About Us
Founders
Jen and Meansith Chhun’s journey began with their work at Destiny Rescue (now a key partner of UPO), an organisation dedicated to rescuing children who have been exploited and trafficked. During their time with the organisation they developed a shared passion for education initiatives and community-led development as a means to combat child trafficking.
This common vision inspired them to create the Unity Project Organisation, a heartfelt initiative committed to strengthening Cambodian villages against the dangers of trafficking and exploitation. Jen, an Australian primary school educator, concentrates on education and administration, while Meansith, contributes essential cultural insights drawn from his substantial experience as a Cambodian case worker with Destiny Rescue. Their motivation stems from real stories of trafficked children and the struggles of underprivileged families they’ve encountered, inspiring their tireless efforts to create safer communities for vulnerable children.
Essentially, their journey represents an unwavering dedication to prevent child trafficking and exploitation in Cambodian villages through educational support and active engagement in community-led development initiatives.
Our Vision
Unity Project Organization aims to support children and adults in developing the skills and confidence needed to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives within their villages.
Mission
- Collaborate with the Royal Government of Cambodia to contribute to the country’s development in alignment with its current strategic policies.
- Support children and adults facing socio-economic challenges by offering educational assistance, life skills programs, and sustainable livelihood initiatives.
- Contribute to the development of villages in Cambodia by providing essential infrastructure such as wells and sanitation facilities to those in need.
Journey
Since our launch in 2021, we have cultivated significant connections with local residents and community leaders in Cambodian villages. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, our committed Unity Project case workers extend support to vulnerable school-aged individuals in these villages.
We offer a variety of support services for these individuals, including financial assistance to facilitate access to school education, life skills training and basic counselling services for both individuals and their families.
Moreover, our case workers actively collaborate with village leaders in the hometowns of our clients’ families. This collaboration fosters joint initiatives aimed at strengthening these villages through community-driven projects. As of May 2024, Unity Project Organisation (UPO) is a registered local non-government organisation (NGO) of Cambodia.