Asia
Danmission has been active in Asia for more than 30 years. Our regional office in Phnom Penh supports partners in both Cambodia and Myanmar who advance dialogue, protect biodiversity, and support sustainable livelihoods.
Freedom of belief and interreligious dialogue
From our regional office in Cambodia, we partner with churches, faith-based organisations and civil society in Cambodia and Myanmar. Cambodia is officially a Buddhist country but also home to Christian and Muslim minorities. Although freedom of religion is enshrined in law, minority groups still face discrimination. The Christian church is young and fragile, with few congregations older than 30 years and strong dependence on foreign support.
Together with our partners, Danmission strengthens local churches and theological education so faith can be lived in ways that speak to local communities. We also work with faith-based actors and Cambodia’s Ministry of Cults and Religion to promote dialogue and defend freedom of belief.
In Myanmar, churches and faith-based organisations play a crucial role in communities suffering from armed conflict and poverty. Despite the challenges, our partners engage in dialogue, conflict resolution and social support – helping people hold onto hope in the midst of crisis.
Peace-building and psychosocial support
Both Cambodia and Myanmar are marked by deep social divisions. In Cambodia, decades of violence and genocide have left scars of mistrust. In Myanmar, people live under a brutal military regime, creating a massive humanitarian crisis and deepening ethnic and religious rifts.
Through our partners, Danmission trains community leaders, monks, priests, teachers and volunteers in conflict resolution, dialogue and psychosocial support. By creating safe spaces and empowering local civil society, we help communities resist violence, rebuild trust and work for democratic participation.
Protecting Cambodia’s rainforest
Climate change and resource exploitation are among the greatest challenges in Cambodia and Myanmar. Cambodia has one of the world’s highest rates of illegal deforestation, with grave consequences for nature and Indigenous Peoples whose lives and spirituality are tied to the forests. In Myanmar, floods, droughts and unsustainable use of land and forests drive poverty and marginalisation.
Danmission partners with local organisations and faith-based networks to promote fair and sustainable management of nature and climate. We support communities in protecting their access to land and resources and raise awareness about the importance of caring for the environment.
Danmission in Asia
- Danmission has worked in Cambodia since 1993 and in Myanmar since 2007.
- Our regional office is based in Phnom Penh, coordinating partnerships in both countries.
- We build bridges between people of different faiths and promote human rights, democracy, and peace.
- Together with our partners, we also work for the just and sustainable management of natural resources – amongst them the protection of Cambodia’s rainforest.
Where we work
Danmission works across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Denmark, with regional offices in Tanzania, Lebanon and Cambodia.
Our main programmes are implemented in close collaboration with local partners in Tanzania, Kenya, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Denmark. We also support smaller-scale initiatives through volunteers and networks in Bangladesh, India, Madagascar, and Pakistan.
See where we work
