In Koh Sralay Commune, Stung Treng Province, Ngon Simom is known not just as a 37-year-old police officer or a mother of three—but as a driving force for positive change in her community. Balancing her professional duties with her commitment as a member of the Community Management Committee (CMC), Simom embodies strength, service, and compassion.
For Simom, joining the CMC wasn’t just another responsibility—it was a meaningful opportunity. She saw it as a chance to help her community grow stronger, safer, and more connected. With every meeting, outreach activity, and group decision, her confidence has grown.
“Before, I was shy to speak in public,” she reflects. “But now, I’ve found my voice—and I use it to bring people together.”
Through her work with ADRA Cambodia’s TOGETHER Project, Simom has become a strong advocate for CoLMEAL—the Community-Led Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning approach. She has seen how CoLMEAL empowers communities to take ownership of their development, engage in open dialogue, and monitor progress collectively. With the support of local leaders, schools, youth, and vulnerable groups, the committee is building momentum that reaches every corner of the village.
For Simom, the changes are personal too. She has learned about the risks of drug use and the importance of preventing violence. Thankfully, her family has never faced such issues—but her knowledge and advocacy now help ensure that others in her community can feel just as safe.
And the impact is visible. Drug use in the village is declining. People are more informed, more united, and more hopeful.
What keeps her going is simple: curiosity, a hunger to learn, and a deep desire to uplift others. She continues to advocate for additional support—especially financial support for travel—so that CMC members like her can stay actively involved and expand their reach.
Today, Simom explains CoLMEAL with pride to her husband, children, and neighbors:
“It’s about solving problems together. We learn, act, and grow—side by side.”
Her journey is a powerful example of how one woman, when empowered, can become a catalyst for community-wide change.
Ngon Simom’s story is just one of many being shaped by the TOGETHER Project—a six-year, gender-transformative initiative implemented by ADRA Cambodia and funded by the Government of Canada. With the support of ADRA Canada, SickKids, and Salanga, the project is working across Cambodia, Kenya, the Philippines, and Uganda to help nearly 200,000 women, men, girls, and boys enjoy their health-related human rights.
And in villages like Koh Sralay, that impact begins with people like Simom—committed, courageous, and choosing community every day.
