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.

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/