We are pleased to announce that Chea Sarin, the Executive Director and co-founder of Spitler School, was recently elected by the citizens as the Nokorthom’s Head of Councilor and Chief of Commune. Nokorthom is the commune of villages where the schools supported by Spitler School Foundation are located.

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” (C.S. Lewis)

Sarin has certainly shown this quote to be true. When Sarin was a young boy, his father was assassinated by the Khmer Rouge, and Sarin escaped with his mother and sisters to a refugee camp outside of Cambodia. Through these hardships, Sarin developed a passion for helping heal his country from the genocide. His efforts include building three schools, drilling over 75 wells for clean water, leading works to help the environment, raising funds for and distributing food to the poorest families, new road construction and flood prevention, and supporting efforts for gender equality and female empowerment. Along the way, he pushed himself to learn English, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

We are so proud of Sarin, his wife Mary, and their three beautiful daughters for their passion, talent, and commitment to others. We know that they will continue to make an impact on the lives of our students and all the people of Nokorthom Commune.