A Journey of Purpose: Bringing Hope to Cambodia’s Children

Dave Chapman is an entrepreneur, business leader, and philanthropist. He is best known as the Co-Founder of OSL Group, a Hong Kong-based digital finance company.

Dave has worked in the world of digital finance for more than a decade, helping to build some of Asia’s leading cryptocurrency businesses. He also has extensive experience in banking and financial technology. In July 2024, Dave stepped down from his role at OSL. He is now Chief Operating Officer of Quantum Leap Acquisition Corp, where he works with the leadership team on the company’s operations and strategy.

Alongside his business career, Dave is committed to making a positive social impact.

Dave and his wife, Mira, began sponsoring two girls with the Cambodian Children's Fund (CCF) in November 2024, who are now aged 10 and 7. The couple has three children of their own.

Dave joined CCF’s Hong Kong Board of Directors in July 2025, bringing his experience, networks, and passion to support children through education and opportunity.

In a first-person piece written in March 2025, Dave shares his connection to CCF, why its mission matters to him, and how he hopes to help create more opportunities for children to build brighter futures.

Since stepping away from my role at OSL in July 2024, I’ve had the opportunity to redirect my energy towards causes that resonate deeply with me. After more than a decade in the cryptocurrency industry, this transition has allowed me to prioritise my health, my family, and the chance to contribute to meaningful change. One of the ways I’ve embraced this new chapter is by serving as a Volunteer Coach at Splash Foundation, where I’ve found immense fulfillment in teaching domestic helpers to swim and witnessing their growth in confidence and skill. However, the most profound experience in this journey came through my involvement with the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF), an organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of children in Phnom Penh’s poorest communities.

Over the years, my wife and I have been fortunate to support various charitable initiatives, including assisting orphanages and schools in Indonesia. Our involvement there, guided by the efforts of Bryant Christanto, CEO of Lifehub and Paxel, deepened our understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable communities and the transformative power of education and care. This commitment to giving back led us to CCF, introduced to us by NiQ Lai, former CEO and Co-Owner of Hong Kong Broadband Network. NiQ invited us to CCF’s fundraising gala, where we met Scott Neeson, the organisation’s founder.

Scott’s decision to leave a successful career in Hollywood to serve Cambodia’s children left an indelible mark on us. His story, which I strongly recommend reading—detailed on CCF’s website www.cambodianchildrensfund.org/our-mission/scotts-story—is a testament to the power of purpose-driven action. Inspired by the evening, we made a significant donation and committed to sponsoring two young girls, aged seven and eight, through CCF’s programs.

In January, we traveled to Phnom Penh to see CCF’s work firsthand and to meet the children we had sponsored. The visit was a confronting, sobering, and inspiring experience. The poverty we encountered was stark—families living in rubbish dumps, children navigating a world surrounded by hardship. Yet, amidst these challenges, the resilience and spirit of the children shone brightly. Their curiosity and capacity for joy, even in the face of adversity, were a humbling reminder of what’s possible when support and opportunity are extended to those in need.

One day during our visit stands out vividly. Accompanied by our chaperone Chanthuo (a former CCF student herself), who facilitated translation, we spent time with the two girls we sponsor. We brought them to a shopping centre, where they rode an escalator for the first time—an experience that brought a mix of apprehension and delight to their faces as they held my wife’s hands. Later, at a restaurant, they tried Coca-Cola and Fanta for the first time (with the approval of Chanthuo, of course), their excitement over these small joys underscoring the simplicity of what can make a difference in a child’s life. That shared meal was a moment of genuine connection, a bridge built across vastly different worlds.

That evening, Scott Neeson, the founder of CCF, led us on his nightly community walk through Steung Meanchey, one of the world’s most infamous rubbish dumps—a ritual he faithfully upholds every single day. As we moved through the shadowed paths, we encountered children—some fortunate enough to be sponsored and enrolled in CCF’s schools—alongside their family members, where such ties still endured, and other residents of this resilient community. Despite the crushing poverty and unforgiving conditions, I was struck by the curiosity, playfulness, and joy that radiated from so many, particularly the children. In the faint light of night, their presence felt almost surreal—some drawing near with shy smiles, eager for a moment of connection, others offering quiet gestures of warmth that needed no words in return. For Scott, these walks are far more than a routine: they are a lifeline to check on the children CCF supports, to seek out others who might find a place in their programs, and to nurture a community that has come to embrace him as “Pa Scott.” It was an experience both incredible and confronting, one I urge everyone to witness for themselves.

Yet, as joyful as it was, it also served as a reminder of the profound challenges these children face daily. Through CCF’s comprehensive programs—spanning education, healthcare, and community support—these kids and countless others are given the tools to rise above their circumstances. What began as a simple outing became a symbol of the hope and opportunity that CCF provides, transforming lives one child at a time. It is this holistic approach that makes CCF’s work so impactful, offering not just immediate relief but a pathway to a brighter, self-sustaining future.

CCF’s impact extends far beyond such moments. Through education, healthcare, and community programs, they provide a lifeline to children who might otherwise face a future defined by poverty. To understand the breadth of their work, I highly recommend watching this montage of the children and this explainer video, which outlines CCF’s approach and results.

Sponsoring a child through CCF costs less than US$2,000 annually, yet the ripple effects are profound. Sponsors correspond with their sponsored child via email and receive updates on their child’s progress that reflect the tangible difference their support makes.

I’ve set a personal goal to help at least 10 more children be sponsored through CCF. I’m grateful to friends Christian Andresen and Stacy Ying Liu, whose generous sponsorships have already brought me closer to this personal target.

My hope in sharing this is to encourage others to join in supporting CCF. The need is great, but the potential for change is greater still. Whether through sponsorship or a donation, every effort helps build a brighter future for these children.

We are fortunate to live in a world where many of us have the means to effect change. My time in Cambodia reinforced the responsibility we share to uplift those less fortunate. Scott Neeson and the CCF team are doing extraordinary work, and it’s an honour to support their efforts. I hope this reflection inspires you to consider how you might lend your support to a cause that brings hope to those who need it most.