When Wade Roberts first set foot in Cambodia, he was struck by the contrast between the stories he had heard of poverty and the stark reality before him. Years later, alongside his co-founder Tyler Elmore, Wade turned that experience into a mission: to create lasting change in some of the most impoverished communities in the world. Together, they founded Become More, an organization focused on alleviating extreme poverty in Cambodia by addressing the core pillars of health, education, and economic development.
In a recent podcast episode of Lift and Make Lighter, Wade and Tyler shared their journey and the transformative impact of their work. From building water filtration systems that save lives to introducing economic initiatives like the Fat Cow Family Farms, their efforts have improved living conditions and given families and communities a path to self-sufficiency. Through innovation, compassion, and a village-centric approach, Become More is proving that even small acts of giving can lead to profound, lasting change.
The Journey to Cambodia
Wade Roberts’ journey to Cambodia began through a seemingly unrelated experience during his LDS mission in California. While serving among the Cambodian community there, Wade developed a deep admiration for their resilience and culture. Years later, he and his wife traveled to Cambodia to see the country and its people firsthand. What they found was a stark and deeply moving reality.
Wade had expected to encounter poverty, but nothing could have prepared him for the level of need he witnessed. Families struggled to access clean water, malnutrition was widespread, and children lacked basic educational opportunities. What struck Wade most was the potential in the people and the vibrancy of their culture, despite the hardships they faced. This profound experience planted a seed in Wade’s heart and became the foundation of his passion to create meaningful change. His return from Cambodia started a mission to empower communities to overcome extreme poverty with sustainable solutions.
A Village-Centric Model
Become More’s approach to poverty alleviation is as unique as it is impactful. The organization focuses on creating change at the village level, tailoring its programs to meet the specific needs of each community. By addressing three core pillars—health, education, and economic development—Become More offers sustainable and interconnected initiatives.
Health is prioritized through initiatives like water filtration systems and access to medical care, addressing critical survival needs. Education programs equip children and adults with the knowledge and skills needed to break the cycle of poverty. Economic development projects, such as the Fat Cow Family Farms, provide families with a means to support themselves and their community. Together, these pillars create a foundation for long-term success, helping villages build brighter futures from the ground up.
This model’s emphasis on local leadership and community involvement is what makes it transformative. Instead of imposing one-size-fits-all solutions, Become More works closely with village leaders to identify challenges and co-create programs. This collaborative approach empowers communities to take ownership of their progress so the impact endures long after initial efforts are implemented.
Building Bridges Through Collaboration
One of the defining strengths of Become More is its ability to collaborate across borders, cultures, and industries. The organization thrives on partnerships that bring together diverse expertise and resources. By working with local governments, schools, healthcare providers, and businesses, Become More builds bridges that amplify its impact.
In Cambodia, Become More partners with local organizations to create programs that are culturally relevant and respectful of community traditions. For example, the Fat Cow Family Farms initiative was developed through close collaboration with local farmers to align with their existing practices while introducing sustainable improvements. This approach increases buy-in from the community and helps make the programs effective and sustainable.
Become More engages with donors, nonprofits, and companies that share its vision of sustainable change. These partnerships bring critical funding, technology, and innovation to the table and enable the organization to address challenges in ways that individual efforts couldn’t.
Measuring Impact, Transforming Lives
Success for Become More is seen in the lives transformed by their efforts. Each program is carefully monitored and evaluated to make sure it delivers tangible, long-term results. Metrics such as reduced childhood malnutrition, increased school attendance, and family income growth tell the story of progress. Still, it’s the individual stories of resilience and hope that truly reflect the impact.
Become More holds itself accountable by focusing on measurable outcomes while continuously improving its programs. This commitment to impact-driven work helps make sure the organization remains a trusted partner in the fight against poverty. The lives they touch and the stories they inspire stand as proof that real change is possible when compassion meets action.
Empowering Through Education
Education is at the heart of Become More’s mission to break the cycle of poverty. Recognizing that knowledge is the foundation for opportunity, the organization invests in initiatives that give children and adults access to learning.
Education takes on unique challenges in Cambodia. Many children are pulled out of school to work and support their families, while others lack basic supplies or safe transportation to attend classes. Become More addresses these barriers by creating physical learning spaces and addressing the root causes of absenteeism. For example, initiatives like the Family Farms project help parents increase their income so their children can stay in school instead of joining the workforce.
Adult education programs focus on practical skills like literacy, financial management, and sustainable farming techniques. These efforts empower individuals to take control of their futures and create a ripple effect that benefits entire communities.
Health as a Cornerstone of Change
Without good health, the ability to work, learn, and thrive becomes an uphill battle. Become More recognizes that health is a building block for lasting change, and its programs address the unique challenges faced by rural Cambodian communities.
Clean water access, one of the organization’s first health initiatives, has transformed the lives of countless families. In areas where clean water was once a luxury, Become More has implemented systems to provide safe drinking water and improve sanitation. These efforts have drastically reduced waterborne illnesses, allowing children to attend school consistently and parents to focus on work rather than illness.
In addition to clean water, health education plays a vital role. Families learn about nutrition, hygiene, and disease prevention, equipping them with the knowledge to maintain their health over the long term. Regular medical clinics are also organized, bringing much-needed healthcare to remote areas that otherwise lack access to doctors or medicines.
A Vision for the Future
As Become More looks to the future, its vision remains rooted in Wade’s original belief: sustainable change happens one village at a time. The organization’s model is designed not just to alleviate poverty but to eliminate it, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and opportunity that extends far beyond Cambodia.
With plans to expand programs and reach more communities, Become More is proving that change is possible when driven by compassion, collaboration, and a commitment to lasting impact. Every school built, farm established, and life transformed is a testament to the power of believing in something bigger.
Through Wade’s journey and the incredible work of Become More, lives are being changed, and hope is being restored—one village, one family, and one future at a time.
Final Thoughts
Wade’s journey with Become More shows how meaningful change starts by focusing on the needs of individuals and communities. LÉVO takes a similar approach by customizing mental health care to each client’s unique challenges. Both share a commitment to collaboration and creating solutions that have a lasting impact.
For LÉVO, this means helping clients overcome the barriers that keep them from living full, healthy lives. Whether it’s through personalized medication management, diagnostic tools, or other mind care strategies, the goal is the same: real, lasting transformation.
While Become More is improving lives in Cambodian villages, LÉVO is making a difference in mental health here at home. Both prove that sustainable change happens when you meet people where they are and help them move forward, one step at a time.