AKI RA, Topic “You Can Make a Different”
Aki Ra is an internationally recognized figure who has dedicated his life to making Cambodia, his native land, safe from the ravages of landmines. He was born in 1970, and taken from his family by the Khmer Rouge at the age of 5, he fought for the many different armies that ravaged Cambodia for nearly 35 years.In the early 1990’s he went to work for the UN clearing landmines around Angkor Wat. He decided that demining would become his trade and returned to the villages where he had fought, removing landmines that were killing and maiming his fellow Khmers.
His Cambodian Landmine Museum and Relief Center, established in 2007 cares for dozens at risk children. They are housed, cared for, and educated.
Today he runs a demining NGO called Cambodian Self Help Demining. Working with the other demining NGOs in the country he is making his country safe for his people. Through 2012 his team has cleared over 40 mine fields in small villages and put nearly 10,000 people back on land that was, in every sense of the word, killing them.
- In 2010 he was named a CNN Top 10 Hero. 10,000 were nominated.
- In 2010 a movie, A Perfect Soldier, was made about his life.
- In 2012 he was a recipient of the Manhae Prize, by the Manhae Foundation in Korea.Today his 2 NGOs, The Cambodian Landmine Museum and Cambodian Self Help Demining, are recognized around the world as examples of what one person can accomplish, regardless of the circumstances of their birth.
Ms. Doung Sopheap, Topic “SeIf Motivation”
She is 32 years old (married with 2 daughters), her hometown at Krolanh district, Siem Reap province (60km from Siem Reap town). She is from the farmer family; her Dad died when she was 13 years old and her Mam is farmer, she is 75 years old, she has an oldest sister (passed away) and an older brother is farmer.Her work experience is 12 years in Hotel industries and organizations.
Her current job is Human Resource Manager at Amansara Resorts, Siem Reap city; she joined this hotel for a year ago. The previous experience was human resource manager at Tara Angkor Hotel for 5 years.She was graduated bachelor degree in business management major Marketing management at Build Bright University and currently she is doing post graduate in business management major general management same university. She will finish her MBA soon within 3 months more.
Her future goals she wants travelling oversea and work other country in Asian and Europe, and she wants to be a lecturer in university to share her knowledge for young adult Cambodian.
Ms. Sinketh Arun, Topic “Understanding the Women’s Reproductive Health”
Ms. Arun has been working for Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, Cambodia, for 12 years. After graduating from the Kompong Cham Regional Nursing School in early of 2001, she started working as an In-patient Nurse at AHC, and in the mid of 2003, then she was promoted to be the Personal Assistant to the Executive Director of the hospital.Currently, from July 2006, she has been an External Relations Manager, Development Department, at Angkor Hospital for Children and her main role is to raise the awareness of AHC to the local in order to create the funding sources for AHC.
In addition to the nursing background, she graduated the Bachelor of Business Administration, field Accounting and Finance, at Build Bright University, Siem Reap, in 2008, and she is currently taking the MBA, field General Management, at BBU Siem Reap.
In her free time, she has joined as a volunteer President of Business and Professional Women Cambodia, the club associated with Business and Professional Women International, since 2007. She also has experienced as the founding Vice Director of the NGO of Bakong Technical College for 4 years.
She has been to several countries including United States, Mexico, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, for her career. Through those traveling experiences, she has learnt a lot about the culture differences, communication, and young women issues around the world.
Mr. Chhunn Noem, Topic “Art of Dreaming”
He is professional trainer on leadership and management, and our Meditation GURU. He has a degree in Buddhist Philosophy with an English language major from the International Buddhist University (MCU) of Chiang Mai, Thailand. While studying for his degree, he also served as President of the Cambodian Students Association in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and for many years, was the Volunteer Teachers Leader at the International Meditation Center (also in Chiang Mai).Currently, he is a Co-Founder & Training Manager at SmallWorldCambodia where he is responsible for peacekeeping, community & interpersonal communications, cultural preservation, philosophy and holds trainings for groups of students on personal development, team building, and youth empowerment.
In parallel, he also works as Senior Trainer for PossibilitiesWorld, a company delivering Leadership Development and Management solutions.
As a freelancer, he provides training and translation to a+b=3, a company that brings Financial Education to low-income individuals, families, schools, communities, as well as small businesses, to help them manage money and/or run their business more efficiently.
His own project, dharmatravelers, was formed to teach students and young people
the importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle (personal/family/business/
community). He uses this model to guide his students towards self-empowerment to build commitment, self-belief and determination. Meditation is an important pillar in these teachings. This project will also work closely with the generation and their children severely affected by the Khmer Rouge period, and who still suffer from anxiety and recurring memories.His passion is to see young Cambodians live their dreams, goals and passions and to help them build inner-peace through true understanding.
First Event Speakers
