Kevin grew up in Canada as a son of successful Scottish immigrants. Throughout his youth and young adult life Kevin struggled with substance abuse and addiction but also a profound vision of being made for more. It was in recovery where Kevin was first introduced to Christ . Even early in his recovery Kevin realized God was calling him to Cambodia. Upon graduation of the program Kevin served with a Ministry called Servants which live amongst the poor in many countries. After joining this mission group part of his internship was living in the slums with a host family in the slums of Phnom Penh Cambodia.
During this time period Kevin met his future wife Leakhena. Leakhena has extensive ministry experience with NGO’s including World Vision, Precious Women and Develop our village economy(DOVE). Growing up in poverty herself and being Cambodian gave her valuable insight into the struggles and injustices of the poor. This all gave her the skills and heart to embark on starting her own organization Manna4life which focused on supporting the forcibly evicted community of Tang Khiev. Kevin and Leakhena were married in 2011 and their extended family include their daughter Beracah and two nieces named Daredy and Zally.
Manna4life began with a focus on Participatory Development in the community, building homes, water treatment centers and a school.
Currently Manna4life is focused on supporting education from primary school through university. Over the last 16 years many of the children who started in our school in Grade 1 are now of age to be attending university. This is a dream that these students thought impossible growing up in abject poverty. In Cambodia, many children are pulled out of school to work in the garment factories to help support the family. These decisions are made out of survival needs, but lead to many children never completing their education.
Manna4life works with both the students and their families to advocate for Education being the biggest poverty-cycle breaker available to them. Around ninety percent of adults in the Tang Khiev community are illiterate, and thus allowing their children to go to school is a benefit to the entire family that helps uplift them from physical poverty. All the funds donated to Manna4life go directly to the student and families needs so these students can go to university and gain acessess to future careers.
Donations provide tuition, accommodations, food and in some cases support for the families that would otherwise be relying on their child for additional income.
