Our Mission

The Ponheary Ly Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Our mission is to promote access to quality education for disenfranchised children and young people in the Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces of northern Cambodia. Guided by a human rights-based approach aligned with UN principles, we believe that access to education is a fundamental human right. This is essential for building an equitable post-conflict civil society where all students have the opportunity to qualify for decent employment, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Education plays a central role in the development of future democratic leaders, the eradication of poverty, and improving the overall health and well-being of rural and urban communities.

We recognize that educational access is interlinked with a number of social issues, and believe that in order for children to learn, they must have food security, access to clean water and sanitation, a stable place to live, a mode of transit to get to school, and the many other everyday supports that enable them to remain in school – and embark on clear pathways to meaningful employment and higher education.

For a full overview of our work, check out our Annual Report!