Our team

Sarah has over a decade of experience in the NGO sector, focusing on gender-based violence response and prevention. She has led programs, managed teams, and overseen significant organisational changes and legislative reforms. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Bachelor in Human Services, Sarah is passionate about addressing social injustice and upholding human rights. She emphasises a collaborative approach to leadership and team-building through shared goals. As Sarah puts it, “I am deeply committed to addressing and ending violence against women and children in all its forms, and am looking forward to the contribution I will make as Program Manager at Free to Shine.”

For the past two years, Sarah has lectured in Social Work in Melbourne, Australia, and is keen on helping emerging social workers develop strong critical practice frameworks. She joined Free to Shine to support the growth of the social work team and contribute to strengthening community responses that promote safety and protect girls from human trafficking and exploitation.

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Sophanit was born and raised in Siem Reap and she earned her MBA from Build Bright University 2009. She has a number of years of experiences working with NGOs in the areas of education and community development. She is a big believer in the power of education as a tool to fight against poverty. Sophanit loves working with students, their families, and community and making change happen at the grassroots level. She is excited to be part of the Free to Shine as she believes deeply in the power of young girls to realise their dreams and reach their full potential.

Sophan has over a decade of experience in financial management, accounting, and human resources, working across various sectors, including disability services and private entities. With a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, he brings extensive expertise in organisational operations, team leadership, and strategic planning.

Currently at Free To Shine, Sophan is committed to protecting girls from sexual trafficking. He supports the organisation's financial and operational frameworks, believing in creating environments where individuals can thrive and driving positive change to protect those at risk.

Sophan’s career in disability services has shaped his understanding of the challenges vulnerable groups face, which he applies to his current work on children’s rights and protection. By creating inclusive and accessible systems, he helps prevent sexual trafficking and ensures vulnerable children receive the support they need across sectors.

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Sotheareak, born in Tbong Khmum Province, attended high school in Kranh District. After graduation, he received a scholarship from PEPY, a Cambodia-based education and youth leadership NGO. Through PEPY, he participated in an exchange program in Dublin, Ireland, which inspired him to pursue a degree in International Relations at Pannasastra University. This year, he successfully earned his bachelor's degree in International Relations. In 2023, Sotheareak was selected for a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellowship in the United States. As a member of Toastmasters, he values the transformative power of education and believes it is the key to solving many challenges. Passionate about working with an organisation focused on education, he is particularly inspired by the idea of empowering girls through higher education and protecting them from trafficking. He believes girls are powerful and play a crucial role in shaping their families, communities, and the country.

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Chandara was born in the rural outskirts of Siem Reap Province, and he believes that was rather a fortunate yet humbling experience growing up. He attended an American school in Puok District under a fully-funded scholarship for over ten years. In 10th grade, he started involving himself in a multitude of extracurricular activities then developed an insatiable desire to grow and learn as well as realising his multiple passions. He frequently endorses himself in social activities and exercises his leadership in various community projects of his own, as well as in other youth-led initiatives including Read Club Cambodia and Social Issues’ Solution Club(SISC Siem Reap). Not long before graduating from 12th grade, he was awarded a fully-funded scholarship to pursue his bachelor's degree in Germany in 2025, in which he plans to study psychiatry. Working at an organisation that closely resonates with his values is his primary goal as he firmly trusts that the world is big enough for everybody, and that Free To Shine is a place where girls are empowered and can become leaders.

Puthearak, born in Kandal province, holds a bachelor's degree from an agricultural university and is deeply committed to community development. He effectively combined his academic background with practical experience during two years of work with a local NGO, focusing on community-driven projects. His passion lies in empowering rural girls to pursue higher education, understanding that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and unlocking new opportunities for future generations.

Kongkea grew up in Siem Reap province, later moving away to complete a degree in Psychology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh and begin her career. Whilst at university, she volunteered with the Khmer Youth Association on a drug prevention program, following that with a position as a social worker and counselor at Garden of Hope Cambodia where she worked with underage survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking. Kongkea’s strength and professionalism are an asset to Free To Shine and she says that “because of my experience working with people in the community, especially in the rural areas, I want to see young girls receive an education so they can protect themselves from traffickers. Education is so important, it teaches them to think critically so they can have a better life in the future. I want to see all people in Cambodia understand the importance of education, and understand how it can protect their children from bad situations.” Kongkea is also dedicated to personal development and education.

Bona is from Banteay Meanchey Province, near the Thai border, and grew up in a community where education was not highly valued. However, he was fortunate to have very supportive parents. Reflecting on his work, Bona shared, "the biggest highlight that I would love to share is working with communities to address their root causes of problems and helping them prioritize their own choices."

Bona has been with Free To Shine since 2016, starting as an Education Officer and later being promoted to Social Worker in 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and is currently completing his Master’s Degree in Management.

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Daron comes to Free To Shine with a degree in Community Development. After finishing his degree, he spent ten months studying advanced agriculture at the International Center for Agriculture Training in Israel. This is Daron’s first experience working for an NGO, but he is determined to try his best. Daron says. “Girls will never be happy if they have to depend on a man for everything. I know that girls have the ability to lead their own lives and have potential to achieve all their goals. Cambodia needs more educated people to develop, including girls. We must all try to be good citizens of the world, good students, good children and good role models for one another.”

Chanda grew up just thirty minutes outside of Siem Reap. After graduating from high school in 2015, she pursued a degree in law at university, driven by the belief that “it is important that people in Cambodia know and understand how laws should be used.” Shortly thereafter, she joined Free To Shine as an Education Officer. Reflecting on her decision, she shared, "I wanted to work at Free To Shine because I want to help poor children gain knowledge and escape from various abuses." In 2019, Chanda proudly earned her bachelor’s degree and continued on to pursue a master’s degree in Business Administration. She expresses her satisfaction with her work, saying, “I am really pleased to work at Free To Shine because I can provide girls with care and safety by visiting them every month. I can learn about the problems they face, and I am happy to be involved in helping them calmly solve their problems."

Vantine, originally from Puk District, is the second Free To Shine beneficiary to transition into a team member at the organisation. After graduating from high school in 2016, she pursued a law degree at the University of South East Asia in Siem Reap, all while volunteering with Free To Shine to assist with Community Trainings. In 2020, Vantine successfully earned her bachelor’s degree. Her dream is to become a lawyer to help others within her community. Vantine believes strongly that girls are powerful and that access to education for girls is crucial. Recognising that girls are among the most vulnerable to traffickers, her hope is to eliminate the vulnerability to trafficking for girls in remote villages and for all children. She envisions a future where Cambodia thrives across all sectors, with a particular focus on eradicating poverty, ending the sexual exploitation of children, and achieving gender equality.

Cheat, from Pouk District, was once a beneficiary of Free To Shine. After graduating from high school in 2018, she was awarded a scholarship by Free To Shine to study for a bachelor's degree at South East Asia University in Siem Reap. Cheat chose to study management, driven by her dream of becoming a manager and a strong leader. In 2023, she achieved that dream by earning her bachelor's degree. Passionate about helping others, Cheat shared, "I joined Free To Shine because I want to take this opportunity to use my skills and knowledge to contribute to the community. I want to help people who are living in extreme poverty, and I believe that girls are powerful. Girls are vulnerable to trafficking, especially those living in rural areas. So, if we want to develop Cambodia, we have to end poverty and human trafficking and empower children, especially girls, through higher education and gender equity.”

Da is from Pouk District and was a beneficiary of Free To Shine. She graduated from high school in 2019 and then received a funded University place from Free To Shine. In 2023, she graduated with a bachelor degree in law. Currently, she is doing a master degree in Private Law and Business Law. “I was hoping to share my skills and knowledge about the law with my neighbours, family and community because most of them do not understand much about the legal system. I want to work with Free To Shine to help girls who live in rural areas. I want to see them get educated as it is very important that they can protect themselves from being trafficked. I believe education and empowerment can reduce poverty and exploitation.”