Somaly Mam Foundation - Somaly Mam

Somaly Mam

Somaly Mam was born in the Mondulkiri province of Cambodia. Orphaned at a young age, Somaly does not know who her real parents are, nor does she know her real name or exact birth date. Although she did not receive formal schooling, she was later trained to be a midwife after the genocidal regime. However, Somaly was sold many times by a man she called "grandfather" as a slave and coerced into prostitution. She was forced to work in a brothel with many other young girls that were treated horrifically through torture, manipulation, and scare tactics. One night she watched a close friend murdered by a pimp. Her past is a major contributing factor regarding her passion and effort to help young children and women involved with human trafficking. Mam later returned to Cambodia to bring back some of her experience and ideas to her homeland. She began establishing a non-governmental organization in French called “Agir Pour les Femmes en Situation Précaire (AFESIP),” translated in English “Acting for Women in Distressing Circumstances.” She became co-founder of AFESIP and President of AFESIP Cambodia in Phnom Penh. This organization’s main cause is the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of girls forced into prostitution.