Laura Tancredi is the Founder and Executive Director of Global Children. Laura was born and raised in NYC amidst the rise of homelessness in the 1980’s and began to learn about social change and poverty through photography. In 1990 at the age of 17 Laura first traveled to Cambodia and was struck by the resilient and loving nature of the Khmer people in a country devastated by war and devoid of basic infrastructure but replete with orphaned children. Laura graduated from Vassar College with her bachelor’s degree in Political Geography and from the School for International Training with her Master’s Degree in International and Intercultural Management. In 2000 she founded Global Children in an effort to assist the vulnerable population in Cambodia working mainly with Government run orphanages through the implementation of arts and education programs. Laura has created a number of businesses over the years including Sprout, a natural parenting retail store (2006-2013). Laura is thrilled to watch the current expansion of Global Children as it builds its Board, Advisory Committee and staff and delves deeper into creating strong, and effective relationships with NGO’s and academic institutions in Cambodia while making innovative improvements to its programs. Laura lives in NYC with her husband and three children.

Kelley Anne has worked for several leading Advertising Agencies in New York City and Boston. She has worked with many major brands from a myriad of industries including Healthcare, Retail and Finance. She is very happy to put her marketing skills to use for a good cause with Global Children Cambodia. She has a very talkative 2 year old son and is expecting another child in the fall.

Sivon comes from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She was born after the Khmer Rouge regime. Her parents were farmers with very little education. They did not even finish middle school due to the civil war (Khmer Rouge regime 1974-1979).

 

She finished her high school in 1998. In 2003 Sivon got a job offer to work in New York as a live-in housekeeper. She left her poor country and her family behind in search for better education and opportunities. When she got to New York, she met many obstacles and eventually she returned to school. She graduated from Baruch College in 2015 and received a BBA in Computer Information Systems and Graphic Communication.

Jessica is working with Marketing to further develop our contact relationship management. Born and raised in New York, Jessica attended Fordham University, earning her BA degree in Communications. She intends to move forward in non-profit work, and hopes to earn her Master’s degree in Public Administration, or something of the like. She is thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of Global Children.

Manuela Senatore is a freelance filmmaker based in Brooklyn, currently producing video content for non-profit organizations and individuals. Formerly a communications professional, she has been working in the non-profit sector since 2002. Her experience includes assignments with the European Union in Brussels and former social-democratic political party The Democrats of the Left in Italy. In 2006 she relocated to New York working as a correspondent and photographer for the Italian magazine Acqua a Sapone. Manuela later studied filmmaking and started working on several film projects, including her own short film A Journey to Homeland. In 2011 she joined One Day on Earth, a worldwide media project documenting what happens on the planet over a 24-hour period. A member a New York Women in Film and Television, Manuela holds a BA in History and a BA in Political Science from La Sapienza University of Rome.

Sebastian is a Financial Services Executive who has worked for organizations around the world. He started his career in Sydney, Australia, before moving to New York. He has held a number of senior roles with responsibility for regional and global technology project and delivery teams. Sebastian is providing his deep industry skills and experience to support Global Children Cambodia build out its technical capabilities. He resides in New York with his wife and two children.

Angelique or “Lika” Dioguardi has been a long-term supporter of Global Children. Lika spent most of her childhood in Asia, Africa and Europe returning to the US for her final years of high school in her home state of Hawaii on the island of Oahu. As a global child herself, Lika’s interest in the world remains strong and she continues to travel extensively with her family particularly in Africa and Asia.

After studying Philosophy and Economics at Saint Mary’s College, Indiana, she worked as a risk broker in New York, taught English in Japan, and lectured on inter-cultural diversity in mid-west high schools. She earned a Master’s in Environment and Development at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies and since then has worked in international humanitarian response and development for the last 14 years.

 

Lika and her family have recently moved to New York from Ethiopia where she was the Program Director for health and nutrition, food insecurity and community resilience building. She currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband and young daughter, and is pursuing a Masters of Public Heath degree.

Ly Siekhenag was born in Chamkar Leu District Kampong Cham Province. Siekhenag is the third child of a family with four siblings. Her parents were farmers and vendors. She was married in 1981 and has seven children. Siekhenag studied only to grade 5 before the Pol Pot regime took over Cambodia. She survived the Khmer Rouge but was never able to further her education. She has been working as the cook (and house mother) for Global Children since 2002. She currently lives in Stung Meanchey around 3 kilometers from Global Children with four of her children.