Human and Hope Association- a locally run NGO Organisation in Cambodia

Sally Hetherington OAM is the founder and CEO of Human and Hope Association Incorporated (Australia). At the age of 25, Sally bought a one-way ticket to Siem Reap, Cambodia, with the goal of helping people living in poverty. A few months into her journey in Cambodia, Sally realised that the sustainable development of a community cannot be achieved through the involvement of short-term foreign volunteers. The realisation led Sally to transform a community centre into a locally run NGO registered organisation - Human and Hope Association (Cambodia).

Sally’s strong belief in local empowerment for community sustainability led to the selfless decision of making herself redundant at the end of the four-year transformation process. Human and Hope Association Incorporated was subsequently established under Sally’s leadership, with the purpose of raising funds to empower communities to reduce inequalities and spread awareness about the importance of local empowerment.

Sally is a multi-award winning leader in the not-for-profit sector. Her outstanding contributions to the Cambodian community led her to receiving awards such as the  Medal of Order of Australia (2019), The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) World of Difference Award (2019), Third Sector Awards Volunteer of the Year (2018), and Junior Chamber International (JCI) National Ten Outstanding Young Persons Honouree (2018). Sally's manifesto, 'It's Not About Me' was published in 2019.