A New President for "Pour un Sourire d'Enfant"
True to the spirit that has guided it since its founding—to provide the poorest children in Cambodia with the best education, just as we would for our own children—PSE has adapted its work. Under Ghislaine’s leadership, educational, social, and vocational training programs have expanded to better meet the changing needs of young people and the expectations of the job market. In Phnom Penh, the teams strive to treat every young person with respect, trust, and kindness, paying special attention to the most vulnerable: children who have dropped out of school, those who have been abused, and those with disabilities. They work hand in hand with families.
This decade was marked by the 2021 appointment of Leakhena des Pallières, a former PSE beneficiary, as director of the organization in Phnom Penh, against a backdrop of increasing responsibility for local teams. The family spirit instilled by the founders has spread among employees, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and patrons. Despite a difficult economic climate, PSE has maintained funding based primarily on private donations and kept its operating costs tightly under control. The “machine for eradicating poverty” is in full swing.
“I would like to express my deep gratitude to the President whom I am succeeding, as well as to all the members of the Executive Committee and the Board. PSE today possesses exceptional strengths: an extraordinarily strong mission, a rare human-centered culture, solid governance, high-quality local leadership, remarkable teams, and an educational vision that deserves to be taken even further. My ambition as President will be very simple: to preserve what makes PSE strong, to guide its development with high standards and humility, and to help the organization calmly prepare for the next stages of its history,” said Geoffroy Bazin.
A long-time member of PSE, Geoffroy Bazin has served as a director of PSE France since 2009 and has held the positions of vice president and chair of the audit committee. He has also contributed to the association’s international development by establishing PSE’s branch in Luxembourg in 2007 and then serving as president of PSE Switzerland from 2014 to 2018. The association will be able to count on his experience in governance, development, and leadership during this important phase as the implementation of the 2024–2028 strategic plan continues.
“I am very grateful to Geoffroy for accepting this leadership role at a time when organizations are facing serious challenges in terms of public giving. Poverty has taken on a new face in Cambodia, but it is still very much present, with considerable inequalities in access to education that remain. Geoffroy brings values and professional experience that will be crucial in meeting the NGO’s upcoming challenges. I know he has been passionately committed to PSE’s cause for twenty years, and I also know that he will be able to continue to rely on the wonderful people who ensure the smooth operation of the organization and the fulfillment of its social mission—both among the staff in Cambodia and at headquarters, and within our extensive network of volunteers and donors,” said Ghislaine Dufour.
Ghislaine and Geoffroy have been carefully preparing for this transition for many months, in a spirit of trust and continuity. Ghislaine will continue her work at PSE as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, alongside Geoffroy.