Resilient leaders like Phay Tieng are transforming their communities in Preah Vihear province. Imagine a young girl forced to leave school in grade 9 to help her mother support the family—this was Phay Tieng’s reality. Raised without a father, she watched her mother sacrifice everything just to keep food on the table, yet Phay Tieng never surrendered her dreams of a brighter future. 

At 32, married with an 8‑year‑old son, Phay Tieng channels her early hardships into powerful community action. In 2023, she joined ADRA Cambodia’s TOGETHER project as a Village Health Support Group member. Through trainings in leadership, sexual and reproductive health, gender‑based violence awareness, nutrition, and parenting, she found both purpose and confidence.  

Today, Phay Tieng visits households across Sre Em to educate parents and youth on critical topics such as domestic violence prevention, reproductive rights, and the risks of alcohol, drugs, and gambling.  

“I want to help all children and young people avoid harmful behaviors and make better choices,” she shared. Her dream is to become a teacher, guiding future generations toward safe choices and giving her own son the education she missed. 

All the donations made this possible: funding the workshops that built Phay Tieng’s facilitation skills, supplying educational materials, and supporting her ongoing mentorship. Because of generous donors, she is not only forging a secure life for her family but also uplifting dozens of families in her village. 

Where perseverance meets opportunity, and where every contribution plants the seeds of lasting change, it is the support from our donors that forms the foundation upon which communities like Preah Vihear are rebuilding, growing stronger with every step forward.