Sam Sann, born Sambath Sann in 1967 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is a survivor whose life reflects extraordinary resilience and courage. Growing up as one of seven children during a time of political unrest, his early years were shaped by both family love and the uncertainty of a country in turmoil.

Separated from his mother at a young age, Sam was sent to live with his grandmother in Battambang, where he learned the values of discipline, responsibility, and endurance — lessons that would later become essential to his survival. His childhood innocence soon gave way to the brutal realities of the Khmer Rouge regime, where he faced unimaginable loss and hardship.