JJoy Foundation is excited to partner with Volunteer Building Cambodia (VBC), a locally run, community-driven organization which helps poor Cambodian families improve their living conditions. Your donation will make a difference in communities in Siem Reap Province.

Our Current Campaign: 50 years of Life. 10 Homes of Hope.

In 2026, VBC Founder Sinn Meang turns 50. Instead of celebrating with gifts, parties, or personal milestones, Sinn is choosing to celebrate impact. He is transforming his 50th birthday into a powerful act of giving back — to his people, to families living in extreme poverty, and to communities still rebuilding after decades of hardship. This campaign will enable lasting change by building 10 safe homes equipped with sanitary latrines, clean water systems, solar power and essential household items.

Sinn's Story: From Survival to Service

Sinn’s life began on a floating house — fragile, shifting, and exposed to every storm. When he was just one year old, his father was killed by the Khmer Rouge, leaving his mother to raise three children alone in extreme hardship. The family’s bamboo-and-palm home leaked in the rain and offered little safety. Nights were long. Fear was constant.

School was never easy. Sinn walked for miles in the dry season and traveled by boat in the floods. Determined to keep learning, he lived in a Buddhist temple just to stay close to school. But poverty forced him to leave after Grade 6 to help his family survive. Later, working construction in Phnom Penh for just $1.25 a day, Sinn learned firsthand what it meant to live without security—and how life-changing a safe home could be.

Instead of turning away from his past, Sinn gained purpose. For the past 13 years, he has dedicated his life to building homes and restoring dignity through Volunteer Building Cambodia, guided by one simple belief:

“A secure home is more than shelter—it is the foundation for hope, education, and opportunity.”

Why Your Participation Matters

More than 75% of Cambodians live close to the poverty line, earning less than $3 per day. This population is concentrated in rural areas, where approximately 80% of families live in inadequate shelter. Life is not easy: more than 50% of those families lack access to basic sanitation facilities and 35% do not have access to safe drinking water. A lack of education and shortage of job opportunities make it difficult for families to improve their living situation without help.

Owning a safe and sturdy home does much more than just provide families with a dry place to sleep. Improved living conditions change lives, through better sanitation, increased security, better sleeping arrangements and healthier living. Adults do not need to spend time continually repairing dilapidated structures and can focus on making a living and raising their families. Being relieved of the burden of high rent means more money can be spent on quality food, health care and education. Children in secure homes are less likely to get sick and more likely to attend school. Overall, the house is the basis for families becoming more productive, healthier and happier, giving them the boost in life they need to continue on their journeys to self-sufficiency.

This 50th birthday campaign is the heart of Sinn’s journey—turning a personal milestone into a lasting legacy of hope, one family at a time.. Thank you for taking this step to join us by supporting this important work!

About VBC:

VBC helps to improve the lives of families by providing safe secure housing, sanitation facilities, water solutions and education. They accomplish this work through their Construction Program and the VBC Community Center.

Home Construction: VBC builds sturdy Khmer-style houses in rural areas in Siem Reap Province. The houses are 20m2 with concrete footings, wooden floors and a metal roof. They include one enclosed room and one room with open sides. The space underneath the house is often used as a daily living, cooking and storage area. A donation of $3000 will build an entire home.

Clean Water Solutions: A lack of clean drinking water is one of the most pressing issues facing Cambodians living in rural villages. Many families collect water for drinking, cooking and bathing from pools of standing water, streams or canals. The water is often contaminated with bacteria and pollutants. When funding and geography allow, VBC installs wells made with PVC piping with a concrete base. They are economical to operate and maintain. When a location is not appropriate for a well, families can be provided with a Bio-Sand Water Filter. A donation of $335 will install a well and cover the cost of a water filter.

Toilet Construction: VBC provides families with sanitary toilet facilities when land is available where a clean water supply will not be corrupted. Latrines are detached from the home and increase sanitation, reduce health risks and increase dignity. A donation of $320 will build a one room new toilet and $600 will build a two room outbuilding with separate spaces for the toilet and shower rooms.

Solar Panel Installation: VBC installs solar panels in order to help families reduce the costs of their eletricity, allowing them to spend more of their income on other necessities. In homes with solar power, children study more and families are more secure. The solar panel installed will power 2 lights and one ceiling fan. A donation of $260 will cover the cost of purchasing and installing a solar panel.

Learn more about VBC by visiting their website: https://www.volunteerbuildingcambodia.org

About JJoy Foundation

JJoy Foundation works to develop relationships with established organizations doing amazing work in their own communities within our focus areas of shelter, education and health. We create relationships which uphold the autonomy of our local partners, who define the needs and approach of each project. We increase the visibility and reach of these partners by raising awareness and funds within the US in support of their projects. We also, from time to time, facilitate volunteer teams who participate directly in this work.

Healthy Homes in Cambodia

JJoy Foundation in Partnership with Volunteer Building Cambodia