2025, A Year At Friends
As we move into 2026, let’s look back at just a few of the highlights of 2025, from the exciting to the challenging, at Friends-International. In January, we looked at how our FI programs...
Tagged: building futures
Building Futures (and hope) Through Skills Training
A positive outlook after troubled times in this story from Cambodia… Despite the welcome ceasefire, border tensions continue to affect communities across Cambodia. Many families (estimated at 500K persons) have left their homes for...
Market Stalls to School Desks: Rina’s Journey Back to School
At just 13 years old, Rina* has already carried responsibilities far beyond her years. As the eldest of four, she grew up in a family facing deep financial hardship. By the time she reached...
Sunee’s Journey!
Meet Sunee28-year-old mum Sunee* lives in the Klongtoei community of Bangkok with her three young children, ages eight, seven, and four. All of her kids attended school. Her husband unfortunately did not help with...
Canada Ensures Salon Successes
A cornerstone of Building Futures During its 30 Years of existence, training for employment has been a cornerstone of the ‘Building Futures’ work at Friends-International. Our vocational training has always developed with market needs...
A Graduate’s Story: Sambath’s Journey to Becoming a Chef
Starting Out *Sambath, an 18-year-old living with his family, faced a dilemma after high school. His parents, who were farmers, couldn’t afford to send him to university. Determined to continue his education, he decided...
New Future for a Single Mum
From dangerous work in the entertainment sector, to becoming a successful businesswoman with our support, this is Ut’s story…
A Royal Calling
*Myat Myat is a bright young woman who joined the LinkAge Vocational Training Program under Tha Ngae Chin Myar (Friends International Myanmar). She excelled in her cooking skills and was really hard working. She...
Led to Better Futures!
In March 2022, brothers *Ag Ag & *Zaw Zaw happened upon Tha Ngae Chin Myar, Friends International Myanmar (FIMM) when they followed a group of children bringing lunch boxes to the program center. Our...
A Family Again
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Rushed to the hospital for emergency care, 14 year old *Kimly’s life was on the line after going through repeated physical abuse by her stepmother. Her life was saved by...
From Recycling to Rebuilding
*Sandar, a 12-year old girl, had been experiencing the hardships of life since a very young age. Her family could barely afford their daily needs. She had to do her part in collecting plastic...
Rebelling against Poverty
As a young teenage lad, Jerry* was considered rebellious. He dropped out of school against his parents’ wishes and started spending more time outside with his friends. His parents were worried about him because...
A Bite of a Better Future
The ongoing crisis in Myanmar is not enough to block the cooking dreams of a young man. When Mon* had to stop his formal education, he pivoted and found his true vocation. He found...
Sewing Brighter Futures
Xieng Khouang province in Lao PDR is known to be the most heavily bombed place on Earth. This has taken a toll on the health of the Hmong people, an indigenous tribe who live...
