Venerable San Sokchea (left) will accompany Quach Mengly (right) to Europe. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Quach Mengly, a prominent local businessman and philanthropist known for his contributions to social and religious causes, will soon depart for Europe where he is also slated to meet Pope Francis.
The Cambodian-American founder and CEO of Mengly J Quach Education was recently granted the title of Panha Methea Phireak Serei Moha Oubasork Puthisas Noupathorm by the Kingdom’s Supreme Sangha Council. The title is bestowed on individuals who significantly contribute to the support of Buddhism.
During his January 17-22 trip, at the invitation of several humanitarian NGOs, Mengly will make a personal donation of $5,000 to an Italian organisation that manages refugees. He will also deliver an address to the assembled refugees, and will share his own experiences of escaping from poverty as a refugee.
He will go on to attend a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Italy, after which he will continue to a special event in Monaco, an autonomous region of France. Finally, he will appear as a keynote speaker at a Paris conference, where he will deliver remarks on “The Transformation of Nekkham Parami belief and Ecology.”
“I know how difficult it is to live like a refugee. I was fortunate enough to escape the cycle of poverty that so often traps displaced people, and am proud to be the voice of the dispossessed. I encourage people to support any organisation that works with refugees, and remind the public that even the smallest donation can help,” he told The Post.
He added that Cambodia has “excellent” laws regarding the expression of religion and the preservation of nature. Unlike many other nations, Cambodia is open to all religious beliefs.
During his visit to Europe, he will share the current state of peace that the Kingdom currently enjoys, which he said is unprecedented in more than 500 years of Cambodian history.
“Cambodia came very close to extinction several times in the past five centuries. We have never been at peace with each other. For the past 30 or 40 years, we have been united, and are now peaceful, stable and prosperous. The future appears stable for the children of the Kingdom,” he said.
According to his personal biography published on the company’s website, Mengly was born in Battambang province, but his family was forced to flee to a Thai refugee camp during the Khmer Rouge reign of terror. He was resettled in the US, where he was educated and became a medical doctor. He returned to assist in the rebuilding of the shattered Kingdom in 2002.
