The Library Project first started working in Cambodia in 2015, donating two Reading Rooms to rural elementary schools. These initial libraries offered thousands of high-quality, age-appropriate books, comfortable furniture, and dedicated spaces that encouraged children to read daily. Both Reading Rooms are still in use today, serving the 800 students they were meant to support.

Today, our work in Cambodia has grown through a strong local partnership with Friends International, a nonprofit organization that supports children facing significant barriers to education. Our work focuses on helping children develop the foundational reading skills needed to stay in school or re-enter formal education. Support classes and remedial reading programs offer additional time, resources, and guidance for students who struggle with early literacy. Parents and caregivers actively participate, helping to ensure progress continues at home and in the community.

Our focus is on children and youth from marginalized or vulnerable backgrounds, including those living or working on the streets, young migrants, students affected by HIV or emergencies, and those who are out of school or unemployed. Our approach is holistic. We do not support children in isolation; instead, we work closely with families, communities, and local organizations to create safe, supportive environments where every child has the opportunity to read, learn, and thrive.

By working through local partners rather than establishing large field offices, The Library Project keeps operating costs low and directs more donor funding into programs that benefit children, teachers, and families. This partnership model ensures resources are focused where they matter most: providing books, building libraries, training educators, and supporting parents at home. Our partners also benefit from more than twenty years of experience, including operational support, program monitoring and evaluation, and access to international fundraising capacity that is often costly for smaller organizations to develop. Together, we reach more communities, strengthen local literacy ecosystems, and create lasting change for children around the world.