“Loung Ung taught me how to view life in a different way. I realize that I am fortunate to be living the life I live.” ~ LUIS GALLEGOS, student
“Loung Ung’s presentation inspired me and influenced me to change my way of existing.” ~ BRITTANY ST. JOHN, student
“Loung connected with students, staff and parents. Her sense of social justice and humanity has touched the minds, hearts and souls of our community. Although she is now gone, her influence will continue to resonate for many people.” ~ MARK R. BOYER, Assistant Superintendent Singapore American School
“Loung delivered a powerful, moving and yet very human story. People watched in total rapt attention, many with tears in their eyes. To this day many still talk about the event and the impact she made. Once you have heard Loung speak, you are captivated, drawn in and left feeling good and wanting to do something positive with your life.” ~ TOM WRIGHT, General Manager Cathay Pacific Airlines; India & Middle East
“Loung’s story and presentation was incredibly engaging and captivating as it left an auditoirum full of high school students in awe. Loung has the unique ability to tell her story to students by making it relevant to them and making them feel like they experienced her life. She inspired an entire school – teachers and students – and the community by her visit.” ~ CRAIG DIVIS, 2010 Vermont Teacher of the Year Bellows Falls Union High School
“All Johnson County Reads the Same Book” selected Loung Ung’s First They Killed My Father for its community read. It was an outstanding decision… The project culminated in a University of Iowa lecture in which Loung received a standing ovation from an audience of over 500 who were captured by the substance of the subject matter and her passion for social justice.” ~ CHIVY SOK, Deputy Director University of Iowa Center for Human Rights
“Loung Ung’s story of surviving a brutal and terrifying childhood in the war zone of Cambodia reveals the depth and resiliency of the human spirit. Her capacity to share her own journey of surviving trauma and healing is nothing short of stunning. As a master presenter, Loung helps us grieve the horrors we are all touched by and inspires us to reach for a more peaceful and compassionate way of living. Her presence is sheer grace.” ~ CARLA GOLDSTEIN, Director Women’s Institute at Omega Institute
“Loung’s talk makes you find more respect for those people out in the world that have gone through problems ….” ~ Derek Jewell, student
“Loung Ung gives a face and voice to a topic that could otherwise be almost inaccessible due its great sadness and weight: the topic of war and genocide. Ms. Ung has the compassion and spirit necessary to connect with audiences that might otherwise be overwhelmed by the menace and malice of history. Her story, as tragic as it might be, fills the listener with a sense of hope, direction, and purpose.” ~ DAN SCHEIBE, Assistant Head of School Middlesex School
“As a survivor of the Cambodian Killing Fields, Loung takes her audience into a world of unspeakable suffering, heartbreaking loss, and unimaginable hardship. Yet, it is not these things that remain with you after you have heard her speak. What stays with you is Loung’s voice. A voice that boldly empowers us to put down whatever hardship we might have endured and forge ahead to create the world we all would like to see. ” ~ GAIL STRAUB, co-founder and Executive Director, The Empowerment Institute
“Loung was not only an outstanding speaker but also extremely skilled in shaping her passion and commitment to the theme of Seattle Human Rights Day. The audience was riveted to their seats during her presentation and there were few dry eyes in the house. On behalf of us here at the Seattle Office for Civil Rights, thank you for helping to make this event one of our best ever.” ~ GERMAINE W. COVINGTON, Director Seattle Office of Civil Rights
“Loung Ung is an inspirational speaker and dedicated humanitarian. She empowered the UW Khmer students to learn more about their own histories, culture and to follow their passions to create change for a better tomorrow and future. Loung’s strength and courage inspired them to take leadership positions and find their own opportunities for advocacy in both local and global communities.” ~ LINDA M. ANDO, Student Organization Adviser University of Washington
“My students commented that they had all been taught about the Holocaust, but they didn’t realize that, unfortunately, there were other instances of genocide in the world since the Holocaust.” ~ MARILYN BERDIC, English Teacher Fremd William High School
