One of Siem Reap’s favourite women’s organisation, the Women’s Resource Centre, is aiming for a lofty $4,000 fundraising target for April.

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The organization launched its video, In Her Cambodian Shoes, at International Women’s Day back in March at a Victoria Hotel reception attended by over 100 local ladies, and a few gents too. 

The video, which showed Siem Reap girls and women highlighting the work done by the WRC in assisting and advising local women, set the tone for the organisation’s April Global Giving Open Challenge campaign.

Global Giving is a donation website which allows donors world-wide to give to their favourite organisations without the hassle of international transfers.

If the WRC reaches its $4,000 target by the end of April, it will be permanently listed on the site for free.

“Being on Global Giving means WRC can have access to a pool of people who are interested in giving to a project and organization like ours, but just couldn’t find a way to connect with us,” explains Sally Douglas, WRC advisor. “Global Giving is an amazing platform offering opportunity to network further and wider.”

As well as going viral with its video, WRC has also been asking supporters to hold their own fundraisers for the campaign.

Sally returned to her native Australia where her High Tea in Melbourne raised $1,500, ensuring WRC is well on target for its April 30 deadline.

While the Global Giving campaign will raise its profile overseas, Sally says the staff at the WRC are spurred on by “fantastic” support at home with huge turnouts at events and monthly Warehouse table quizzes.

For Pisey Khim, centre manager for the WRC, the cause is critical.

“We function primarily as a drop-in centre that offers free referrals to the many services available to women and direct them to the organization best suited their needs. We provide and inform women about health education, legal aid, Parents Talk and mental health counseling support.”

With its April target almost reached, Sally says the organisation’s eventual target, to provide 384 women and girls with relevant education, will need $9,200 to succeed.

But with renewed local support, and secured access to international donors, the future’s looking a little brighter for the women of Siem Reap.