In 2009, our 14-year-old daughter, Steph, was denied a life-changing school trip to Cambodia to volunteer with disadvantaged rural families. We decided to embrace the opportunity and travelled to Cambodia as a family, volunteering to teach English at a rural school in Siem Reap province. Those two weeks changed the course of our lives and the lives of thousands of rural Cambodian students and their families. Our students were all the children of survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime and the ensuing civil war – while their parents were illiterate, they understood the value and importance of education. We returned to volunteer in Cambodia several more times and in 2011 founded the Cambodia Rural Students Trust NGO (CRST), with the vision of educating future leaders.

Making a life by what we give, not what we get

CRST is a unique Non-Government Organisation (NGO) because it’s entirely led and managed by our students. Through formal education, extensive mentoring and the opportunities to gain hands-on practical skills, the students of CRST also lead and manage projects in areas as diverse as women’s empowerment, energy poverty, social inequity and environmental degradation, reaching thousands of beneficiaries annually.

We set up CRST with basic business principles in mind. Each of our students holds multiple roles across the organisation and our six educational social enterprises, enabling them to gain valuable hands-on experiences in a variety of fields including general management, finance, communications and operations. Each position has a job description, job procedures, KPIs and reporting and evaluation processes. Our students receive extensive daily mentoring from Jessica, our eldest daughter, and me, supporting them to gain knowledge, confidence and experience.

We all have responsibility – ‘response ability’

CRST is based on the three pillars of Education, Empowerment and Inspiration and we teach our students that as Cambodia’s future leaders, it’s their responsibility to use their education to help themselves and their communities. Our students also attend regular NGO business classes with visiting international business mentors, covering topics including writing business plans, financial literacy, effective communication and developing mental health resilience.

Leading yourself so you can have a positive impact on others is one of the most rewarding experiences any human can have, yet like many enriching experiences it takes planning, actions and constant reevaluation to get the best results. It takes determination, tenacity, flexibility and love. Leadership is a set of responsibilities and, like education, it’s a process, not an event. Leadership is a privilege – your opportunity to enrich other people’s lives.

Our university students become inspirational role models for over 20,000 rural students in Cambodia every year as they lead and manage our educational social enterprise Projects.

The Project B – Bicycles for Education team distribute and repair hundreds of bicycles for rural students each year, supporting their continued schooling. Project G – Empowering girls will this year educate over 7000 rural students about the reproductive system and distribute more than 5000 beautiful and reusable menstruation kits to rural high school girls. The Project L- Light for Education team is distributing over 3000 SolarBuddy study lights and study-material kits annually to remote students living in energy poverty and the Project T – Trees for Life team is planting over 5000 trees, supporting a greener and healthier environment. Our Project W – WASH for Education team is managing the installation of biosand water filtration systems, toilets and incinerators at more than 20 schools this year, impacting thousands of students and community members.

Use your gifts to fill the gaps

We teach our students that their education and mentorship opportunities are not just for their own benefit, but also a powerful way to uplift others. By empowering themselves, they inspire younger generations, creating a ripple effect that extends far and wide. This collective effort raises the tide for countless rural students, building a legacy of hope and opportunity, transforming lives and shaping a brighter future for all.

Our students are mentored to develop life-skills and professional business skills before graduating, so they are able to hit the ground running when they enter the “real-world”. They accept the challenge to transition from the rice fields to world-leading organisations, from fishing boats to boardrooms, and from restaurant jobs to representing government ministries.

The impact of the Cambodia Rural Students Trust NGO and our educated students is forever woven into the fabric of Cambodia’s development.