The PEPY Ride

My life path has been cross with PEPY family in the early 2008. We were connected through a green transportation; bicycle. After took a group of PEPY riders to my hometown, I learnt what PEPY was standing for; Protect the Earth Protect Yourself. It goes a long very well with my personal belief. Later on, I become more interested to learn more about the organization. Then, late 2009, I become a three months volunteer. I learned so much from the being there. I then become a staff in education program. End up working there for more than 2 years. I did not realize what I learned. I just knew that i know so many new things. Until I started my own startup in Phnom Penh in the late 2011, I realized the lessons I learn at PEPY every time I face the difficulty. I reminded me how the leadership at PEPY work and how I should approach my problem. I droped out after two years in college, two year later I work and volunteer and work at PEPY, I feel like it was my university for me. Thanks so much PEPY Family. If there was not you, I might be someone who join the force with some money lover guys and maybe had done so many bad thing for this country and the world. -Rithy Thul

My belief in PEPY and their work is reflected in my increasing involvement with the organization over the past five years. My first encounter with PEPY was a meeting with the then Founding Director and then Managing Director, in 2007. At that time, I was overseeing a similar non-profit, also based in Cambodia, working in education development. That first meeting turned into regular standing meetings, in which we exchanged lessons learned and talked through challenges and strategies to overcome them. PEPY's team were going through the same realization that we were going through at that time: handouts are not the solution, and more specifically, building schools does not lead to more educated children. Our like-minded thinking led to the next stages of my involvement with PEPY, which was as a trainer for their staff and a consultant for their education program. We worked toward increasing community involvement, training teachers and community members, and improving the program's sustainability. Since then, I have been fortunate to be a part of PEPY's strategic planning, and was both honored and thrilled to be invited to join PEPY's Board of Directors in early 2012. In many ways, my personal "story" with PEPY reflects and was motivated by some of the organization's core values: (1) a commitment to unending potential for improvement; (2) a focus on impact, not inputs; (3) collaboration, both within and beyond; and (4) work with, and not for. I encourage you to learn more about the unique values that define the PEPY culture and characterize its work here: http://pepyride.org/about-us/our-core-values

I first came across PEPY in 2010 when I decided to embark on the PEPY ride - a cross Cambodia cycle trip. I expected to come home with a sore bottom and strange tan lines (which certainly happened!), but they had a far bigger impact. They fundamentally shifted my world view of the role of education, charity and volunteering. After the trip I remained involved with the organisation here in the UK. I struggled a little to decide if I should choose "donor" or "client served" on the site, as my experience with PEPY has given me so much. Suffice to say that their ethos of investing in people counts for everyone they interact with, and PEPY has certainly helped me learn how I can better help others.

PEPY has done a great job, connecting people who care to people who appreciate the help. Professional and fun, purposeful and memorable, the staff do everything possible to make one's interests, efforts and passions count. Our whole family will stay engaged with them for years to come!

Over the past five years I have been a part the The PEPY Ride in nearly every capacity starting as a tour participant and today serving as a member of the board of directors. At every point in my journey with the organization I have been impressed with the work being done but more than that I have been impressed by the unyielding desire to constantly learn from their mistakes and do whatever necessary to make sure positive changes are realized.

PEPY is a responsible tour company that offers tour participants the opportunity to work firsthand in development in Cambodia. Volunteers support long-term development projects and learn about development work by visiting NGOs that are doing the most socially responsible work in Cambodia. This is a great way for trip participants to learn more about the world of global aid while learning about Cambodia.

I have been working with PEPY for the past 2 years both virtually as a volunteer and for the last 10 months in the office here in Phnom Penh. I came on a trip in December 2005 and it changed my world! I am constantly impressed at the self-critical and thoughtful attitude that PEPY staff take with development programs.