Lighting Futures
Literacy Lights is a small, dedicated group of people with decades of combined experience in international development and education. We are united by a simple but deeply held belief: every child has the right to an education, no matter where they are born or the circumstances they face.
Our passion is shaped by what we have seen firsthand. We have visited schools in remote Cambodia with crumbling buildings, crowded classrooms, and not a single reading book available to students. We have seen extraordinary enthusiasm and potential in young learners, children eager to read, learn, and dream, yet alarmingly lacking even the most basic materials to build on that potential. The contrast between their passion and the resources available to them remains a powerful motivator for our work.
We are inspired by the words of Nelson Mandela:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
This belief sits at the heart of Literacy Lights and guides everything we do.
We are not interested in building another large not‑for‑profit organisation, nor do we have grand growth plans. Literacy Lights exists simply because we care. We are a small group of passionate people doing what we can, where we can, and we would be thrilled if others who share our values chose to join us in making a difference in the lives of children.
Literacy Lights is entirely volunteer‑run. Every member of our founding group gives their time freely, and 100% of all donations go directly to our literacy projects in remote Cambodia. We personally cover all administration, governance, and reporting costs to ensure transparency and enable donors to receive tax deductibility for their contributions.
This work is a passion. And it is one we are proud to share with you.
Literacy Lights Committee
Governance Lead
Dr Bob Mitchell AM FAICD is an experienced not‑for‑profit executive and board leader with a long career dedicated to social impact and community wellbeing. Bob brings expertise in governance, public policy, and values‑driven leadership. Bob served both as an Executive of World Vision Australia and as CEO of Anglican Overseas Aid.
Qualifications
Ph.D Community Development & Theology
Masters of Philosophy
Masters Theology
Bachelor of Laws
Education Lead
Currently, the Director of Teaching and Learning at Donvale Christian College, Bec Mower, has a broad range of experience across schools in Australia, the UK and Cambodia. Additionally, Bec has worked as an Educational Consultant for World Vision (Australia) and Children in Families (Cambodia).
Qualifications
Masters in International & Comparative Education
Grad Cert International & Community Development
Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Science
Program Lead
Darren Sterling has over two decades of service in international development with eight years at World Vision Australia and three based in Cambodia as World Vision Cambodia’s Director of Marketing & Communications. He later served as Executive Director of Streets International in Vietnam.
Qualifications
Masters of International Development
Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
Bachelor of Arts
Our Cambodian Partner
Ponleu Ney Kdey Sangkhum (PNKS), meaning Light of Hope, is a well‑established, locally led Cambodian non‑government organisation with over 25 years of experience in community development. Established in 1998 and officially registered with Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior in 2001, PNKS has a long and credible track record of delivering effective, community‑focused programs.
PNKS is a fully Cambodian‑run organisation, with national leadership and field teams deeply embedded in the communities they serve. This local leadership model enables strong relationships with communities and authorities, ensuring programs are culturally relevant, locally owned, and sustainable.
PNKS is currently implementing programs funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through partnerships with DFAT‑accredited organisations. DFAT‑funded programming requires rigorous financial management, safeguarding compliance, monitoring, evaluation, and independent auditing. PNKS’s ongoing participation in these programs provides strong assurance of its capacity to deliver projects effectively while meeting high standards of governance and accountability.
PNKS operates primarily in northeastern Cambodia, including Preah Vihear and Stung Treng provinces, working in remote and disadvantaged communities, many of which are indigenous and highly vulnerable to poverty and climate impacts. The organisation has previously delivered long‑term programs in other provinces and transitioned responsibly as local capacity strengthened.
PNKS’s core focus areas include:
Community empowerment and local governance
Education and learning access
Livelihoods and food security
Health and community wellbeing
Natural resource management and climate resilience
Literacy Lights projects align strongly with PNKS’s education and community empowerment work and directly benefit from PNKS’s established systems, community trust, and DFAT‑level governance standards. This partnership ensures Literacy Lights initiatives are delivered with strong accountability, high-quality implementation, and long‑term sustainability.
More information can be found at their website: https://www.pnkscambodia.org/
World Relief Australia
World Relief Australia is a boutique overseas aid agency, equipping passionate people and delivering global poverty solutions.
Literacy Lights operates as a Project Management Group of WRA. We do this to assure our supporters that we are adhering to Australian best-practice standards for governance, international development and critically, child protection.
The partnership with WRA, provides additional Board oversight, and the review and critique of International development specialists independent of the Literacy Lights team.
These governance and standards ensure that all donations to Literacy Lights over $2 are fully tax-deductible.
We are grateful for the partnership with World Relief Australia.
You can learn more about WRA here https://wra.org.au/
Frequently Asked Questions
Despite significant Ministry of Education investment in education advancement, remote schools continue to struggle in poor conditions and with little or no education resources.
In remote areas, it is challenging to attract teachers and those who make the commitment, are challenges by the conditions.
At Literacy Lights, we have seen the conditions and absence of basic education resources and believe that another generation of Cambodian children should have to face the same literacy challenges of their parents.
Yes. 100%
All Donations over $2 are tax deductible and a receipt will be sent to you by email.
None!
By being totally volunteer run, Literacy Lights ensures 100% of your donation goes to the project.
Expenses are incurred in Australia in order to ensure a high level of governance and tax deductability through our partner World Relief Australia.
These costs are totally funded by one of our supporters, ensuring that what you give 100% goes to the Cambodian project.
Simply click on any Donate button any you will be directed to our donation portal at World Relief Australia who process all donations for Literacy Lights. By partnering with World Relief Australia, we can ensure best practice governance and compliance with highest standards of the Australian Charities and Not For Profits Commission and the Australian Council for International Development.
World Relief Australia is a boutique overseas aid agency, equipping passionate people and delivering global poverty solutions.
Partnering with WRA assures our supporters that we are adhering to Australian best-practice standards for governance, international development, and, critically, child protection.
These governance and standards ensure that all donations to Literacy Lights over $2 are fully tax-deductible.
You can learn more about WRA here https://wra.org.au/
Currently the PNKS project team is focussing on the mose needy schools. At least 20 schools are in desperate need of books.
Most have no formal library space.
Great question. We prefer not to be involved in construction wherever possible.
However in some schools, their basic infrastructure is so lacking, that the construction of a library space, also provides an additional teaching space, which is critically needed.
When we identify schools required to hold classes in the open air, we work with the community to explore the construction of a library space.
Critically, these spaces are also available for community meetings.
Firstly, we identify those schools with the greatest need.
Then to ensure sustainability and care we prioritise those schools with an exisiting and strong School Management Committee.
School Management Committees consist of local community members who work to hold the school teachers and principal accountable, and work to improve and maintain the schools amenities.