Back in August, 20 of our team members had the privilege to participate in an incredible 3 part training program, that has deeply impacted their understanding of leadership.
Run by Possibilities World here in Siem Reap, the Leadership Succession Training brought our teachers, coordinators and managers together for 5 days of workshops between June and August. It began in June with the Leadership Discovery Lab, continued in July with the Advanced Leadership Bootcamp, and finished in August with a final day focused on “Our Future at REACH.”
In September, it was our students’ turn. 20 of our students joined the Youth Leadership Development program with Possibilities World, made up of two courses held over five weeks and taught in both Khmer and English. Twelve of our secondary school students in Grades 7 to 9 took part in the Junior Program on Saturdays, while eight of our high school students in Grades 10 to 12 joined the Senior Program on Sundays.
REACH has grown fast. Six years ago, we opened our gates to around 180 students. Today, we support nearly 400 children and 185 families through 13 programs, and our Cambodian team has grown from 15 to 45 staff.
Now, our focus is on strengthening our team and deepening the services our kids and families rely on. This training was a big part of that, building on the strong foundation we already have and helping more of our people step into leadership roles.
Both programs were made possible by our generous sponsors, Geoff and Toni Hewitt, and their support is already making a difference. Our team meetings are more open, our leaders are learning from each other, several team members have taken on new roles, and our students are starting to see themselves as leaders.
Hear directly from our Communications Officer, Rina, and our students about their leadership journey, in their own words.
Over three months, the training moved from looking inward to looking ahead. In June, the Leadership Discovery Lab helped the team explore their own leadership styles and values, and how to build a team where everyone feels safe to speak up. In July, the Advanced Leadership Bootcamp took on a big question: should a leader focus on the work, or on the people? The team’s answer was clear. “Leadership is not about choosing between people and performance,” one reflection reminded them. “Great leaders learn to honour both.” Along the way, they practised explaining the “why” behind each request and giving feedback that is honest, kind and on time.
In one exercise, a teammate described a drawing while their partner recreated it without asking a single question, a light-hearted reminder of how much clarity good leadership needs.
In August, the final day turned to the future. Guided by the theme “candour with care,” the team talked openly about what REACH does best, which problems keep coming back and what we should do less of. They then turned the promises in their letters into simple plans for the next 90 days. Those plans are already starting to show in our everyday work.
At our whole team meetings, there is now a small jar on the table. Inside are folded pieces of paper, each with the name of a team member. A leader picks one name, and that person shares a highlight from their week. It takes only a few minutes, but in a team of 45 people, it means everyone gets a chance to be heard, and good work is celebrated out loud.
Alongside the jar, our team leaders have started shadow meetings, where one leader sits in on another leader’s team meeting. They see how a colleague runs a meeting, shares the bigger picture and gives feedback, then bring those ideas back to their own team. This way, our leaders keep learning from each other long after the training has finished.
The meditation practices from the training have also come back to REACH. Our team shares them with each other, and our teachers now lead students through a few quiet moments of breathing and meditation during assembly or in class.
Our team discussing their favourite leadership quotes.
Behind these new habits is a shift in how our team thinks about leadership. Our Media Officer, Vanda, summed up what many of the team took away: “To me, leadership is leading people toward achieving a shared goal without sacrificing people’s wellbeing along the way, and growing together.”
For our Head Teacher, Sokun, the training has become part of her own growth: “I have now joined training at Possibilities World three times, and each time I learn something new and grow in my leadership journey. The environment is warm, welcoming, and safe. The trainers are kind, open, and patient, and they make everyone comfortable to share ideas without fear of making mistakes. Every time I attend, I leave feeling inspired, motivated, and ready to keep growing. I would highly recommend this training to anyone who wants to grow as a leader.”
Our Founder, Emily Williamson, has seen the difference across the whole team: “What Possibilities World does is not just training. It is transformational work that meets people exactly where they are. They created a space where our team felt safe to be honest, curious, and vulnerable about their leadership in a way I have rarely witnessed. The depth of self-awareness our people developed across the program has already shifted how we lead, how we communicate, and how we think about the future of our organisation.”
That shift doesn’t stop with our team. Teachers who feel heard and supported bring that same care into their classrooms, and leaders who feel supported pass it on to their teams. Our kids feel the difference every day, in programs they and their families can count on: daily meals, free education and real pathways to a better future.
Sokun with her certificate after three months of leadership training.
Building Leadership Skills in Our Students
Our staff training was about preparing the next generation of leaders at REACH, and our students are the generation after that. The same ideas that help our team lead with care can help young people lead in their schools, families and communities.
Our junior group, aged 12 to 15, joined the training every Saturday, while our senior group, aged 16 to 21, joined every Sunday. Through games, discussions and group activities, taught in Khmer and English, they explored what leadership means, from getting to know themselves and their strengths to thinking about how the choices they make today shape who they become. Just like our team, they started with themselves, learning that leadership begins with small, everyday actions.
For one junior student, it was all new and exciting: “It’s my first time learning how to be a leader. The training had lots of activities, and it made me very happy. I learned to know myself better and become more confident. I know how to meditate now. I really love this training.”
Our team has already noticed the difference. Students who joined with very different levels of confidence are learning to manage their feelings, share their ideas and take responsibility for their roles. “I now know how to control my feelings and how to be a leader,” one student said. “I can lead in a group, encourage others, give ideas to the group instead of constantly criticising someone.” For another, the change came quickly: “At first, I was shy, but the next day, I became more confident and less afraid to communicate with other people.”
Our students are growing up surrounded by leaders. The teachers they see every day took part in the same training, and our older students already mentor younger riders in the REACH Riders Club. Our Head Teacher has now completed three leadership courses, and one of our junior students tried meditation for the first time. Both are learning that leadership starts with how you treat people.
Students during the Youth Leadership Development Program.
Thank you for making a difference in our community!
Thank you again to Geoff and Toni for investing in the people who show up for our kids every day. And thank you to the team at Possibilities World for designing a program just for REACH, and for creating a space where our staff and students could speak openly, laugh together and step out of their comfort zones.Thank you again to Geoff and Toni Hewitt for investing in the people who show up for our kids every day. And thank you to the team at Possibilities World for designing a program just for REACH, and for creating a space where our staff and students could speak openly, laugh together and step out of their comfort zones.
When our people feel supported, our kids benefit too. Every dollar our donors give goes further when the team delivering it knows exactly where they are heading, and why.
Strong leaders build strong teams. Strong teams build brighter futures.
If you would like to get involved, you can learn more about our programs and how you can make an impact on our website by clicking here, or get in touch with us at info@reachsiemreap.org.