 90% academic success rate—a major milestone in a region where children from vulnerable backgrounds frequently leave school early.DOCX+ 1
  • Health, Nutrition & Hygiene: Serves over 45,000 balanced meals annually, supported by EKL’s own vegetable garden, while running a daily infirmary and biannual medical check-ups.
  • Arts, Sports & Games: Delivers 800 hours of emotional and creative development activities every year through dance, singing, sports, and outings.
  • Family Support: Offers social support for parents coping with housing, employment, material poverty, and domestic challenges.

The long-term impact is felt deeply across generations. “Working with EKL has been an honour,” shared the grandmother of Sopha, a long-time beneficiary. “Seeing my eldest son go to university and graduate among the top ten in his class is our greatest pride.”

Khmer tutoring with Sopha, a former child welcomed at the Centre

Deepening Inequality and Urgent Health Needs

Despite 20 years of progress, rapid development and urbanization in Sihanoukville have deepened social inequalities, pushing marginal communities further to the sidelines. Lack of access to public healthcare has created a severe burden for families who cannot afford standard medical care.

Every day, EKL staff treat at least five children for minor injuries—ranging from infected mosquito bites and cuts from walking barefoot to untreated wounds and environmental skin conditions. More critically, recent months have seen parents lose children, and children lose parents, to preventable medical complications.

EKL is now calling on the government, health professionals, and stakeholders to intervene with free healthcare access, community health checks, preventive education, and routine vaccinations.

“Funding children’s healthcare is essential; it is how we make sure they grow up healthy, stay in school, and hold on to the chance of a future free from poverty,” stressed Fabienne Hankard, Vice-President of EKL Cambodia.

How To Support

EKL is actively seeking new collaborators, including corporate partners, medical volunteers (doctors and dentists), media platforms, and direct donors.

To learn more about getting involved, visit enfantsdeklangleu.org.

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