“Sometimes, all it takes to change a life is someone willing to open a door.” — Vicheka Chourp.
From a small rented house in Phnom Penh to an organisation reaching thousands across Cambodia and beyond, ISF Cambodia has spent nearly two decades proving the power of opportunity. Founded in 2006 and now registered in Cambodia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Hong Kong, the organisation has become a global force for education, inclusion, and hope. At the heart of this journey is Vicheka Chourp—a leader whose own story mirrors the lives of the children she serves. Through determination, compassion, and an unshakable belief in human potential, she is helping transform open doors into brighter futures for generations to come.
Recognition & Awards
2020 — Peace and Sport Awards: Sport for Development and Peace Program of the Year
2019 — Asian Football Confederation: Best Grassroots Football Project Award
Determined by Purpose, Defined by Possibility
Some leaders are born into opportunity. Others create opportunities where none exist. For Vicheka Chourp, Chief Executive of ISF Cambodia, leadership is rooted in lived experience, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child has the chance to dream beyond their circumstances.
“I am determined, and that’s the one word that best describes me — and my life is the reason why,” says Vicheka.
That determination was forged long before she stepped into a leadership role. Growing up in a low-income family, much like the children ISF Cambodia serves today, Vicheka understood the realities of limited opportunity. She found a church offering free English lessons, which became the first stepping stone in her journey toward a brighter future. From there, she secured a cleaning job. Then came a life-changing moment when an employer recognized her potential and supported her university education. She earned a Bachelor of Business Management from Build Bright University in Phnom Penh and joined ISF Cambodia in 2008 as an Administration Officer.
What followed was a remarkable journey of growth, from Deputy Country Manager in 2009 to Chief Executive in 2014. More recently, she completed an executive coaching certification, inspired by her belief that if she had access to a coach earlier in her journey, she might have realised her potential and confidence much sooner.
Today, that belief influences the way she leads, invests in the people around her, and empowers others to reach their full potential.
“Eighteen years of doing this work have only made me more determined — because the more I see what is possible for the children, the more I want to do,” she shares.
When Purpose Finds You
For Vicheka, the most influential force in her life has not been a mentor, business leader, or public figure. It has been the students and families whose lives have been transformed through ISF Cambodia.
Watching a child from a rural Cambodian village who once believed they had no future — and never imagined being able to read or write — later walk across a stage as a graduate is an experience that continues to shape her perspective. “It reminds me every day why the work matters, and it holds me accountable in a way that no performance review ever could,” she shares.
”My journey to ISF Cambodia started with a setback. Being unable to continue my studies after high school was a deep blow — it was my dream, and circumstances beyond my control took that opportunity away from me, which made me want it even more. That experience shaped my purpose: to help open doors for others, just as a door was once opened for me,” she continues.
That mission remains at the heart of everything she does.
The Door That Changed Everything
A pivotal moment came when Vicheka volunteered at an NGO and was offered the opportunity to become a full-time staff member.
Someone believed in her potential.
Someone opened a door of opportunity.
And she had the courage to walk through it.
She saw firsthand what an organisation committed to people could do, and she knew this was the kind of work that mattered.
Growing up in a Cambodian province where survival often took priority over education, she never imagined herself working in the development sector. Yet that single opportunity revealed what was possible. Since then, she has been driven by a simple but powerful goal: to become the person who opens doors for others.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Her academic background, including a Bachelor of Business Management, provided a strong foundation in financial management, organisational planning, and leadership. Vicheka believes her greatest lessons came through experience.
Joining ISF Cambodia when it was still a small operation meant working across every function, learning through challenges, making mistakes, and finding solutions. Beyond formal education, she credits work experience, travel, and meaningful exchanges with colleagues, board members, sponsors, and community members as some of her most valuable teachers.
Her executive coaching certification further transformed her leadership style. Coaching taught her to listen differently, ask better questions rather than give more answers, and create space for others to discover their own solutions.
And she remains committed to learning every day.
Armed with both lived experience and a growing set of leadership skills, Vicheka was ready to help shape the future of an organisation whose mission closely reflected her own journey.
Building a Movement, Not Just an Organisation
ISF Cambodia’s founding mission—breaking the cycle of poverty through education and sports—resonated deeply with Vicheka because it mirrored her own life story.
“I have personally experienced the power of education in changing a life. That is why, when I joined in 2008, I knew I was in the right place,” she shares.
At that time, ISF Cambodia was operating out of a small rented house with just a few staff members. Today, ISF Cambodia operates two dedicated schools, supporting more than 800 children and young people annually, while also reaching an additional 4,000 community members — including parents and caregivers — each year.
Its Football Programme has grown from just 50 players in 2006 to more than 5,000 participants annually. Since its inception, the programme has engaged over 50,000 children and young people and expanded to include deaf and hearing-impaired players (from 2011), individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities (from 2013), blind and visually impaired participants, HIV-positive players, and wheelchair using players (from 2017).
For ISF Cambodia, the football Programme is not simply a sport.
It is a platform for inclusion.
The mission has never changed, and ISF Cambodia’s growth has extended internationally, with registrations across Cambodia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Hong Kong — reflecting the international community that believes in this work.
Through strategic investments, including the purchase of land for the Stung Meanchey School in 2013 and a dedicated sports ground in 2014, ISF Cambodia established a permanent and sustainable infrastructure designed to support its community initiatives for generations to come.
A Multifaceted Approach to Service
ISF Cambodia provides three core services to break the cycle of poverty: quality education, nutrition and healthcare, and sports. They serve children and families in some of Cambodia’s most underserved communities.
Cambodia continues to face significant development challenges. Nearly half of children — 49% — live in multidimensional poverty, and only 11% of the population aged 25 and over has completed high school.
The ISF Cambodia Education Programme is aligned with the requirements of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport. Many of its teachers have been at ISF Cambodia for over ten years — dedicated and experienced. Its football coaches hold certifications from the Football Federation of Cambodia. They offer a full curriculum aligned with Cambodian government school standards, with additional training in computer skills, English, and life skills — giving students both the technical and personal skills they need to succeed.
Looking ahead, ISF Cambodia is focused on three key priorities.
First, maintaining 100 new students per year in the Education Program — a capacity doubled since 2024 — and continuing to expand the Football Programme across more provinces in Cambodia, with a long-term vision to reach all 25 provinces.
Second, building ISF’s presence in the United States, where they are formally registered, to grow the international donor network and reach more supporters who share its mission.
Third, securing the land for Chbar Ampov School, which we currently lease, so that both of the schools have a stable, permanent home for their students.
Finding Confidence in the Hardest Rooms
“My biggest personal hurdle came in 2014 when I became Country Manager and Chief Executive. All of our board members were English-speaking, and I was a Cambodian woman with limited English at the time. There were real doubts — from others and sometimes even from myself — about whether I could hold my own in that room,” she shares.
“I responded the only way I knew how: I studied harder, practised relentlessly, asked questions, and prepared thoroughly. I asked the board to slow down during meetings and made sure I arrived fully prepared every single time. That experience taught me that confidence is not something you are given; it is something you build,” she adds.
That experience taught her a lesson she carries today:
Confidence is not something you are given. It is something you build.
Staying Focused on Her Goals
“As Chief Executive of ISF Cambodia, my role encompasses the full scope of the organisation’s strategy, operations, people, programs, and partnerships,” explains Vicheka.
“On the programme side, I oversee our three core programmes: Education, Employment, and Football. Our Education Program is the foundation — but the ultimate goal is stable employment. We walk with our students from the classroom into the workforce, supporting them in building a sustainable future for themselves and their families. Together, our programs serve over 800 children and young people in education every year, more than 5,000 football players annually, and an additional 4,000 community members — parents and caregivers — through our community services. I manage approximately 100 staff, both local and international,” she continues.
“I also work closely with ISF Cambodia’s 11-member international Board of Directors, which spans the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Hong Kong. My job is to translate what we see on the ground in Cambodia into a shared global vision — and to ensure the organisation remains financially sustainable and accountable to everyone who depends on it,” she adds.
Work-Life Harmony Mantra
For Vicheka, two things keep her grounded: learning to delegate and protecting her health.
“I always want to be available for my team — but I also believe that a leader who cannot delegate limits their team’s growth. Trusting people to lead their own areas is both a leadership belief and a practical need,” she says.
“To stay grounded, I put my health first. I cycle, run, and meditate regularly — This helps me stay healthy both physically and mentally, while giving me the energy I need in my daily life and in my role as Chief Executive. Above all, I genuinely enjoy the work I do at ISF Cambodia — and that keeps me grounded and happy,” she adds.
Leading Through Curiosity
When asked about the most important quality every woman entrepreneur should possess, Vicheka’s answer is immediate: curiosity — the desire to keep learning, keep asking questions, and keep adapting. The world is evolving rapidly, particularly with the rise of technology and artificial intelligence. A leader who stops learning eventually stops growing. Perseverance matters, but curiosity fuels continuous growth. You need both.
In a world increasingly shaped by technology and artificial intelligence, she believes leaders must continue learning, questioning, and adapting.
Her own journey—from self-doubt and language barriers to leading a globally recognised organisation—stands as proof of that philosophy.
She also believes one of the greatest challenges facing women leaders today — particularly in Southeast Asia — is not a lack of ability or ambition. It is the weight of having to prove themselves in environments that were not originally designed for them.
Addressing that challenge requires more than mentorship. It requires workplaces that embrace diverse leadership styles and women who openly share their stories so future generations can begin their journeys from a stronger starting point.
A Vision That Continues to Expand
Looking ahead, Vicheka’s priorities remain focused on impact.
She aims to sustain the growth of ISF Cambodia’s Education Program, expand the Football Programme across Cambodia’s provinces, strengthen the organisation’s international presence—particularly in the United States—and foster a coaching culture that supports personal and professional growth throughout the organisation.
“ISF Cambodia has never been built by one person—and it never will be.”
Her role is to hold the vision, build partnerships, and create the conditions for others to succeed.
The Guiding Light
Vicheka’s advice is simple: Remember why you started. It is easy to get lost in targets and next steps — but the most important thing is to keep that reason close. That is what will give you the motivation and drive to continue and enjoy the journey.
Your story is your greatest asset — don’t hide it. Share it. The hard times you have been through, the barriers you have broken — those are what make your leadership real. I did not start with much, and that is exactly what drives me every day.
Because somewhere, a young woman is watching, searching for proof that someone who began with the same challenges can rise, lead, and create meaningful change. You may never meet her. But she is watching. And that is reason enough to keep going.
