ABOUT

The inspiration to form this organization began many years ago during trips to Cambodia after I immigrated to America following my horrific ordeal during Pol Pot’s reign of terror. After living in America for several years, I had grown accustomed to the relative wealth and abundance I saw everywhere I went. When I later returned to Cambodia, the desperate circumstances of my fellow Cambodians provided a shocking contrast to circumstances in my adopted country and I was devastated and heartbroken by what I saw and by how my family was living. At that time, I committed myself to do everything within my power to aid and assist my family in any way possible. For many years afterward and with the help of my husband at that time, I was able to help many family members still in Cambodia as well as other Cambodians in many different ways.

Then, in 2009, six years after my husband died, I met an American couple who ran a charitable organization in Maryland serving the poor and destitute in Cambodia and I soon became Director of Cambodian Operations for that charity. I served in that position for several years, working with various Cambodians in the Siem Reap area, to carry out charity operations. Then, in early 2017, I was recruited to serve as Chief Financial Officer for a second organization. I was happy to accept this assignment to serve yet another charity but I felt that, while both charities provided vital aid and services to many Cambodians, neither charity focused on providing life-saving aid to the single women (many with children) and elderly Cambodians who are hindered from taking care of themselves due to sickness, abuse, violence, disability, or old age. When Kem Ley, considered by many Cambodians to be a national hero, was murdered during the summer of 2016, leaving his pregnant wife and four sons fatherless, without sustenance, and vulnerable to further violence by assassins, my heart was broken for that wife and mother as well as all other victims of abuse, violence, infirmity, poverty, and hopelessness. At about the same time, many friends and fellow Cambodian acquaintances were encouraging me to start a charity that focused on serving helpless women, cripples, and elderly Cambodians in an effort to provide essential aid as well as love and hope. After discussing these things with friends and other members of the local Cambodian community, we decided to form Ladies First Foundation with me serving as President.

We, the officers and supporters of Ladies First Foundation, appeal to you for immediate support and contributions – we can make a big difference by providing life-saving aid, love, and hope to the poor and hopeless. Again, every penny counts. Together, we can help make Cambodia better!

Thank you!

Kolab Keth Tyssens

President, Ladies First Foundation

MEET OUR TEAM

OUR STORY/INSPIRATION

After my husband and I traveled to Cambodia for the first time and fell in love with the country and the people. Many Cambodians recognized his generous nature and came to him for help. We returned back to America even more committed to help as many Cambodians as we could, both relatives and strangers. We then began sending money to send young Cambodians to trade schools, build houses for widows with children, and provide food for elderly people and orphans. That is what made us too involved with community. And finally 9/9/2017, with my four “sisters” decided to form this NON-PROFIT FOUNDATION. First, to dedicate my beloved husband and second to the women victims.

OUR MISSION

The mission of Ladies First Foundation is to identify destitute Cambodians and Cambodian families, particularly women and children, and provide to them as many basic needs as possible to raise their level of comfort and lead them to self-reliance and independence where possible. By providing these gifts it is hoped that recipients will not only be benefited materially but will experience love and appreciation by those who serve them through LFF.

OUR VISION

Our vision is a Cambodia devoid of desolating poverty, where all have adequate food to eat and live as comfortably as possible, where women are happy, healthy, and not burdened with providing for a family or traumatized by violence.

LEGAL

Ladies First Foundation (LFF) is a 501(c)(3) Charitable
Organization.

OUR GOALS

We provide as the following:
1) Food
2) Water filters for clean water
3) Funds for medical care where needed
4) Clothing
5) Shelter including building simple houses and adding bathrooms and toilets where needed
6) Funding for education including basic classes to develop needed skills like sewing, hair dressing, small business management, etc.
7) Funding for business needs such as sewing machines or looms, vending carts, stall rentals, etc.
8) And whatever basic needs that will lift someone to a higher standard of living but providing those things in such a way as to foster self-reliance and independence.