Since 2001, TASK has helped Cambodian communities care for over 1000 children affected and orphaned by AIDS, sparking a youth movement that has become a separate entity called Big Brothers and Sisters of Cambodia. The project is fully managed and led by Cambodians and assists children to stay in their communities (not in an orphanage) by supporting orphans and their extended family through school fees, small business loans, medical care, life skills training, income generation projects, grief counselling and mentoring.

At a fraction of the cost of supporting a child in an orphanage, TASK is able to support a grandmother (or aunt or uncle for example) who would otherwise be unable to care for their orphaned relatives. In other cases, where the oldest child is in their late teenage years, they work with the community and extended family to support them as a “teen-headed household”. When there is no extended family available, they recruit Cambodian families of good character as adoptive parents.

A study of children in families affected by HIV/AIDS found that 40% of these children have had to leave school and forego necessities such as food and clothing. TASK works to ensure that all orphans can attend school and get an education, by paying school fees and training Big Brothers and Sisters to check homework and encourage the orphans in their studies.

Now that some of the orphans have reached university age and wish to continue their studies and obtain degrees, thus breaking the cycle of poverty and lifting themselves and their families out of the slums. ALMT supported TASK in providing university scholarships for at least 11 students. The breakdown is as follows: each student requires approximately £450 per year for university fees, books and materials. £50 per year will assist with administrative costs of the project. Any remaining funds will be used to provide more sponsorships.