Our Story
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Our story is Sem Sovantha's story. In 1990, Sovantha was a captain in the Cambodian Army. He had a promising future until he stepped on a Khmer Rouge "double personal" landmine, which blew his legs to bits. Just under a quarter kilo of TNT will do that. There are millions of landmines still buried in Cambodian fields. You're pretty much on your own if you step on one. There's no work. Hospitals are over-stretched. And very often, your own family is just too poor and too busy working to take care of you. So you do what Sovantha did - you take to the streets and beg, because otherwise you're going to starve to death. |
Life is tough, right?
Sovantha looked at the people begging on the streets of Siem Reap. Some were landmine victims like him. Some were severely injured in work or road accidents. If you're poor and at risk, there's a million ways to get hurt, and no way you're getting better.
Sovantha realised something had to change. More - that he could make that change . So he put himself through school, and founded the AAD, winning NGO status in 2004. His vision: helping others help themselves . Self-sufficiency. Sustainable development. Call it what you like, the effect is the same; thanks to his vision, inspiration, and determination, there's a place to go in Siem Reap when life gets really tough. Where you can learn a trade, develop a skill, and find yourself a future.
And even if you'll never be able to stand on your own two feet again, you can stand tall.
