UnionAID, with partners, the Khmer Farmer Products (KFP) in Cambodia, the Participatory Development Knowledge Agency (PAKA) in the Lao PDR and Auckland University of Technology (AUT), are excited to welcome the third cohort of the Cambodia Laos Young Leaders Programme 2026
Thyda Bunthorn She/Her
Senior Hospitality Training Officer
Stung Treng, Cambodia
Thyda was born and raised in the rural province of Stung Treng, Cambodia. Inspired by her grandfather’s story of determination as a member of an ethnic minority community where opportunities were limited, she overcame challenges to independently pursue a degree in Tourism Management at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Growing up with this story, Thyda learned that opportunities are created through courage, effort, and continuous learning.
Motivated by this belief, she began her career as a contracted staff member at the Stung Treng Provincial Department of Tourism. She also worked as an English teacher, supporting students to build confidence and dream big. She currently serves as a Senior Hospitality Training Officer at Swisscontact Cambodia, an international development organisation that promotes sustainable economic development through skills development and employment opportunities. Through the Hospitality Kampuchea (HoKa) programme, she leads and coordinates hospitality skills development supporting initiatives for disadvantaged youth and hospitality low-skilled workers in Stung Treng, Kratie, and Preah Vihear provinces.
Thyda is passionate about empowering people through skills, knowledge, and confidence. She hopes the CLYLP programme will strengthen her leadership and social innovation skills, enabling her to continue creating learning opportunities that support inclusive and sustainable in her community development.
Vannoula Phongvichith (Fon)- She/Her
Center Manager and Project Manager
PASOM PASAN Arts and Crafts Center
Luang Prabang, Laos
Vannoula Phongvichith: Empowering Luang Prabang’s future through cultural innovation. As the Center Manager of PASOM PASAN, she transforms cultural heritage into a dynamic catalyst for sustainable growth. She believes that ancestral arts are not just history, but a living force capable of fostering environmental consciousness and modern economic opportunity.
Driven by a deep passion for her hometown of Luang Prabang, Vannoula bridges the gap between generations. While the digital age often pulls the youth away from their roots, she empowers them to reclaim their identity through creative innovation. With global insights gained from fellowships across the U.S., Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, and a proven track record of leading award-winning regional initiatives, she demonstrates that when tradition meets modern purpose, it builds both proud careers and a resilient future.
At the heart of this mission is the PASOM PASAN project. Launched in 2025 under the Namjai Community Association and Sala Sujipuli, the project serves as a dedicated hub for the revitalization and preservation of traditional Lao arts. Through structured skills training, collaborative production, and cultural exchange, the initiative empowers young Lao people to reclaim their heritage as a source of identity, ensuring that the beauty of their culture is not only preserved but passed on with the goals.
Aiong Joohuevue (Siri) – She/Her
Content creator
STELLA Training Center
Vientiane Capital, Laos
Aiong is a proud Hmong woman from Oudomxay Province, Northern Laos. Growing up in a rural community where boys’ futures were prioritized over girls’. Despite cultural norms and financial challenges, she earned a degree in Social Work, beginning a journey that would empower not only herself but also her community.
She is passionate about promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment, education, self-development and being a role model. along with Content creator, She plays a key part in content plainning, Training, Mentoring for youth skills development campaigns on Facebook and TikTok. however she is co-designing and co-facilitating youth-centered events, promoting and particularly within the CHANGE in Youth program—an education and career counseling initiative aimed at empowering Lao youth to make informed decisions about their future.
STELLA is the platform for youths to collaborate and create positive change, for learning, sharing and partnership to impact in your work and community. At STELLA, we take PLAY seriously and believe that learning should be fun and growth through hands on activities, volunteerism, business incubation and small grants and mentoring. It’s main area almost focuses on self-skills.
KONG SREYLEAB – She/Her
Child Sponsorship Officer
Actionaid Cambodia
Phnom Penh Capital city
Sreyleab was born and raised in a developing country where many fields still require improvement in terms of human resources. As a girl living in the countryside, I have been witnessing poverty, domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment and so on. Most of the victims are women. This injustice has deeply affected me, and the resulting pain has shaped my ambition and commitment to help all women who are victims of this unfair world by pursuing higher education in Phnom Penh and graduating in faculty of law in 2028. my first journey began at the Gender and Development of Cambodia as an intern in 2019.
Currently, I am working with Actionaid Cambodia as a Programme and Child Sponsorship officer with experience in child sponsorship, women’s rights, climate change, and community development. Skilled in partner management, grant administration, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting, and capacity building. Supported 9 Local Rights Partners across 5 provinces and previously managed 13 partners to promote gender-responsive education and health services. Nine years of experience as a gender trainer and advocate for gender equality and community empowerment. In addition, my role is to provide technical support on child safeguarding and protection to all partners by promoting and upholding child safeguarding policies, ensure all sponsorship activities protect children’s dignity, privacy and rights.
Manivone Chittaphone (Ningning) – She/Her
Youth Development Project Coordinator
Xiang Miang Lab (XMT)
Luang Prabang, Laos PDR
Manivone CHITTAPHONE is a youth development practitioner from Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, with a background in Business Administration and a passion for youth empowerment, social innovation, and sustainable development. She believes that when young people are equipped with the right opportunities, they can become powerful changemakers in their communities.
She currently serves as a Project Coordinator at Xiang Miang Lab (XMT), where she supports the design and implementation of youth development programmes. Her work focuses on programme coordination, stakeholder engagement, partnership building, and monitoring, working closely with development partners, educational institutions, and local communities.
Among the programmes she has contributed to are STEM for Girls Laos, which inspires girls to explore STEM through hands-on learning and digital literacy, and Sinxay: UPSHIFT Laos, a youth-led social innovation programme that empowers young people to transform community challenges into innovative solutions. Through these initiatives, she has supported young generation in developing leadership, critical thinking, collaboration, turning ideas into action and problem-solving skills.
Xiang Miang Lab is the Youth Development Unit of XM Technovator, serving as a youth-driven innovation platform established in 2019 in Lao PDR. Xiang Miang Lab is dedicated to empowering young people through learning, innovation, and collaboration. Since its establishment, Xiang Miang Lab has created opportunities for youth development through initiatives such as the Xiang Miang Ambassador Annual Programme, STEM for Girls Laos, Sinxay: UPSHIFT Laos, and other youth-led programmes that strengthen leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital inclusion, and problem-solving skills.
Kompheak Moha (Kompheak) – She/Her
Value Chain and Coordination Officer
NatureLife Cambodia (NLC)
Ratanakiri, Cambodia
Kompheak Moha is a sustainable development professional driving economic growth and conservation in Cambodia’s highlands. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management from the Royal University of Phnom Penh, she applies her expertise in community-based development to strengthen sustainable livelihoods. She currently manages the IBIS Rice and Sustainable Cashew Nut schemes in Ratanakiri and Mondolkiri provinces. She empowers three producer groups across seven villages, building their capacity to meet strict buyer standards and connecting local farmers directly to high-potential markets.
In addition to sustainable agriculture, she contributes to climate action through regional REDD+ initiatives. She leads vital village consultations and community meetings to ensure every voice is heard, no one is left behind, and all villagers actively participate in decision-making for forest protection.
NatureLife Cambodia (NLC) is a BirdLife Partner in Cambodia. It officially became a national non-governmental organization in February 2017 with a mission to conserve Cambodia’s biodiversity by managing natural resources sustainably for the benefits of all. NLC has undertaken projects in key locations, including Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary, the Cambodian Mekong Delta Region, and the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve.
KONG SREYLEAB – She/Her
Child Sponsorship Officer
Actionaid Cambodia
Phnom Penh Capital city
Sreyleab was born and raised in a developing country where many fields still require improvement in terms of human resources. As a girl living in the countryside, I have been witnessing poverty, domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment and so on. Most of the victims are women. This injustice has deeply affected me, and the resulting pain has shaped my ambition and commitment to help all women who are victims of this unfair world by pursuing higher education in Phnom Penh and graduating in faculty of law in 2028. my first journey began at the Gender and Development of Cambodia as an intern in 2019.
Currently, I am working with Actionaid Cambodia as a Programme and Child Sponsorship officer with experience in child sponsorship, women’s rights, climate change, and community development. Skilled in partner management, grant administration, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting, and capacity building. Supported 9 Local Rights Partners across 5 provinces and previously managed 13 partners to promote gender-responsive education and health services. Nine years of experience as a gender trainer and advocate for gender equality and community empowerment. In addition, my role is to provide technical support on child safeguarding and protection to all partners by promoting and upholding child safeguarding policies, ensure all sponsorship activities protect children’s dignity, privacy and rights.
Blen Romam – He/Him
President
Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA)
Ratanakiri province, Cambodia
Blen Romam is an Indigenous Jarai youth from a small village in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia, where rich Indigenous knowledge and natural resources coexist with persistent barriers to education and opportunities for young people. Witnessing these challenges inspired his commitment to advancing Indigenous youth leadership, education, youth engagement, and community empowerment. He moved to Phnom Penh to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Social Science with a major in International Relations at the University of Cambodia, graduating in 2024.
Blen has experience working with both national and international organizations. Since April 2025-now, he has serving as President of the Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA), leading the organization’s strategic vision and programs. Previously, he worked as a librarian and communications officer before becoming a Project Officer at the Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization (CIPO). He worked as intern with the Cambodian Youth Network, promoting youth participation and environmental advocacy. His leadership journey includes serving as a Youth Energy Fellow with Transparency International Cambodia and volunteering as a Provincial Youth Representative and CIYA member since 2019. He is also an alumnus of YSEALI-US Program, the Asia Young Indigenous Peoples Network (AYIPN), and YPAT–UNICEF Cambodia (2021-recent).
As CIYA President, he strengthened Indigenous youth leadership by designing innovative programs that expand educational opportunities, research/documentation, advocacy on IPs rights, preserve Indigenous knowledge, develop leadership and soft skills, strengthen nationwide youth networks, and encourage civic engagement. He also contributes articles on Indigenous issues to Cambodianess and Indigenous Peoples Voice of Cambodia, amplifying Indigenous voices and promoting the protection of Indigenous rights, ancestral lands, and natural resources.
Singxay INTHACHAK (Ken)
Project & Grant Manager
Promotion of Family Health Association
Vientiane Capital, Laos
Singxay Inthachak is from Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR, and currently works at the Promotion of Family Health Association (PFHA), contributing to public health and development programmes focused on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (MNCAH), child and early marriage prevention, gender-based violence prevention and response, and community-based health initiatives. His work includes programme management, proposal development, donor reporting, partnership engagement, and technical documentation to support evidence-based programmes that improve health outcomes across Lao PDR.
Singxay holds a Bachelor’s degree in General Business Management and completed English language studies at Vientiane College. He previously supported maternal and child health programmes with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Lao PDR.
The Promotion of Family Health Association (PFHA) is a national non-profit association established on 28 June 2012 under the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Lao PDR. PFHA is committed to improving the health and well-being of all people by providing innovative and up-to-date sexual and reproductive health information and quality services. PFHA’s vision is A healthy and happy society, contributing towards bringing Lao PDR out of least developed nation status.
Vannit Kheng
Vannit Kheng is a community development and social impact professional with a Bachelor’s degree in TESOL from Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia. Currently, he serves as an Outreach Program Officer at Discover Your Possibilities (DYP) in Siem Reap, where he supports initiatives that improve educational opportunities and inclusion for people with visual impairments. His work focuses on outreach, program coordination, communications, and strengthening access to education and essential
support services. Before joining DYP, Vannit worked with Free To Shine, Equitable Cambodia, and TEN Center, gaining experience in education, child protection,
community development, and project implementation. Passionate about creating positive social change, he is committed to empowering vulnerable communities through inclusive leadership, collaboration, and sustainable development.
DYP’s work focuses on its Learning Center, where students develop independent living, Braille, technology, and vocational skills; Research, which identifies the needs of people with visual impairments to improve services and advocacy; and Collaboration with schools, government agencies, communities, and partners to strengthen inclusive
education and accessibility. The organization also provides higher education scholarships and direct assistance to vulnerable individuals, helping them build confidence and participate fully in society.