The Ponheary Ly Foundation is the best run charity I know. They have a holistic, sustainable, and community-focused approach to educating children. The challenges of education in rural Cambodia are complex. Many other charities try to reduce that complexity by taking children out of their homes and out of their communities into cities. The PLF takes a longer-term view, working within the communities they serve to build capabilities that further their education goal. Their programs cover the full scope of a child's needs to get educated. From basics like nutrition, hygiene, and uniforms, to more advanced needs like local libraries, technology training, and mentorship. All needs provided within the community as much as possible, with the consent and support of the community. All of this is accomplished with responsibly low overhead costs. They have staff, mostly Cambodian, who do valuable work and are paid fairly for it. I trust the PLF to use my donations efficiently and fairly. I met Ponheary when I sponsored a field trip for Koh Ker students in 2012 while staying at Seven Candles guesthouse. She was kind, caring, and thrifty. I brought some requested school supplies from the US; as much as possible, she preferred to have supplies bought in Siem Reap to support the local economy. The field trip was a fun mix of education at Angkor Wat and city sight-seeing in Siem Reap. The kids got to pick one book from the local book store, and were delighted by the escalator to get there. Lori's "Get Real" blog series is one of the most open and forthright introspections I have read from a charity about their successes and their pivots when things aren't working as they hoped. The PLF is committed to continuous improvement in service of their mission: school is the answer. I have been a donor for a decade and unreservedly recommend supporting them.
We work closely with PLF and absolutely love their approach. A fantastic charity doing important work in Cambodia.
I firmly believe in the mission and goals of PonHeary. The work that has and is being done among children and their families is nothing but amazing!! Much of their success as an educational institution is due to the skill set, dedication and self sacrifices of their leadership team, truly a great model for all nonprofits.
PLF is a safe haven for lots of kids in and around Siem Reap. Quality education has a high priority, which is the foundation for a better future for Cambodia.
PLF is open for new ideas and over the years we have often worked together. They love our educational toys and games (made from recycled materials) and we love their dedication in their work. They really make a difference for lots of young people in Cambodia.
I am very happy that this NGO have been working to provide educational, schools supplies, food, uniform, English, dormitory, university, as well as lots of programs. Library is one of the top favorite action which has annual events that encourage young generations of Cambodia to make a habit of reading books.
Thanks for providing the most needed to people who need the most. I am looking forward that this organization can stay strong and help entire Cambodian children to reach educational as much as it can.
I Love PLF that have been working to support the students go to school and provide more soft skill like English IT course and workshop also libraries are committed towards their cause and perform their functions to achieve their respective goals . I hope in the future PLF will develop more project to help more communities in Cambodian children .
Ponheary, Lori, and the entire organization are a treasure for the children, their families, villages, and their teachers. I have known Ponheary for twenty years and worked on projects for them over those years. I am a a Professor at William and Mary and have brought my students to visit the PLF over a great many of those years. COVID-19 has interrupted our in-person visits , but look forward to having my Graduate and Undergraduate students once again meet with these dedicated and remarkable people. Any funds that the Ponheary Ly Foundation go directly to support the children, schools, and their communities. The future of Cambodia lies in educating their children and creating opportunities going forward. Ponheary, Lori Carlson, and their dedicated staff are doing their very best to enrich these young lives and the greater community. God Bless them. Don Rahtz, Professor William and Mary, Williamsburg VA, USA