Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity

Kandal Province, Cambodia
In partnership with the Children's Surgical Centre

CASC, formed in March 2006 by its partner organization, the Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), is the only organization in Cambodia working with survivors of acid attacks.

The organisation uses a holistic approach, providing acid burn survivors with extensive support and skills training.

Acid attacks are a pre-meditated form of violence that leave survivors physically, socially and emotionally scarred. To limit accidental acid burns CASC promotes education and awareness in safe handling and storage of acid.

At a national level CASC works to eradicate acid violence through public awareness and prevention campaigns, and by encouraging the establishment of strict regulations to limit acid availability and the enactment of legislation which would classify acid violence as a public, criminal offence.

Additionally, CASC is constantly working towards expanding its notification and referral networks with local health care providers, community leaders, the media, and the local government.

The four petals in the CASC logo reflect the charity’s main areas of focus:

Surgical, medical, and psychological treatment;
Vocational training and social reintegration projects;
Legal assistance and advocacy for legal reform;
Awareness raising, research, education and advocacy to eliminate acid violence.

Since 1999 CSC and CASC have provided acute burn surgery, treatment and supportive services to a total of 256 acid burn survivors on the CASC register.

In 2010, the organisation relocated to a new one hectare site in Kandal Province, south of Phnom Penh. In this rural setting CASC is developing an agricultural program to assist in the transfer of practical agricultural skills to survivors of acid burns with the aim of empowering survivors with a source of sustainable income.

For more information on CASC's amazing work, please click here.