Empowering Future Leaders Through Education in Cambodia

We are honoured to welcome Aviv Palti, founder of the Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST), as our guest speaker. Aviv will share a deeply inspiring story of community, resilience and transformation from his recent visit to Cambodia.

Founded in 2011 by Aviv and his family from Melbourne, CRST exists to break the cycle of poverty through education, providing high school and university scholarships, mentoring, life-skills training, health support and leadership opportunities to bright students from poor rural families. The organisation operates under the philosophy of giving a hand up rather than a hand out, and is uniquely managed on the ground in Cambodia by the students themselves — who gain real experience running social enterprises and community projects.

Last year’s challenges around the world only made CRST’s achievements more remarkable: alongside 18 new university graduates and 10 new students, CRST students — once “village kids” — are now emerging as social leaders, uplifting their families and actively contributing to their communities with purpose, compassion and leadership. Aviv will reflect on these journeys and the ongoing ripple effects of education and service in Cambodia.