The Ireland Fellows Programme from Irish Aid offers people from around the world the opportunity to spend a year studying at universities and higher education institutions in Ireland. Being one of Irish Aid’s most longstanding programmes, it reflects Ireland’s view that education is central to creating a better world – a view shared by SeeBeyondBorders, which works to empower teachers and school leaders to drive the improvement of teaching and learning in Cambodian schools.
In Autumn 2024, six out of 216 Ireland Fellows came to Ireland from Cambodia, doubling the total amount of Cambodian Fellows from the previous six years combined. This indicates the increasing positive impact the Fellows Programme is making for a new generation of Cambodian changemakers, and the growing connection between Cambodia and Ireland.
The Fellowship Programme has had a particularly significant impact on SeeBeyondBorders Cambodia (SBBC) and SeeBeyondBorders Ireland (SBBI). Two SBBC leaders in Cambodia and one SBBI Trustee are recent Alumni. A further SBBC staff member is currently participating in the Programme. Read their stories.
A Pioneer in his District: Pov’s Story
Pov Pheung was the first person from his District to complete secondary school in the 1990s, benefitting from the sacrifices his parents made to secure a quality education for their eldest son. In 2003, Pov qualified as a teacher and he joined SeeBeyondBorders ten years later. He was appointed Country Manager in 2017.
In 2022, Pov became the first person from Siem Reap to secure an Irish Aid Fellowship and completed a Master in Education from Mary Immaculate College, Ireland in 2023. While in Ireland he appeared on National Radio, met the Minister for International Development and Diaspora and fostered links between Mary Immaculate, Phnom Penh Teacher Education College and the Ministry.
Pov returned to Cambodia and became SeeBeyondBorders’ first Managing Director in Spring 2023 – a milestone for Pov, for his family, for SeeBeyondBorders. Since returning to Cambodia Pov has encouraged other Cambodians in SeeBeyondBorders and elsewhere to study in Ireland and return to give back in their communities.
“My personal mission in life is to bring positive change to Cambodia’s education system. Studying in Ireland at such an internationally recognised, trustworthy institution like MIC has developed my own capacity and confidence through intensive course content which is so effectively delivered. Moreover, this academic experience has enhanced even greater collaborative opportunities between my organisation, the Cambodian Ministry of Education and partners in Ireland. These connections have helped the work we do for improving Cambodian education in many positive ways,” Pov Pheung, Managing Director, SeeBeyondBorders Cambodia.
Limon’s Story
Following in Pov’s footsteps, Limon is is the eldest in her family and the first woman from Northern Cambodia to become an Irish Aid Fellow. Being passionate about education and development, Limon studied International Development at Maynooth University between 2023 and 2024. She chose that course as it best corresponds to her career pathway and her role within SeeBeyondBorders. Since returning to SeeBeyondBorders in Cambodia in October 2024 she has been appointed as a Senior Project Manager. She has responsibility for the work in School Leadership, Community Engagement and promoting international connections in research and advocacy.
While in Ireland, Limon supported SeeBeyondBorders Ireland. She gave a lecture in TU Dublin on Cambodia and the Sustainable Development Goals and played a leadership role in the planning and delivery of the Connect Visit of Cambodian educators and policy makers to Ireland.
“My experience at Maynooth University in a diverse classroom setting allowed me to learn so much about development in other countries from my fellow classmates. Most importantly, the modules in International Development around managing development organisations, critical learning, and result based management are very practical to my work at SeeBeyondBorders who work to transform education in Cambodia,” Limon Bunn, 2023-24 Fellow and Senior Project Manager, SeeBeyondBorders Cambodia.
Kimsor’s Story
Kimsor Oeng also took part in the Fellowship Programme in the same year as Limon, studying a Master of Science in Sustainable Development, Agri-Food and Co-operatives in University College Cork. Working as a Deputy Director in the Ministry for Tourism in Cambodia, Kimsor became a Trustee of SeeBeyondBorders Ireland in August 2024 positive engagement with the organisation, helping bring his diverse professional expertise and a Cambodian perspective to the governance and strategic thinking of the Irish organisation.
“The Ireland Fellows Programme was transformative on many levels. I received the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in community-led initiatives and corporate sustainability consulting. Outside of that, I discovered and drew much inspiration from Celtic spirituality and philosophy both for personal growth and for imagining new ways of seeing and addressing the challenges in agri-food development in Ireland and Cambodia,” Kimsor Oeng, 2023-24 Fellow and SeeBeyondBorders Ireland Trustee 2024.
While experiencing a new culture can be exciting and stimulating, there is one challenge in particular that Fellows have encountered when living in Ireland, as Pov highlights.
“I must admit”, says Pov, “that I find the weather challenging, particularly in winter. It is cold and it rains often compared to Cambodia. Nevertheless, I like scenery in spring and the Irish summer is wonderful – I am safe to say now that 15 degrees is just ‘perfect’ in Ireland! I also find people of both nations are happy and generally get on well with each other.”
Looking to the future: Taing Im and Fellows’ Alumni Network
In September 2024, SeeBeyondBorders’ Leader of Shared Services, Taing Im Lok, began her masters in International Development at Maynooth University. She joins five other dedicated Fellows from across Cambodia coming from positions in the public and private sectors. Like Pov and Limon, Taing Im will rejoin SeeBeyondBorders in Cambodia upon the completion of her studies in Ireland.
“Ireland is a country renowned for its advanced education system. This programme aligns perfectly with my personal interest in the development of Education in Cambodia. It is already equipping me with valuable skills and providing opportunities to build connections on a global scale. Upon completing the programme, I hope to contribute to improving the quality of education in Cambodia by fostering greater effectiveness and efficiency in the sector and in SBB,” Taing Im Lok, 2024-25 Fellow and General Manager Shared Services, SeeBeyondBorders Cambodia.
SeeBeyondBorders sees this increase in Cambodian Fellows as a sign of the growing connection between Ireland and Cambodia into the future. As the only Cambodian-focused Irish development organisation, SeeBeyondBorders endeavours to foster this growing connection by providing practical and social support for this year’s Fellows and future Fellows.
Looking to the future, SeeBeyondBorders Ireland is also assisting alumni with plans to establish a Cambodia-Ireland Fellows’ Alumni Network. The Network will promote links made between Fellows; between people and institutions in Cambodia and Ireland.
Thank you to Irish Aid and to the Irish Embassy in Vietnam for your support of SeeBeyondBorders and Cambodian education. Contact us today if you are interested in learning more about our work.
