Emily Williamson & Voleak's Phan

Having grown up in different parts of the world, Emily Williamson and Voleak Phan are united by a shared commitment to empowering disadvantaged families in Cambodia. Emily Williamson, an Australian native, has a deep passion for humanitarian work, heavily influenced by her upbringing split between Asia and Australia. She grew up watching her parents successfully operate international businesses in Bali while also witnessing the struggles of disadvantaged Indonesian families. This experience inspired a lifelong desire to help, which found its roots in Cambodia. She first came to Cambodia when she was 18 years old, and it was a turning point in her life. From her times spent in Siem Reap, Emily had witnessed widespread poverty, the adverse living conditions of children, and traditional gender roles' impact in the community. In Siem Reap's rural communities, families often prioritise the education of their sons, hindering girls and women from accessing the same opportunities. Emily was determined to make a lasting difference and empower everyone. Inspired by a charity bike ride she participated in, Emily launched her own event—a challenging 650 km bike ride across Cambodia. The money raised from these events went directly to helping impoverished families. With the country and the Cambodian people leaving such a huge impact on her, she was inspired to start REACH Siem Reap. This, combined with a successful fundraising bike ride, led her to found the organisation, which operates to support families in one of the most impoverished parts of the city. REACH Siem Reap’s mission lies in breaking the poverty cycle for entire families by getting youths, especially girls, into fair employment through strategic and holistic programs. With a strong emphasis on transparency and local leadership, Emily established an International Advisory Board and committed to a local-led model, ensuring that the organisation's work is both effective and respectful of local culture. For over five years since its inception, REACH Siem Reap supports more than 180 families and their children to access quality education, health & nutrition and social services. More about Emily can be found here: https://balancethegrind.co/interviews/how-emily-williamson-is-breaking-the-poverty-cycle-in-cambodia and https://reachsiemreap.org/board-governance/