Our Strategy

Challenge: The cost and dangers of living in Phnom Penh—and family resistance— are significant barriers that prohibit many bright young women from accessing university. Young women in Southeast Asia lack a judgment-free, confidential, safe and secure place to gather while learning.

Our Solution: Harpswell started by building Cambodia’s first and only residential leadership centers for young women attending university in Phnom Penh and has grown to create an annual two-week summit in Malaysia for women from across the region to come together to learn and freely exchange ideas.

Challenge: Persistent cultural norms in much of Southeast Asia discourage girls’ higher education, and traditional education does not emphasize training in independent, critical thinking. Young women lack opportunities to learn from successful, forward-looking leaders in their communities.

Our Solution: We provide a rigorous program that emphasizes analysis, writing, debate and more to encourage women’s voices and to develop leadership skills. We invite distinguished local and international leaders to speak to inspire and provide guidance.

Challenge: Women have the potential to create transformative change, but their voices are often unacknowledged or silenced. Young women who want to forge their own path in patriarchal cultures have few role models, little career guidance and lack peer support.

Our Solution: Harpswell women forge strong bonds that they call a sisterhood. A robust alumnae support system connects them to informal and formal networks in their regions and beyond. Alumnae become powerful advocates for each other and for other girls and women in their communities.