World of Children 2016 Education Award!

We are beyond excited to announce that our fearless leader, Ponheary Ly, has won this year’s award in the field of education! Recognized as the “Nobel Prize for Child Advocates,” honorees will receive a grant to help their program grow and ultimately impact the lives of even more children. Jaskiran Dhillon, our University Partner at The New School in New York City, shared so beautifully the joy we are all feeling about this honor, and we’d like to share her thoughts with all of you.

 

“I was so thrilled to hear, earlier this week, that one of the women that I admire and respect most in this world has been recognized for the tremendous work she has been doing for her family, community, and country. Since the fall of the Khmer Rouge,Ponheary Ly, has dedicated her life to rebuilding Cambodia from the ground up.

Step by step, and with integrity, courage, and an incredible will to persist in the face of extremely difficult circumstances, she has supported Khmer communities in the rural countryside that none of the big international development agencies would touch. She, and her now thriving organization (The Ponheary Ly Foundation), have rebuilt numerous schools, installed solar panels for electricity, focused on increasing access to education for girls so they can lead their own communities, provided food in places where food security is something people only dream of having, offered medical care where there was none to be found, and developed the infrastructure for clean water to reduce illness.

These are not small things. And this is only a small glimpse into what she, her family, and organization have done.

Ponheary, I am so so happy that you have been awarded the World of Children Award, a prestigious “Nobel Prize for Child Advocates.” I know the work you have done for your community and country has never been about receiving awards–you did this long before your organization even existed. Nonetheless, I am so heartened that your hard work and tireless efforts are being seen by the world. I have learned so much from your strength and wisdom and it’s been an honour to stand beside you and your family for the last seven years. I’ve been humbled by your presence in my life. Can’t wait to see you in New York.“