The Heart Behind the Mushroom Project

I believe deeply in empowering women to shape their own futures—financially, emotionally, and in every way that matters. When women thrive, families thrive. Communities thrive. That belief is what led me to partner with World Hope International to support women and families in Cambodia through the Mushroom Project.

This work didn’t start overnight. It’s been growing in my heart for years.

Why the Mushroom Project Matters to Me

Back in 2003, while I was a 21-year-old college student living a comfortable, middle-class life, I learned about the civil war in Uganda. Children were being torn from their families and forced into life as child soldiers. I was half a world away, but my heart couldn’t look away.

That moment changed me.

There have been many moments like that—times when I felt called to do more, even when I wasn’t sure how yet. Last year, I felt that familiar nudge again. Simple Green Smoothies has been a gift to my family and our team. It allowed us to work from home, provide for our families, and raise healthy kids. It changed our story. And once your life changes, it’s natural to want that same opportunity for others.

How the Mushroom Project Supports Families in Cambodia

In rural Cambodia, poverty forces many parents to leave their villages to find work in neighboring countries. Too often, that migration leads to unsafe conditions, exploitation, and broken promises—all endured for the hope of feeding their children back home.

The Mushroom Project offers another way.

Cambodia has a strong demand for mushrooms, yet much of what’s consumed is imported. Working alongside local villagers, World Hope International helped create mushroom grow houses that allow families to farm year-round, right in their own community.

That consistency matters. Rice grows once a year. Cashew trees take years to produce. Mushrooms provide steady income in every season.

Why the Mushroom Project Creates Lasting Change

Families participating in the Mushroom Project increase their average monthly income from about $50 to $300. In Cambodia, where the World Bank defines poverty as living on less than $1.90 per day, that difference is life-changing.

It means food on the table.
It means kids staying in school.
It means families staying together.

This work isn’t easy. Growing mushrooms takes patience and care, with about 21 days between harvests. Early on, many farmers questioned whether the effort would truly pay off.

What changed everything was trust and consistency.

The Mushroom Project’s Sustainable Model

World Hope International committed to paying a fair, stable price per kilogram of mushrooms. Farmers bring their harvest to the village weigh station and are paid directly. The mushrooms are then loaded onto a refrigerated truck—lovingly called the “Money Truck”—and transported to Phnom Penh.

There, high-end restaurants purchase the mushrooms for their menus. Many restaurant owners say these Cambodian-grown mushrooms are higher quality than imported ones, thanks to careful harvesting and high standards.

This model works because WHI partners with the community rather than creating dependency.

Visiting Cambodia and Seeing the Mushroom Project Firsthand

After committing to raise funds, launch new mushroom farms, and visit Cambodia, our team followed through on every promise.

When we finally visited, everything came full circle.

We met families who are now able to stay and work together. We saw pride in the husbands’ eyes as they showed us their mushroom houses. We felt the joy in the wives’ voices as they talked about better futures for their kids. We watched a village buzzing with hope as new grow houses went up and neighbors helped one another.

How You Helped Grow the Mushroom Project

Simple Green Smoothies is part of this story—but the real heroes are you.

Because you chose to support a company that believes in empowerment, seven Cambodian families were able to start mushroom farms through the Mushroom Project. That’s real impact, built one choice at a time.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I’m honored to continue supporting the Mushroom Project in Cambodia with you, and I can’t wait to see where this journey leads next.