Under the umbrella of Lighthouse, five programs are currently being implemented across three projects.
Programs
LIGHTHOUSE BATTAMBANG
We started in 2008 with four young people from rural areas who wanted to continue their education in the city of Battambang but had no place to live. Lukas Bernhardt opened his apartment and turned it into a shared living space—Lighthouse was born. The apartment soon became too small, and the project grew year by year. The Living Program was soon complemented by workshops that provided practical skills and economic know-how, which since 2025 have been called the Equipping Program. Later, the Learning Program was added, also for students from the surrounding areas. When the first generation of 12th-grade students passed their final exams and became interested in pursuing university studies, we launched the Training Program for students. Through the Serving Program, we reach families and individuals in the city of Battambang.
LIGHTHOUSE PURSAT
In the fall of 2018, we sent two young women to Pursat with the goal of enabling rural students, just like in Battambang, to complete their basic education. Full of enthusiasm and drive, they moved to Pursat. Although we welcomed only a single student into the program in the first year, they did not give up. Since then, Lighthouse Pursat has grown steadily. Today, the team offers the Living Program, Learning Program, and Training Program, supporting students and trainees in a holistic way. Through the Serving Program, staff regularly travel to villages around Pursat, visit the families of the Living Program students, and teach English to primary school children.
LIGHTHOUSE KAMPING PUOY
From the very beginning, it was important to Lukas and Somaly Bernhardt to invest in the villages where the families of the Living Program students from Battambang live. The first activities there included a children’s program and the so-called “cow project,” which supported farmers in achieving more sustainable and higher yields. Later, regular visits to the families of the students were added. In 2024, a fruitful collaboration began with the Salakeo Secondary School to encourage and equip 7th–9th grade students to pursue a solid basic education, which in Cambodia includes grades 10–12 (high school). Many students in Kamping Puoy drop out of school early – often due to economic pressure. Today, we offer the Learning Program, Training Program, Serving Program, and Equipping Program in Kamping Puoy.
LIVING PROGRAM
The Living Program supports high school students from rural areas who do not have access to a solid basic education. It provides them with a safe place to live, structured daily routines, shared activities, and personal mentoring. Through this, they develop strong social and personal skills and are given the best possible conditions to complete their schooling.
Living Program students are equipped to build healthy relationships with a wide range of people and positively influence their families and village communities.
LEARNING PROGRAM
The Learning Program offers young people educational opportunities and meaningful free-time activities. These include scholarships and additional classes such as biology, mathematics, languages, music, IT, sports, and creative arts. Through this, they are able to discover and develop their potential.
Learning Program students gain new perspectives for their future and are empowered to pursue their dreams with responsibility and courage.
TRAINING PROGRAM
The Training Program enables motivated and ambitious graduates of the Living Program to receive a university scholarship, gain practical work experience, and live in a family-like shared community. Within this environment, trainees receive both professional and personal coaching, with a strong focus on developing leadership skills.
Trainees grow into mature and resilient individuals who make a meaningful impact on Cambodian society.
SERVING PROGRAM
The Serving Program supports people in a holistic way through individual, personal mentoring and community activities. This is carried out through home visits, needs assessments of underprivileged families, awareness events, and open spaces for engaging with life and faith-related questions. Children, youth, and adults are able to connect with one another in an atmosphere of respect and trust.
Participants in the Serving Program are encouraged to develop awareness for peaceful coexistence, their relationship with God, themselves, and the environment.
EQUIPPING PROGRAM
The Equipping Program supports smallholder farmers, aspiring professionals, and entrepreneurs in generating a sustainable, livelihood-securing income. It provides practical skills and economic know-how and accompanies participants in their professional careers as well as their personal development.
Participants in the Equipping Program are empowered to break the cycle of poverty and contribute to the growth of Cambodia’s rural economy.
