In the Kulen district of Cambodia, Sonu serves as the head of the Office of Social Affairs and Social Welfare. This position represents the culmination of a career that launched back in 2009 and speaks to one woman’s lifelong vocation of community service.
Sonu began her career as an extension agent for the agricultural office of her local commune in Cambodia. But since her early 20s, she has angled the trajectory of her career towards working as an advocate for marginalized and vulnerable people. Her first major position was in the Kulen District Women’s Affairs Office, and she eventually became the head of the districts’ Social Affairs and Social Welfare offices. She achieved all of this with only a Grace 12 education. Now a wife and mother of three at 39 years old, Sonu has many personal and professional achievements to be proud of.
Sonu recognized the extremely daunting challenges permeating her community—domestic violence, unsafe migration, early school dropouts, poor hygiene and nutrition, and limited access to information. She believed it was her duty to help bring change and saw the opportunity to do so with ADRA.
And so, her collaboration with ADRA began in 2023. Through the TOGETHER project—supported by Global Affairs Canada—Teng Sonu and ADRA have worked to address issues of sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, youth education, and community wellbeing. Sonu contributed actively to project planning, implementation, and regular quarterly review meetings for the project. In this position, Sonu has taken on a more active role in leading community discussions, identifying local issues, and supporting positive behavior change among families.
This work is indicative of how Sonu’s skills have developed in areas like sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender-based violence prevention (SGBV), child protection and youth empowerment, safe migration and anti-violence campaigns, community assessment & design (A & D), parenting and nutrition, and the organization of awareness events. In 2025, she was promoted to the position of District Social Worker. Local authorities have recognized her integrity and dedication and have thrown their support behind her enthusiastically.
Recognizing the role of Global Affairs Canada in supporting ADRA’s work in Cambodia, and thereby her own, Sonu shared only gratitude: “Thank you for helping to educate and uplift our community and many others across Cambodia. I wish all Canadians happiness, good health, and continued success in everything they do.”
Sonu’s story is one example of how ADRA continues to support people worldwide in achieving prosperity through partnership. Working together, ADRA supports people in lifting themselves out of poverty. The TOGETHER project (Uniting Towards Gender Equality for enjoyment of Women’s and Girls’ Total Health and Rights) works towards the advancement of gender equality and women’s rights in Cambodia, Kenya, The Philippines, and Uganda.
ADRA is the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, serving humanity so all may live as God intended. Please consider partnering with us in our mission of justice, compassion, and love.
