Nadia Lim honouring her father's wish

Nadia Lim is in Cambodia for the first time as an ambassador for the Cambodia Charitable Trust. Photo / Supplied

A year after her father died, celebrity chef Nadia Lim is honouring his legacy fulfilling his plans to help the underprivileged in Cambodia.

Her father Ken had visited Cambodia twice with wife Julie, and had a passion for helping the underprivileged escape poverty through education.

He had plans to return and spend more time volunteering, but his death in August last year meant he was unable to fulfil his wishes.

Ms Lim is now doing that for him in her new role as an ambassador for the Cambodia Charitable Trust.

"Dad grew up in Malaysia in poor circumstances. His way out of poverty was through education. He understood the importance of an education for any child in a developing country.

"I, too, am a strong believer in the power of education to create opportunities and help individuals reach their potential," she said.

It is her first trip to Cambodia and alongside her mother, Julie, she has visited schools and teachers' training colleges. She has also met the girl she has been sponsoring.

"Her name is Srey Chen, she's 10 years old, and she is in primary school in the Kampot province," Ms Lim said.

"It was so special to meet her and see first-hand how the trust is making a difference in the lives of the people in her community."

Nadia Lim meets some Cambodian school children in her new role as an ambassador for the Cambodia Charitable Trust. Photo / Supplied

The Cambodia Charitable Trust was founded by Tauranga lawyer Denise Arnold, after she travelled to Cambodia in 2007 and saw first-hand the suffering of children there.

It now supports more than 6000 children, providing bikes, uniforms, stationery, books, toilets, clean water and teacher training. It fully supports 16 schools and two teacher-training colleges.