Generational Trauma
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From the 'Jewel of Asia' to the Fields of SorrowThat changed drastically under the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979). In just four years, cities were evacuated, and over 3 million people—more than a quarter of the population—were lost to genocide. Families were torn apart, infrastructure was destroyed, and an entire generation of educated leaders, artists, and professionals was wiped out.
The Lingering ShadowToday, Cambodia is rebuilding. Foreign investment has brought development to the cities, but deep brokenness remains in the heart of the nation. While the country is primarily Buddhist, the scars of history are visible in widespread poverty, high rates of trafficking, and the generational trauma left by the Khmer Rouge.
But Hope is RisingYet, God is moving. Despite the darkness of the past, there are amazing people and organizations in Cambodia partnering with the powerful and restorative work of Jesus.
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Partners in Hope:
The organizations and ministries we work with to offer discipleship and development to those in greatest need.
Hard Places Community (HPC)Aaron and Megan are core members of the HPC expat team; Aaron leads THRIVE discipleship groups.
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Hope International SchoolMegan teaches high school IB-level business courses.
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Worthy & TrueMegan is the COO, supporting the vision of high level education for every child in Cambodia
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Hard Places Community (HPC) is an NGO dedicated to bringing hope to the hopeless in the darkest corners of the world. As a family, we are honored to partner with their vision to fight the sex tourism industry and advocate for restorative justice. HPC currently has two centers in Cambodia, one in Madagascar, and one starting in Bali.
HPC operates children’s centers, a men’s center, and a training restaurant right here in Cambodia. What makes their model powerful is that they hire locals and train them as social workers, many of whom are survivors of the very programs they now lead. These amazing men and women are the front line in the fight against trafficking.
Our Role: Pastoral Care & Leadership Aaron and Megan support HPC’s existing programs by providing administrative expertise and deep pastoral care for the national Khmer staff. We believe that the best way to help the children is to pour into the leaders.
The THRIVE Mentor Community Out of this desire to support the staff, Aaron co-founded THRIVE in 2022—a mentor-based community that invites Khmer leaders to journey into deep emotional and spiritual places with God.
What started as a small group of eleven young people has grown into a movement of healing. Over the last three years, THRIVE has expanded from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, to Madagascar, leading staff through curriculum focused on identity, forgiveness, and belonging. This growth has even birthed new initiatives like DIVE, a specialized program launched in 2024 tailored for girls on the streets of Phnom Penh, aged 12–14, who are at high risk of trafficking. Now finishing its second year, DIVE is already making a critical impact in protecting the next generation.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Future The impact continues to grow. From international retreats to weekly staff devotions, the heartbeat of THRIVE is transforming the culture of HPC. As we look forward, our vision is to expand THRIVE beyond the staff to serve the young adults graduating from our youth programs. We want to ensure that as these young men and women step into adulthood, they have a "family" of mentors and a safe community to belong to, empowering them to break the cycle of trauma for good. We also have opportunities to partner with other NGO's by offering our experience and through the development of discipleship resources for khmer.
HPC operates children’s centers, a men’s center, and a training restaurant right here in Cambodia. What makes their model powerful is that they hire locals and train them as social workers, many of whom are survivors of the very programs they now lead. These amazing men and women are the front line in the fight against trafficking.
Our Role: Pastoral Care & Leadership Aaron and Megan support HPC’s existing programs by providing administrative expertise and deep pastoral care for the national Khmer staff. We believe that the best way to help the children is to pour into the leaders.
The THRIVE Mentor Community Out of this desire to support the staff, Aaron co-founded THRIVE in 2022—a mentor-based community that invites Khmer leaders to journey into deep emotional and spiritual places with God.
What started as a small group of eleven young people has grown into a movement of healing. Over the last three years, THRIVE has expanded from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, to Madagascar, leading staff through curriculum focused on identity, forgiveness, and belonging. This growth has even birthed new initiatives like DIVE, a specialized program launched in 2024 tailored for girls on the streets of Phnom Penh, aged 12–14, who are at high risk of trafficking. Now finishing its second year, DIVE is already making a critical impact in protecting the next generation.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Future The impact continues to grow. From international retreats to weekly staff devotions, the heartbeat of THRIVE is transforming the culture of HPC. As we look forward, our vision is to expand THRIVE beyond the staff to serve the young adults graduating from our youth programs. We want to ensure that as these young men and women step into adulthood, they have a "family" of mentors and a safe community to belong to, empowering them to break the cycle of trauma for good. We also have opportunities to partner with other NGO's by offering our experience and through the development of discipleship resources for khmer.
Hope offers both primary and secondary education with the mission of supporting families doing development and outreach in Cambodia. Harper, Ember, and Judah, have all attended Hope. Currently Ember is home-schooling, but Harper and Judah love going to school every day. Hope has an incredible community of families that fosters growth and learning. We are so thankful for all of the kids' teachers.
Megan worked for our first two years in Cambodia as the board secretary and PA to the Director. Megan went back to Hope in September of 2022 in a new role as lead staff recruiter. Megan helped bring in and develop a strong staff culture that empowers the institutions mission. Megan started teaching high school geography part time in fall of 2023, and transitioned to full time teaching high-school in 2024.
Megan worked for our first two years in Cambodia as the board secretary and PA to the Director. Megan went back to Hope in September of 2022 in a new role as lead staff recruiter. Megan helped bring in and develop a strong staff culture that empowers the institutions mission. Megan started teaching high school geography part time in fall of 2023, and transitioned to full time teaching high-school in 2024.
In March of 2022, through much prayer, Aaron and Chhoengka felt this was the year to start THRIVE; a mentor-based small-group community that invites Khmer to journey into deep emotional and spiritual places with God and each other. We created curriculum, shared the vision, and accepted eleven young people to join small groups.
We launched in September with a three day retreat. Some connected with God in new ways. Some found forgiveness. Some found breakthrough. Many are working through healing emotional wounds. All came away excited for the rest of the year, ready to do the work to go deep and grow. We started meeting weekly in our small groups, which continued through May of 2023. We launched our second year of groups in September of 2023 add two groups in Siem Reap as well as the groups in Phnom Penh.
In summer 2024 we did our first international retreat in Madagascar. In fall 2024 we launched a new era of THRIVE with our 'We are Family Retreat' and over 55 HPC staff. This extended into weekly devotions with every department of HPC.
We launched in September with a three day retreat. Some connected with God in new ways. Some found forgiveness. Some found breakthrough. Many are working through healing emotional wounds. All came away excited for the rest of the year, ready to do the work to go deep and grow. We started meeting weekly in our small groups, which continued through May of 2023. We launched our second year of groups in September of 2023 add two groups in Siem Reap as well as the groups in Phnom Penh.
In summer 2024 we did our first international retreat in Madagascar. In fall 2024 we launched a new era of THRIVE with our 'We are Family Retreat' and over 55 HPC staff. This extended into weekly devotions with every department of HPC.