About Us | Your Life Matters

Mission and Vision

Rooted in the Christian faith, we strive to share God’s love through social and relief programs that strengthen people as they pursue their goals and cultivate lasting change, regardless of their religious background.

"A world where no one is left alone in suffering — where help, dignity, and opportunity await."

Our Goal

Through personalized assistance and emotional support, we strive to bring trust, love, and hope to children, young people, and families facing poverty and hardship, improving their quality of life and empowering them to develop skills and overcome life's challenges.

Our History

The roots of Your Life Matters lie in its predecessor organization, Kaleb e.V., Cambodia, which was founded in December 2004 by missionary Ingrid Willmann from Germany in response to God's call to Cambodia to serve in the area of mercy ministry. At the time, Cambodia’s population was still recovering from the trauma of the Khmer Rouge regime, facing severe challenges, including widespread poverty, a broken education system, a failing healthcare infrastructure, sexual exploitation, and a lack of resources for social and economic development. The devastation of the genocide left families and communities deeply scarred, with many children living in vulnerable conditions, forced into labor or abandoned.

In response, Ingrid Willmann, together with local staff, began the work with street children in Phnom Penh, developing key programs like shelter care, which evolved from overnight stays to full-day care, as well as the Reintegration and Family Support Programs. These activities aimed to provide healing and restoration to the children, while also addressing the root causes of child abandonment.

Over the years, we have continuously adapted our programs to better serve those suffering from homelessness including pregnant women, offering shelter care, safe deliveries, and support for their transition to independent living.

In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic marked a shift in our work. While continuing to serve our existing clients, we reduced new admissions for long-term assistance and introduced a one-off aid and development program in rural areas to offer support to those facing a crisis or urgent needs.

By 2025, as our client numbers has decreased, we transitioned from international to local registration in Cambodia under the name Your Life Matters, allowing us to continue empowering disadvantaged children, youth, and families. Although Cambodia has made significant economic progress, there are still widespread issues, including poverty, limited access to quality education, and inadequate food security, particularly in rural areas.

Financially, the project is supported by Kaleb e.V., Help for Cambodia, a fundraising organization in Germany. Through their unwavering commitment, they play a vital role in sustaining the ministry and its clients. We are truly grateful for their dedication, which has made this work possible and enabled us to continue serving those in need.

Our Values and Faith

Our Values

Our ministry with vulnerable children, youth, and families is guided by Christian values. We welcome staff from all backgrounds and faiths. While we respect each person’s personal faith, all team members are required to uphold and act according to our values in their work. Our values are as follows:

1. Compassion — We respond with empathy and practical care.
“He had compassion on them.” Matthew 9:36

2. Human Dignity — Every person is created in God’s image.
“God created mankind in His own image.” Genesis 1:27

3. Child Protection — Safeguarding every child.
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Psalm 82:3

4. Justice — Seek fairness and protection.
“Seek justice, defend the oppressed.” Isaiah 1:17

5. Love — God’s unconditional love motivates our actions toward children and families.
“Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

6. Hope — We offer encouragement and the belief that healing and transformation are possible.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.” Romans 15:13

7. Service — We serve others with humility, following the example of Christ.
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” Mark 10:43

8. Grace — We extend forgiveness, patience, and second chances.
“Be kind and compassionate… forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

9. Empowerment — We help children, youth, and families grow in confidence, resilience, and capability.
“Encourage one another and build each other up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

10. Hospitality — We provide safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental environments for all.
“Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.” Romans 15:7

11. Peacebuilding — We promote reconciliation, healthy relationships, and peaceful solutions.
“Blessed are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5:9

Faith Statement

We are a non-denominational Christian relief organization and welcome partnerships with all Bible-believing and nonsectarian churches. Our statement of faith is as follows:

1. The Bible — We believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God, serving as the ultimate guide for faith and life.

2. God — We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3. Jesus Christ — We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

4. Salvation — We believe that salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ, and that all who trust in Him are forgiven and receive eternal life.

5. The Holy Spirit — We believe the Holy Spirit indwells believers, guiding, empowering, and transforming lives to reflect Christ.

6. The Church — We believe the Church is the body of Christ, called to worship, serve, and proclaim the gospel to all people.

7. Christian Living — We believe followers of Christ are called to live lives of obedience, love, compassion, and integrity, demonstrating God’s love in word and deed.

Our Leaders

Drawing on our many years of experience working with Kaleb e.V. in Cambodia, I am delighted that, through the localization of the project under the name Your Life Matters, we are able to continue standing beside children, young people, and families in their most challenging moments. Having witnessed firsthand how consistent care, guidance, and encouragement can transform lives, we remain committed to supporting individuals on their journey toward growth, resilience, and hope. Our work extends beyond addressing immediate needs. We are dedicated to creating an environment where healthy development, life skills, and professional opportunities can flourish, and where services genuinely respond to the realities of those we support. While a significant portion of our work focuses on providing long-term support to former clients, we are increasingly offering project-based and one-off assistance to others in need, ensuring that our resources bring meaningful and positive changes to people in rural areas where poverty is most severe. We envision Your Life Matters as a place where every individual feels supported, valued, and empowered — a space where they can discover their strengths, grow with confidence, and contribute to a better society. Together with our partners, donors, and communities, we will continue working to create lasting opportunities, strengthen resilience, and foster brighter futures for all those we serve.

Best Regards,
Heang Khaylay
Your Life Matters
Director

Cambodia has endured immense trauma, particularly during the violent Pol Pot period, and the effects of this history are still deeply felt today. Helping people move forward and build better lives is both possible and rewarding, though not always easy. At Your Life Matters, we approach this work with dedication, patience, and genuine care. Our commitment is grounded in love and respect for the Cambodian people, and we are inspired every day by their resilience, courage, and hope. As the advisor of Your Life Matters, I strive to provide guidance, encouragement, and support to the team, helping ensure that our programs are effective, compassionate, and responsive to the real needs of children, young people, and families. I do this from Germany through weekly team meetings, phone calls, and messages via WhatsApp. I also work to ensure that good practices are maintained, especially in areas such as child protection and financial management. It is a privilege to contribute to this mission, and I am inspired every day by the commitment of our staff and the perseverance of those we serve.

Ingrid Willmann
Your Life Matters
Advisor