The story of Emily Williamson and her mission with REACH Siem Reap

What started as a young woman’s quest to make a difference has evolved into a lifeline for hundreds of Cambodian families. Victorian-born Emily Williamson, Founder and Program Manager of REACH Siem Reap, turned her deep concern over the severe poverty she encountered in Cambodia into impactful action.

Since founding the Australian and Cambodian registered charity, Emily has significantly improved living conditions for over 100 families and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to combat poverty and support Cambodian children and families.

Founding REACH Siem Reap

Emily discovered her passion for sustainable development and NGO work at the age of 21 when she began volunteering in Siem Reap. Her initial enthusiasm for volunteering soon evolved into a full-time role. “As part of that role, I began hosting long-distance charity bike rides across Cambodia, leading groups of people 650km across the country to raise funds for children who were from struggling backgrounds. Unfortunately, after several years of passionate fundraising and due to a lack of transparency and accountability, 

“I lost faith in the project and walked away. However, with endless need in the country, I was determined to continue working alongside the incredibly resilient and inspirational Cambodian people. It was at this point, in 2019, that I made the decision to establish REACH Siem Reap which provides holistic support to Cambodian families in order to keep them together and break the poverty cycle in the country. As a cause it is established on strong values and promotes full transparency regarding its funds, something that is incredibly important to me. “

Emily emphasized that, very early in their journey, they established an International Advisory Board to provide mentorship, guidance, and oversight across all organizational areas. The board, made up of professional volunteers, offers their skills, advocacy, and ongoing support regarding financial expenditure. They oversee policies and ensure ethical governance, a factor Emily believes distinguishes them from many other NGOs in the region. This commitment to transparency in audited financials and communication has been crucial in building trust with donors and demonstrating integrity, leading to a significant number of repeat donations.

Investing in growth and team development

Emily believes that their professional practice and organizational structure are key differentiators for their organization. She points out that having access to a range of local and global professional experts on a volunteer basis helps accelerate growth and ensures ethical practices. “Providing employee scholarships, internships and continual training opportunities for our local team is also something we offer to support their development. Without them we wouldn’t be able to make the positive changes we have to date, so it’s important we invest in them as much as we do. 

“We’ve also received a lot of amazing feedback on our one-of-a-kind life-changing challenges which we offer as a fundraising experience to potential donors. In particular, our annual Ride to REACH challenge whereby supporters, team members and fundraisers take on a 650 km cycle over 8 days across the Kingdom of Cambodia. Watching people of all ages and abilities pedal over various terrains and through rural towns and isolated villages, to raise vital support for children and families in need, is incredibly emotional and special to watch. 2025 will be the third year of the challenge and while we’ve seen some of our quickest uptake to date, there’s still some spots available. All the details of which can be found at – Charity Bike Ride Cambodia & Asia | REACH Siem Reap Cambodia. “

Emily reflects that the most important lesson she has learned as the Founder of REACH Siem Reap is the importance of staying true to one’s values. ”In doing so however you’ll have to make hard decisions and have difficult conversations with stakeholders. However, accepting mentorship, guidance and advice from professionals who are experts in their respective fields is critical when navigating complex issues. Without our board, tackling issues that arose as a result of COVID-19, such as cancelled events, our foundational years would have been so much more arduous.”

Unique Fundraising Challenges

Emily acknowledges that founding an organization involves immense work and challenges beyond what one might expect.  “The challenges you’ll come across are beyond what you’d ever imagine. However, having the right people in your corner for when times get tough is imperative for success.  You also need everyone in the organisation, irrespective of their role, to buy into the vision of what you want to achieve. That way you stay focused on the long-term goals without being distracted by the noise. 

“Finally, invest in your team. Whether that’s with time or skills, your team are everything. Without them, you have no organisation, and when you’re operating in a foreign country, it’s paramount that you respect their culture and trust their decisions.”

Emily Williamson, Founder & Program Manager of REACH Siem Reap

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