Sam Ven

Sam Ven’s journey into social work was largely fueled by his experience growing up in a village marked by the scars of the Khmer Rouge regime. He faced frequent disruptions to his education due to fighting and upheavals yet continued to pursue education with unwavering determination. Once he finally gained consistent access to education, he faced skepticism from his fellow villagers who doubted the value of education and believed his family’s investment would yield little return. Still, Sam persevered and went on to complete high school and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree.

“Despite opposition from neighboring families and my village, I remained steadfast in my goal: to uplift my impoverished community through education,” he says. “I wanted to prove that investing in education could lead to positive change.”

After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, Sam began volunteering with various NGOs focused on drug harm reduction and working with incarcerated parents and juveniles. In these roles, Sam witnessed firsthand the challenges faced when a parent or young person is incarcerated.

“When a parent or juvenile is incarcerated for a small crime, it can result in the separation of families, the loss of educational opportunities for children and families falling further into poverty,” he explains.

Joining This Life Cambodia in 2012 marked a significant step in Sam’s career. Starting as an officer and progressing to a senior management position, Sam now oversees five programs and a team of 30 social service workers. His work focuses on supporting vulnerable children and families during crises to ensure children remain within or return to their families and communities. This includes a particular focus on supporting families in which a parent or child has been incarcerated and supporting reintegration of children from residential care institutions. Throughout his career, Sam’s efforts have directly supported approximately 3,000 families, with over 1,500 benefiting from the programs he has led.

The challenges Sam faces in his role are significant. Ensuring access to justice for juveniles and parents in conflict with the law, managing the reintegration of children from closed residential care institutions, and securing consistent funding for the programs he manages are ongoing hurdles. However, through collaboration with government and NGO partners, advocacy and community engagement, Sam and his team strive to address these issues.

Sam remains optimistic about the future. His advice to those entering similar roles is heartfelt: “build genuine relationships, commit passionately to helping others, maintain work-life balance, and embrace continuous learning”.

What keeps Sam motivated is the tangible impact of his work. The pride of his family, the encouragement from his team, and the recognition from stakeholders, especially from the villagers that once doubted the value of his education, fuel his commitment.

“My work fills me with pride…” he says with a smile. “Witnessing a new generation in my hometown pursue higher education, and receiving appreciation from villagers and neighboring families, reinforces my commitment to making a difference.”

Explore the full report here: Global Social Service Workforce Alliance