Malina’s Journey

When Lanh Malina first joined Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) in 2013, she was a young graduate looking for work. She began as a mail translator, helping children communicate with their sponsors.

More than a decade later, Malina is a Sponsor Relations Officer, supporting around 40 children from nursery age through university.

“I feel like I can contribute to society and my country and be part of CCF’s mission and journey,” she says. “We are helping poor children and empowering these kids to have a better life.”

Malina knows first-hand the value of education. Growing up in a traditional Khmer family in Phnom Penh, she was one of only two of five children to attend university (her brother was the other).

Her father and brother encouraged her to continue her studies, while her sister helped support her education. In return, Malina would look after her sister’s two children while their mother worked selling at a local market.

Malina’s mother grew up in the province and did not finish high school. At the time, girls were not expected to prioritise education, particularly when family finances were limited, and money was needed to support the household. Her father completed high school but, like many of his generation, had no opportunity to pursue higher education. He later worked at a petrol station, supervising petrol deliveries.

Her parents were an important source of love and guidance, making their loss particularly difficult. Malina’s mother died at the age of 60 from diabetes complications while she was still in high school, and her father passed away shortly after she graduated from university.

“Our house was full of family members; we all lived together, and when two go, it’s very empty. It feels very sad,” says Malina.

“It was challenging for me because my parents were someone to discuss things with, if I needed advice. So I needed to figure it out by myself.”

Malina studied for a Bachelor's degree in English for Professional Communication at the Institute of Foreign Languages and graduated in 2010.

Her experience has deepened her appreciation for family and the importance of having people who care and look out for one another.

Malina has a positive outlook in life and is known for her smiling, friendly nature.

She still lives with two of her three sisters. Her brother and other sister have left to set up home with their own families.

The bond with her four siblings is very important, as a support network after the loss of their parents.

Today, Malina is pursuing a Master’s degree in International Business, determined to keep learning and set an example for the children she works with.

“I feel like I’m the role model for all the kids that I work with. If I can get a higher education, I can spread this knowledge to all the kids as well.”

For Malina, the most rewarding part of her work is seeing what happens when children are given an opportunity.

One former CCF student she supported is now a mother herself, with a daughter attending CCF kindergarten. Other children whose sponsor letters Malina once helped translate have gone on to university and secured good jobs.

“That’s success,” she says. “Some of my former students are now earning enough to buy their own houses, I hear.”

Malina has worked in other places - assistant to an accountant, secretary at a hotel, Forex foreign exchange, and, most recently, a construction company - but found herself drawn back to CCF.

The relationships with the sponsored children she cares for go far beyond emails and letters. Malina and her team provide a listening ear, advice, and support when children face challenges.

“It’s like a connection, a deeper connection than just email.”

After more than 11 years with CCF, Malina describes her colleagues as a second family — and CCF as a second home.

“Family means love and care and looking out for each other. That's very important. My team at CCF always supports each other and works towards a shared goal. That’s why I said CCF is like a big family and like a second home for me,” says Malina.

Malina, now 40, talks about possibly having a family of her own one day, but her job at CCF and studying for her Master’s part-time after work are taking up much of her time at the moment.

“I enjoy my life and the meaningful work I am doing now, and I am very happy,” she says.

“There is a saying that if you do good, you will receive good things back. It is better that we do good for someone else. When we do good, we can feel happy and peaceful inside.”