Celebrating the People Who Make EYC Possible
For 20 years, every EYC student who has found their voice, stepped into leadership, or imagined a bigger future has had someone standing beside them — a teacher, a staff member, a volunteer — quietly and consistently believing in their potential.
Today, EYC is powered by 49 staff members, teachers, and international volunteers (3 French engineers and 1 Peace Corps volunteer) who do far more than create and deliver programs. They are mentors and role models. They create classrooms where students feel safe to explore their potential. They hold students accountable and extend a hand when students need help. Together, they are the consistent, caring presence behind thousands of life-changing moments — and the reason our students can grow, lead, and succeed.
Today, we celebrate and thank all current and former staff members, teachers, interns, and volunteers who have stood by our students over the last 20 years.
Within this extraordinary group of people is another factor that makes EYC uniquely powerful: many of those guiding students today once sat in EYC classrooms themselves.
Former students who have become staff carry a perspective rooted in lived experience. They understand the path not just professionally, but personally, and they stand as daily reminders to current students of what is possible.
20 Years of Walking Alongside Our Students
As part of our 20th anniversary, we are proud to share the stories of several of our staff who are now shaping the next generation of EYC students. Their journeys are powerful reflections of EYC’s culture of giving back—and of the lasting impact of investing in young people.
Bondol: EYC’s STEM Program Manager
Bondol came to EYC at a time when his family was deep in debt, and survival required constant work. He woke at 3:00 a.m. for manual labor, cycled nearly 20 kilometers each day between university and free English classes, and studied late into the evening on little more than a piece of bread. He joined EYC because it was the only place offering high-quality education at no cost. At EYC, he pushed from beginner to advanced English, stayed late in class despite exhaustion, and fully embraced the culture of giving back. Being called to the stage as an outstanding student to receive a dictionary was the moment he knew his effort mattered. At EYC, he didn’t just learn language and computer skills — he learned leadership, adaptability, and the confidence to work with anyone. Today, he prepares students for the modern digital economy by teaching them to master computer and coding skills, standing beside those who are struggling because he has lived that struggle himself. He reminds them, “Your current challenges are just a season in your life. As long as you have a dream and keep fighting, your life will improve.”
Chhenghak: EYC’s Outreach Program Manager
Chhenghak grew up in a family of seven in an informal settlement in EYC’s Lakeside community, where the family’s daily income of 5,000 riel (roughly $1.25) often wasn’t enough for food or clothing. Encouraged by her older sister, Chhenghour, she joined EYC’s evening classes. The first day she entered the classroom at EYC, she says, her mindset shifted from a life that felt small and hopeless to one where she could imagine a bigger future. She joined every program she could, became a team leader, earned scholarships through high school and university, and returned as a staff member. Today, as Outreach Program Manager, she organizes health programs because she knows from experience that a student cannot learn if their family is in crisis. Her work is driven by a sense of responsibility and by memory: “I feel a responsibility to ensure that the door stays open for others. Returning as staff is my way of making sure the investment EYC made in me continues to grow through the lives of other children.” To young students joining EYC, she says, “15 years ago, I was you. Today, I am your teacher. Tomorrow, you could be sitting in this chair.”
Rany: EYC’s Education Program Manager
Rany joined EYC in 2006 as a part-time English teacher while studying at university, initially seeking income to support his bachelor’s degree and a place to build his skills. What he found was far more than a job. At Aziza School, he witnessed firsthand the difficult environment students navigated each day—and was struck by the responsibility EYC entrusted to young people, especially when he discovered that a young woman who had introduced herself as a “student” was also the school manager. Sothearoth, the “school manager,” and Rany are now married with two children! Through community organizing trainings, a daily commitment to improving his English, and increasing leadership responsibilities—from teacher to leader of kids’ teachers to program manager—Rany grew from what he describes as “a very silent person” into a confident communicator and leader. Today, he is proud to help “build good human resources for Cambodia,” believing that at EYC, “you are never alone to achieve your dreams.”
Sothearoth: EYC’s Social Worker
Sothearoth first came to EYC as a university student searching for direction and confidence, drawn by its reputation as a safe place where young people could learn and grow. At a time when she was balancing studies and limited opportunities, EYC became more than a program—it became a second home. One defining moment came when she realized her voice truly mattered, when teachers and mentors not only listened to her but encouraged her to speak up. Through mentorship and skills training, she strengthened her communication and teamwork skills while building a deep sense of responsibility and confidence. She grew from someone who once received support into someone committed to giving it back. Today, as a staff member, she is motivated by the same belief that shaped her journey: that education, compassion, and community service can transform lives. As she says, “EYC is a place that transformed my life and gave me the chance to help transform others.”
Sreiroth: EYC’s Scholarship Program Manager
Sreiroth joined EYC in 2008 during a difficult time for her family. After her mother gave birth to her youngest brother, the family’s finances became more challenging, and they moved to the countryside. Determined to continue her education and hoping for “a brighter future,” she registered at Aziza School, traveling early each morning to attend classes. EYC quickly became her second family, supporting her with scholarships, food, accommodation, extra high school classes, and eventually, assistance with university tuition. Over time, she grew from a student to a team leader to a school manager, discovering a passion for helping other young people navigate challenges she once faced herself. “I started from zero,” she reflects, crediting EYC with building her skills, confidence, and mindset. Today, she sees scholarships not just as financial aid but as “hope, opportunities, and responsibility,” and she is proud to invest in education that develops Cambodia’s next generation. In her words, “EYC guides us to identify ourselves and cultivate gratitude.”
EYC has never been just a program. It is a community built by people who believe in young people — and turn that belief into action every single day.
For 20 years, that belief has been carried by our staff, teachers, interns, and volunteers who show up — opening doors, creating safe spaces, and walking alongside students as they grow.
To every member of the EYC team, past and present, in Cambodia and around the globe — thank you. You are the reason young people dare to dream, and the reason those dreams become possible.