Leakhéna des Pallières, one of the first beneficiaries of the NGO, appointed Director of PSE

Appointed director of PSE in Cambodia on 14 August 2021, Leakhéna is one of the first children from the landfill to have been taken into care nearly 30 years ago.

A childhood on the dumpsite

Almost 30 years ago, Leakhéna was a little girl in distress, living in extreme poverty and violence.

‘The rubbish tip was a terrible place. The heat, the smells and the fears! We looked for small things that we could try to sell during the day,’ recalls Leakéhna. Today, the rubbish tip has been closed and moved outside Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, and Leakhéna's life has changed radically.

Leakhéna (à gauche) sur la décharge avec Christian des Pallières et une autre enfant chiffonnière

Leakhéna en train de distribuer du matériel scolaire à deux enfants pris en charge par PSE

‘We didn't realise how difficult it was at the rubbish tip... It's more painful today because I realise that we, the rag-and-bone children, were completely isolated from society,’ she explains, emotionally.

Her meeting with Christian and Marie-France des Pallières, founders of Pour un Sourire d'Enfant, changed her life: she found hope for a better future and a loving family. Thanks to PSE, Leakhéna can go to school and learn a trade.

A future at PSE

After completing her education at PSE, Leakhéna chose to work at PSE so that she could, in turn, fight against poverty and violence affecting children. "As there was no training available to become a social worker at the time, PSE offered me the opportunity to learn the job directly in the field. ‘ A few years later, she became director of the social department and then deputy director of the association. She was appointed chief executive officer on 14 August 2021. ’Our fundamental work is to meet the expectations of each beneficiary according to their skills and wishes."

Leakhéna entourée de membres de l'équipe de Pour un Sourire d'Enfant au Cambodge

A moving testimony

A success made possible thanks to sponsorship

Since the beginning of their actions in Cambodia, Christian and Marie-France des Pallières, the founders of PSE, have chosen to rely on sponsorship to ensure the sustainability of the association's programmes. The commitment we make to the children is strong: we lead them from misery to a profession!

The comprehensive care we offer the children is long-term. We commit ourselves to the end and do not leave any child by the side of the road.

Find out more about sponsorship