Phymean Noun

Phymean Noun is an activist for Cambodian children, winner of the 2015 World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child, and founder of the People Improvement Organization.

Early life Noun was born in Cambodia. When she was 10, her mother developed cancer and died when Noun was 15. Her extended family either had died during Pol Pot or had fled to Thailand. Her sister also fled as well. Her mother, while alive, told Phymean how important an education was, despite education being banned during Pol Pot's regime. Noun was then left living alone and had to care for her 2-year-old niece. Noun continued her education while caring for her niece, and struggled to pay for her education. She earned $5 a month copying books at night. She went on to finish high school in 1989.

Career and activism Noun went to go find her sister in a refugee camp, and was offered a job with the UN. She eventually got another job an international NGO, and worked with the UN and said NGO for over 12 years.