The Business and Professional Women (BPW) Siem Reap convened for their second annual meeting and dinner last Friday, November 27, at L’Escale des Art & des Sens Restaurant.

The non-profit organisation and business club for local Khmer women was founded in June 2007 by Australian Anna Rasalingan and is an affiliate of BPW International.

The group’s president Arun Sinket said BPW was created to help local women network and share their experiences.

“Our main goal is networking, and improving women’s lifestyle through education, health care, women’s rights and leadership. It’s not easy work but we’ve tried so hard, especially with our English. We try to help each other,” she explained.

So far BPW Siem Reap, the founding club in Cambodia, has organised three workshops and lectures, covering dengue fever intervention, reproductive health for women, and public speaking for members and non-members.

They are now hoping to significantly extend their activities.

“We are still looking for connections in Phnom Penh,” said Arun Sinketh. “We would like to extend our activites to supporting and partnering with NGOs that have the same goals as us and link our activities with the government.”