The Cambodian Children's Fund / Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Mrs. Sok Channoeurn has been working for the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) since its inception in May 2004. Starting as CCF’s manager in the Phnom Penh facility, Channoeurn has worked closely with Scott in managing CCF before becoming Senior Administrative Manager. In February 2009, Channoeurn was promoted to Country Manager and now oversees all aspects of CCF’s in-country operations.

“I met Scott in May 2004 and we discussed ways we could effectively help the most impoverished children in Cambodia. The prospect of such a job was very exciting. I had always dreamed of being in a position to help the poor, especially the children of Cambodia. I still remembered Scott telling me that he wanted to build an organization for 45 children. Today we have over 500 children, every one of who receive the same quality of care from CCF. Our education program is focused on quality and we are constantly reviewing new teaching methods, best practices, teacher training and international curriculums. We now provide to the essential needs of the poorest communities, with over 1,500 families receiving free health care, fresh water, maternal care, accommodation and subsidized rice. CCF adapts and adjusts to community needs and I am very proud of what we have built, especially CCF’s management team; they are the most loyal and talented group. Scott brings so much to our people and our country. He is our living God”, said Mrs. Sok Channoeurn.

Ms. Sok Channoeurn was born in Phnom Penh and finished high school when she was 16. She started her career as an English teacher when she was just 16 years old and has worked in the education sector and other institutes of learning for nearly ten years. She earned a Bachelor Degree in Law in 2003 and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Development Management. She acts as CCF representative to many institutes in Cambodia, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

Her ultimate goal for CCF is to ensure every Cambodian child has an education, their basic needs met and a future of hope and opportunity.

Sophon earned a bachelor degree in business and administration (BBA) in the field of accounting from the National Institute of Management (NIM) in 2002 and completed a masters degree (MBA) in finance and banking from Build Bright University (BBU) in Cambodia in September 2007.

Sophon has nearly five years’ experience in field of auditing and accounting with micro finance institutions (MFIs) and private companies in Cambodia. He began his career in early 2002 by serving as accounting and administrative officer for UY MEY Investment Ltd. In 2002, he worked for Thaneakea Phum Cambodia (MFI) as an Internal Audit Officer. From 2005 to 2007, he was senior internal audit officer for Cambodia Entrepreneur Building Limited (MFI). He also worked for Action Aid International (INGO) as Program Officer. He joined the CCF as Senior Finance Officer in 2007.

Sok Channin is the Head of General Education. She has been working at CCF since 2004, with her first role as an English teacher. In 2006 she was promoted to be Head of General Education and she now oversees both the CCF education program and the integration of CCF students into the public school system.

Her responsibilities include preparing class curriculums, training the CCF teachers, researching new teaching methods, evaluating teacher performance and monitoring the educational advancement of CCF students. She is always striving to ensure our teaching methods and resources are the best they can be.

Besides working as Head of General Education, Channin also helps with general management. In July 2009, Channin led a team of five CCF girls at the Global Youth Leadership Summit, held within the University of California San Diego, along with 250 children from all over the world.

Channin feels very proud to be a part of CCF and be able to work and help the most impoverished Cambodian children. “After 5 years working in CCF, I see so much improvement in our children. Most of our senior children are now in high school, and soon they will be able to go to University. Indeed, one of our students is taking his first step into University. It makes me very happy to see their confidence and personal skills grow. I hope that all Cambodian children can have access to schooling and the chance to be their best”, said Channin.

Sochenda began her role as Facility Manager at CCF1 on 04 May 2009. She was born and raised in Phnom Penh, where she has studied many courses relating to the field of business and management. Sochenda is currently studying for her Bachelor Degree in General Management at University Phnom Penh. In her free time, she likes to read books and take trips with friends and family to the mountains and the beach.

Before taking up the post of Facility Manager at CCF1, Sochenda has worked in a variety of roles in different business sectors. In her last role, she worked as a Program Manager for an organization dedicated to helping Cambodian people suffering from HIV/AIDS, those living in poverty and vulnerable and orphaned children.

Working with CCF, she has had achievements in the fields of Management (Staff and Children), Children’s Education, Childcare and Healthcare for children and the community. All staff, included herself, are dedicated to caring for and providing education to the children. Moreover, CCF provides support to the children’s families and community in terms of supporting their living and healthcare.

Sochenda believes that all Cambodian children should have the right to an education and a bright future and she can see that CCF can help to make a real difference for future generations.

Mrs. Ly Sophea is the Facility Manager of CCF2, which opened in May 2006 and now houses 129 girls from high-risk or abusive backgrounds. She took up this position after two years at CCF1, where she worked as an English teacher, assistant manager and administrator. Sophea graduated from Paññasastra University, in the field of Finance and Banking. She also worked in an English private school as an English teacher before coming to CCF.

At CCF2, Sophea is responsible for all the children under her care as well as managing the staff. She reviews staff performance, organizes meetings and scheduling, and works closely with other staff in the other CCF facilities. She also works tirelessly, with sensitivity and dedication, to help the children who are affected by domestic violence and other problems.

"All the staff and I will work hard with the children to fulfill their goals for the future" says Sophea. When asked what she dreams of for CCF, Sophea says she wishes for a good future for the children. She hopes that those children in vocational training will move on to get good jobs or even to run their own businesses; and that those who continue their education will enter university and find good jobs in business or the public sector. Moreover, she hopes that all the children will grow up to be good citizens, friendly, responsible and able to communicate well with others.

In her free time, she likes going to the beach, reading magazines, listening to music and watching cartoons.

Chenda graduated in the field of Finance, but has taken great interest in the broader social, environmental and cultural development of people around the world.

Between 2002-2008 Chenda worked first as a volunteer then became permanent staff with the Girl Guide association of Cambodia. She has experience in the personal development of girls and young women and engagement in social issues, ranging from leadership to an outdoor education program, HIV awareness, children and women rights. She has also enjoyed working with the Wildlife Alliance organization as environment educator for educating people living in wildlife areas.

Chenda joined CCF as the Facility Manager at CCF4. She is responsible for day to day facility operation which is focused on vocational training and self-development for teen girls. Chenda works closely with staff and other facility managers to reach the CCF’s goals. Furthermore, she helps to counsel and mentor girls who have personal or family problems, as many are affected by domestic violence, child labor, health issues and so on. Every day, in her job Chenda advocates for the girls in helping the parents to understand the importance of education and personal skills for fulfilling their future life. At the same time, she is willing to share her own life’s experiences to help the girls to understand how they can advocate to stop their parents from perpetrating domestic violence and build self-confidence. She says her goal is to be sure that all the girls who live in CCF can stay in a safe place whether they are in or out of CCF’s facility.

In her free time, Chenda likes meeting with friends, sharing life experiences, reading the news from newspaper or magazines and sometimes walking in the outdoor environment.

Narong is the Facility Manager of CCF’s Community Center at Steung Meanchey. She first joined the CCF in 2005. Her role is helping the greater community of poor people who are living around Steung Meanchey. She manages a comprehensive CCF program which provides the community with free healthcare services, food subsidies, safe drinking water, temporary shelters, and sometimes direct financial support. She also consults with the wives or husbands who have problems within their families and are asking for help.

Narong originates from Takeo province and brings many years of experience in management and community education to her position. She received her high school Diploma at Hun Sen Baty Takeo. Formerly a kindergarten teacher, Narong has received training as a communicator, librarian, accountant and program manager. She has also successfully completed a course in management development at VBNK. In France, Narong served for three years as an instructor of Microsoft Word & Excel at Enfants Refugies du Monde (ERM). Following this, Narong worked as the Manager of Thorn Chey Children’s Association in Takeo province.

Narong hopes that “one day the CCF will have branches in every province of Cambodia to help vulnerable kids." She has always tried to stand up against the prevalent Khmer belief that women should not pursue higher education or a career. "I would like to work in management and direction. I am always trying to improve my capacity in terms of English, computer skills and health care, so that I can really value my contribution to the CCF."

In her free time Narong likes talking to people, reading books and listening to radio.

May Dean is the Facility Manager at CCF6, which opened in August 2008. She was born and raised in Kampong Cham Province, and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in accounting in 2006.

May joined CCF as an English Teacher and rose to become a facility administrator. In 2008 she was promoted to the role of CCF1 Childcare Supervisor. May's role as Childcare Supervisor was to ensure the welfare of the facility's students, including responsibility for the health care and nutrition of the children, supervision of the childcare staff and being a constant source of solace, support and advice for the children. As Manager of CCF6 May has also been a dedicated liaison with the local community at Stoeng Mean Chey, building relationships, assisting with health care issues and providing advice and guidance for the vulnerable families of CCF students.

May believes that CCF provides an environment of learning and support for the children, not only academically, but on a deeply personal level. She hopes she can use her skills and experience to help the organization continue to grow, thereby inspiring the next generation of children to build a better future for Cambodia. In her free time May Dean likes spending time outdoors with her family and friends, as well as keeping up to date with current affairs in the news.

Vibol was born into a poor farming family living in Kandal province, Cambodia.

He finished high school in 1999, and then he moved to Phnom Penh living in the rental house with his older sister. To survive, Vibol worked in construction, then as a cyclo driver (three wheels bicycle), motor taxi driver, and also became a teacher of English in order to support himself while he studied at the university.

Vibol started university in 2002 and graduated with a Bachelor degree in English literature in the field of Education in early 2007. Today he is pursuing a Masters degree in development management and expects to graduate in 2010.

Vibol has been working with very poor families and children (garbage scavengers) for nearly 10 years, doing both education and community work. In 1999 to 2006, he worked as a teacher of English in some private schools then he changed to work with a French Organization, (2006-2009) helping poor children, their families, and the communities surround Stoeng Mean Chey garbage dump. He joined with CCF as community relations manager in May 2009.

Rachna finished high school when he was 16 years old and pursued a Bachelor degree in Information Technology at Royal University of Phnom Penh, graduating in 2004. He is currently taking a Masters degree of Development Management at Norton University.

In 2005 Rachna started work with CCF and began his first role as an assistant in administration. He says he was very happy to work in CCF because “CCF is providing education, health care, vocational training and community outreach work to break generational cycles of poverty and abuse in Cambodia”. He values Education as gold and believes in the right of all people to access education regardless of age or living standard.

During 4 years with CCF, Rachna has been promoted through many positions such as Assistant to Executive Director, Mail Translator, Office Coordinator, Database and Vocational Coordinator. His current position is Human Resource and Administrative Officer. Rachna is a very hard working, committed, responsible and efficient staff member. He likes helping colleagues and supervisors in any way he can and has a “never say no” approach to requests for help. His attitude is well regarded among key staff in the CCF. In the current role of Human Resource and Administrative Officer, he has worked closely with the Country Manager to create all the HR documents and policies for using globally across CCF. He is very good at organization and enjoys learning from his colleagues. He likes reading books and newspapers and also playing a wide variety of sports, including soccer, tennis, volleyball, and swimming.

He has a wish that students and staffs from across CCF will one day make invaluable contribution to their society and to Cambodia. He is very grateful to Scott for providing him a golden opportunity, not only for his own good, but so that he can be a part of the development of his country.

Radeth started his role as Vocational Training Supervisor on September 09, 2008. He was born and raised in Phnom Penh. He is currently completing a Master of Arts in Development Studies at Royal University of Phnom Penh and previously graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Management from the National University of Management.

Before he joined CCF in the post of Vocational Training Supervisor, Radeth worked for a leading NGO as a program officer for nearly 4 years and with other private businesses for over 3 years. He has many skills and experience working with vulnerable people, counseling in domestic violence and for people suffering from HIV/AIDs. He is also active in children’s rights and protection issues, and in community development.

Radeth hopes that all the vulnerable youths and young adults from Stoeng Meanchey area and other rural areas in Cambodia can get access to a brighter future. He believes that CCF can extend its success to help all Cambodian people who come from poor, illiterate families with little hope of change.

Radeth likes to spend free time getting together with friends or going to the beach in his vacation time.

Madalin has been the Bakery Supervisor at CCF4 since 2006. In 1999, he finished pedagogy from Provincial Teacher Training Center and also graduated with a Bachelor degree of English literature from Asia-Euro University, Phnom Penh in 2007. Before joining CCF, he worked as a teacher, Chef-de-parties, and Head baker for nearly five years in both public and private sectors.

During his time with CCF, Madalin has been training students in customer service skills for the Hotel and Restaurant industry, cooking skills in both Asian and Western styles, and running the Star bakery to benefit both the community and CCF's students. He says he is happy with his job because he can transfer his great knowledge and skills to the students for their better future. Moreover, he is proud of the professional standards he has brought to the bakery.

Madalin is committed to reinforcing the quality of the training program. Furthermore, he believes that he will deliver knowledge, experience and skills to the next generation.

In his leisure time, he likes watching TV cooking shows, listening to music and being together with family and friends.

Dr. Reasey was born in Phnom Penh. He graduated as a Medical Doctor in 2003 and then as a Dermatology specialist in 2006. He has nearly 6 years of experience in General practice and Dermatology. He attended training in Dermatology at Fachklinic Hornheide in Germany for three months. He also has training in Dermatopathology at Dermatologicum Hamburg and LASER application at University Hospital in Munich.

Before joining CCF, Dr Sreng worked as a General Practitioner at the American Medical Center where learned a lot from Dr. Reid Sheftall. He also works for an Australian NGO doing mobile clinics at Kampong Speu province. He started working for CCF in June 2009 to help provide medical services to CCF kids as well as the underprivileged families living at Stoeng Mean Chhey dump site.

In his spare time, Dr. Sreng is interested in playing sports and enjoying time with family and his friends. He likes listening to sentimental music and reading scientific books.

Sereyvuth has been working with CCF since November 2009 as a Medical Doctor. He graduated from Thai Binh Medical University in Vietnam in 2007 and finished his Diploma in Child Health Certification at Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia in 2009.

Before joining CCF, Sereyvuth worked as a Pediatrician for a year at Angkor Hospital for Children and also as an ID and Surgeon in Sihanouk Hospital (HOPE Center).

At CCF, he treats children, adults and staff from all CCF facilities. Moreover, he has given the lectures in health to nurses and childcare staff. He really enjoys working with CCF since he loves to treat and help poor patients, especially children. He says CCF also enables him to learn and get even more experience in community health issues.

Sam Sopheak is the IT Manager at CCF Corporate, starting here in 2008. He is involved with all the CCF IT needs and is responsible for the network function, maintenance, and updating of software. Before he started his job, Sopheak used to be a Computer Teacher at CCF1, teaching the children from 6ys to 14ys. During this time, he helped to service the computers of staff and students.

Sopheak graduated in the field of Computer Science (Informatics) in 2003 from RUPP (Royal University of Phnom Penh). (He has just completed a master Degree of Computer Science). After graduating, Sopheak was a customer service technician (IT Maintenance) at the Council of Ministry in Phnom Penh from 2004 to 2008, and became a part time teacher at CCF1. When he was promoted to be the CCF IT Manager, he stopped working at the Ministry to work full time at CCF instead. At CCF he likes to spend time with the children and computer teachers to give them the benefit of his experience.

Besides working, Sopheak likes playing football, reading and researching new information relating to computer technology. He would like to say thanks to Mr. Scott and Sister Noeurn who provided him the opportunity to be involved with CCF and serve the children here to get a better education for life.

Mr. Soung Sopheak was born in Svay Chrom district in Kandal province and moved to Phnom Penh in 1994. He has worked in CCF since 2005 as Head of Art Education, responsible for an extensive art, dance, drama, and music study program. Sopheak also directs the cultural performances at CCF and teaches story composition. He works hard to ensure that CCF performances raise the children's awareness about social issues, such as poverty, drug use, trafficking and domestic violence.

Sopheak is always very busy preparing the curriculum, writing student reports and managing staff. Moreover, he also manages CCF’s association with the public schools that the children attend.

“Life in Cambodia is not easy and I push myself in order to achieve my goals in terms of my professional career," says Sopheak. He is very happy to work with all the kids at CCF and likes educating the children, and working closely with his colleagues in CCF."

Moreover, Sopheak is keen to develop his own skills and spread his horizons. At present he is a student of Digital Film at Limkokving University.

Ms. Sokhom was born on the Thai border. She has been working as a Social Trainer at CCF since October 2009. Her duty here is responsibility for social training, life skill to CCF4 kids and basic skill such as family management, how to raise children to be a good child, Healthcare, human rights to garment at CCF2 and train facility manager and staff who are working with domestic violence, how to counsel the children and provide counsel to victims of domestic violence and children who has any personal or family issues and meet with community people who come to ask for help from CCF. She enjoys working with CCF because she loves to work with children and underprivileged adults.

Besides working at CCF, she works monitoring staff, as personal development and leadership trainer, and is also a member of the steering committee. Presently, she is doing her Master degree of Law at University of Law and Economies.

She likes to read about psychology, law and history and watch movies in her free time.

Mr. Chao Ousa was born into a poor family in Svay Rieng, where he started school each day without money in his pockets or food in his stomach, but with the determination to raise himself and his family out of poverty.

His determination led to Ousa being award the most outstanding diploma student in 1998 at Svay Rieng High School, along with the number 1 ranking in Khmer literature among all the schools in the province.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Faculty of Social Science and Humanity, in 2002 and then finished his Bachelor of Education degree at in 2003. From 2003 through 2006, Ousa worked as a volunteer in charge of training networks and counseling in youth's issues.

In 2003 to May 2008, he worked as a high school teacher at his homeland teaching Khmer and Social studies. He joined the CCF family as a Community Education Supervisor, who is responsible for facilitating and supervising Day Care and Satellite School education programs as well as the Community Leadership Program.

He loves his work at CCF as it gives him the opportunity to expand his skills and experience.

Kang Chamroeun is in charge of Operations and Information in CCF’s busy Sponsorship department. Prior to joining CCF, Chamroeun spent 2 years working on community projects teaching self reliance and the benefits that come from collective, collaborative working. He began his CCF career in 2006, initially as a mail translator and then as sponsor relations coordinator. In the latter role he played a key part in building, maintaining, developing and using to good effect the information which is essential to CCF’s vibrant and successful sponsorship program.

In his current position Chamroeun is the ‘Data’ of the Sponsorship Department. Highly knowledgeable about CCF’s many sponsors and the children, information accuracy and flow are his primary concern. Keeping track of the sponsorship activity in all its forms, from the availability of children for sponsorship to the inflow and outflow of email from the different facilities, the maintenance of accuracy and the timely passage of essential information to whoever needs it all demand a consistent attention to detail and a eye for the bigger picture. Chamroeun also ensures that other essential operational activities, such as the scripting, production and provision of the DVDs about each sponsored child that are a unique feature of the CCF program, are conducted in the same effective and efficient manner.

With wide ranging interests which include the history of the ancient empires and a current concern for environmental issues within and beyond Cambodia Chamroeun has used his spare time as a volunteer English teacher and translator at LDSC and will soon commit even more of it to study for a degree in International Relations and Communication.

Happy to be play a highly involved role in CCF’s work, Chamroeun is pleased to be part of something unique that is helping to rescue the damaged lives of so many Cambodian children and their families and is especially glad that he can play a part in helping their tomorrows be better than their yesterdays.

Chemm Saron is CCF’s Sponsor Relations Officer. Saron took on this post in early 2009. She came to the position from a sound background within CCF, having worked in CCF as an English teacher for one year and then as a translator at CCF2 for the next 2 years. Currently responsible for making all the arrangements necessary to set up a good sponsorship relationship as well as overseeing the activity and effectiveness of the team of translators who maintain and nourish the flow of communications between CCF’s kids and their sponsors in each of CCF’s 5 sites, Saron is always busy. The organization of sponsor visits is another of her responsibilities and her constant anxiety is that all visitors to CCF and the kids who are the focus of these visits enjoy these occasions as much as humanly possible. None of this work can be done in isolation and Saron is in constant touch not only with CCF departments in Phnom Penh but with CCF’s Los Angeles Office to ensure that information flow about sponsor activity and sponsorships is as swift, accurate and detailed as it needs to be. Prior to her work with CCF Saron worked with a Microfinance organization and as an English & Khmer Kindergarten Teacher.

During her time with CCF, Saron’s greatest pleasure and success has been in helping establish good and lasting sponsorships and she loves seeing relationships created at a distance blossom into genuine affection and sharing. Her CCF ambition is to see all of CCF’s children in such good relationships.

The holder of a Bachelor Degree of English, Saron also holds a Diploma in English from Pananasastra University of Cambodia and is in the second year of study for another degree in International Relations at the same University. Hoping one day to be able to indulge her love of travel, her primary motivation now is to see all the CCF children whom she loves to have a great future of their own.

Leng Srey Leak, a garment trainer at CCF, was born in Kandal province, Cambodia. She graduated high school in 2001 and got a job at Hagar Shelter as an assistant trainer sewing clothes. She assisted in designing and sewing various types of clothes (causal clothes, outfits, fancy dress…). Subsequently, in 2003, she rotated to the designing section of Hagar where she made a tracing of popular patterns (clothes and bags) and integrated the local styles to produce a new letter style.

In 2006, Srey Leak joined CCF to help establish CCF’s bag making facility. She has dedicated her time to creating a new attractive style for CCF bags under the “Srey Mean Chey” label. As a result, the bag sales continue to increase. In addition, she provides training to students and to adult garment trainees. She also does quality checking to ensure a consistently high standard of production.

Srey Leak is now taking English class at EPS International School to strengthen her language skill and build a better future career. One day, she hopes to see “Srey Mean Chey” bags everywhere.

Mrs. Maly was born in Phnom Penh City and finished her high school in 1989. She spent over a year learning tailoring at a private shop. Immediately, after leave the shop, she got a job offer from a non-government organization and she worked there for nearly 10 years in various positions.

Nowadays, she works as a Garment trainer with CCF. She is responsible on design the new style of bag, solving problem both training and trainee’s personal problem, controlling goods in and out, checking trainee’s absence or presence and report to CCF2 manager, evaluate trainees every months and report the trainee’s progress, and make request for material and stock for daily usages. She absolutely enjoys working in this field since she loves to transfer her knowledge and skills to the people.

In her free time, she likes listening to music and shopping.

Page updated: 28 January 2009

Cambodian Children's Fund is a U.S.-registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization no. 20-0764162. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. The organization is also registered with the State of California and the Kingdom of Cambodia.