With a successful career in the financial industry, Axel Maier understands the importance of achieving a good return on investment.
Through his work, he discovered the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF), which led him to a new purpose beyond the confines of boardrooms and spreadsheets, taking him to a region of extreme poverty in Cambodia.
Eight years later, Axel and his family support two children through the CCF Sponsorship Programme. Additionally, Axel is utilising his business expertise as the Chair of the UK Board after previously serving on the CCF Board in Hong Kong.
The philosophy behind CCF is so effective
Providing educational opportunities to an underprivileged child was a compelling reason, but it was the CCF business model that truly convinced Axel, the corporate-minded executive.
“The philosophy behind CCF is so effective. It’s a very unemotional, logical setup to deal with a very emotional situation,” says Axel.
“I liked the fact that it is local, so the overhead costs are manageable, and a very large amount of the donations can actually go to the project. I felt that this was a charity where I could help. Not just giving money but becoming more involved and having more of an impact.”
In the world of finance, numbers reign supreme, and decisions often depend on profit margins. NGOs, too, increasingly have to focus on areas like effectiveness, innovation, and efficiency to maximise impact.
CCF was recently recognised as one of the top three charities in its category by nonprofit evaluable Charity Navigator after being nominated for a 2024 Community Choice Award, having received perfect scores for 14 consecutive years. Four stars, the highest possible, are given to exceptional organisations who “exceed industry standards and out-perform most charities in its cause.”
A native of Germany, Axel has been either visiting or working in Asia since the beginning of his career which spans senior management roles in Frankfurt, London, Singapore, and Hong Kong, including a tenure as Managing Director at Macquarie Investment Management. His travels across Asia have imbued him with a deep appreciation for the challenges faced in emerging economies, propelling his commitment toward educational strategy and poverty alleviation.
Axel, 58, first connected with CCF during his time in Hong Kong, where his employer, Macquarie Group, offered a corporate social responsibility initiative. Choosing CCF among a few options, he was moved by the organisation's mission to give impoverished children in Southeast Asia who would otherwise never go to school the life-changing opportunity of an education.
His personal experience with adoption - his daughter was adopted from Vietnam - added an empathetic layer to his involvement.
Learning about CCF’s approach to addressing the complexities surrounding poverty during a subsequent visit to Phnom Penh sealed the deal.
“I was impressed with what I saw. The smartness of the operational setup and the cleverness of aligning the interests of the families’ current needs with the prospects of a better life for the children in the future, which not only gets children and families into the programme, but importantly, keeps them there, was fascinating to experience,” says Axel.
To walk through….andsee the poverty in front of you in such an intense way is a different experience
Meeting Scott Neeson, CCF’s founder, and seeing first-hand the issues on the ground and CCF's approach to addressing the complexities around poverty was eye-opening.
“To walk through Steung Meanchey and see the poverty in front of you in such an intense way is a different experience,” recalls Axel, who now lives in Austria but has a residence in the UK.
“I remember one walk with Scott, and we passed by literally a hole in the wall, six metres square with no window, and this grandmother and her granddaughter lived there. I have never seen such a level of poverty first-hand. However, there were all these certificates on the wall from the girl’s school achievements, and it became clear that she wouldn’t end up there. You see how poor they are and how they are not getting out of there without help. I tell many people about this if they ask about my first impressions of CCF; it has stuck in my mind.”
Axel’s CCF journey began with a simple yet profound act of kindness - child sponsorship.
Axel and his wife, Allison, initially sponsored four CCF children (two boys and two girls), contributing to their education and all the community support programmes provided for families.
The boys both dropped out of the programme. Parents living in poverty often fail to recognise the value of education. Boys may be compelled to leave school to work and support their families or succumb to peer pressure and societal expectations.
“It’s sad, but I know how hard CCF works to keep boys in school. The programmes are thoughtful and supportive, and the boys can see around them how other children are thriving and getting interesting jobs but still decide not to go to school,” says Axel.
Axel and Allison continue to sponsor two girls: Malinda, 16, a Grade 11 student the same age as their daughter Rae, and Raksmey, 14, a Grade 9 student.
You can see the big picture with CCF, but with an individual child, you can see it [the model] actually working.
For Axel, being a sponsor is about more than financial support; it’s about providing encouragement and being a role model. “The relationship with the children motivates me. Many of them lack parental guidance, and I want to show them that there is hope and a way forward,” he shared.
“I tell them to try hard at school and try to convey that having an education gives you a choice. You can see the big picture with CCF, but with an individual child, you can see it [the model] actually working.”
Axel fits his commitments to CCF around his professional life - he has his own consulting business, Singularity Advisors, and is also a partner and Global Head of Business Development at MDOTM Ltd, an AI-focused Fintech company.
Axel's background as a successful financial leader has equipped him with the tools and insights necessary to drive change through the CCF UK Board, focusing on strategy and development and raising the organisation's profile in the UK to grow the supporter base and funds raised.
His commitment has evolved into a passionate advocacy for children facing adversity, embodying the spirit of change that uplifts vulnerable communities in Cambodia, one child at a time.
Axel is not only the sponsor who supports me and gives me a chance to study, but he is also a friend and a second Dad to me.
A Word From Malinda and Raksmey
We asked Axel’s two sponsor girls, Malinda, known as Linda, and Raksmey, what having a sponsor means to them. Here’s what they said:
“Axel is not only the sponsor who supports me and gives me a chance to study, but he is also a friend and a second Dad to me. We have known each other for eight years now. He supports me with encouraging words. I always get good advice about life from him every time he visits. I communicate with Rae by email sometimes and we got along well when we met in person.:
- Linda, 16, who wants to be a graphic designer
“Having a sponsor means a lot. I feel like my sponsor is my second family. I feel supported and motivated to do my best in school. Axel has been an incredible support for my school and gives me great encouragement for my studies through his emails and visits. He has visited me several times. I was so happy to see him and his family in person.”
- Raksmey, 14, who hopes to become a doctor
