Buiding Smart Home System in Houses of People With Disabilities- Agile Collaboration

Within your daily routine of turning your light at home on/off, or turning the fan on up on your ceiling, you might always think they are simple/easy habits to do. Have you ever thought of how challenging it is for people with disabilities to practice with this simple stuff? The lives of people with disabilities might be harder and/or much different from what you actually have thought of. Within some circumstances, they couldn’t do those things at home at all and all depend on someone to assist. As a young change agent, I really want to be involved in helping for the better and positivity of their lives. 

Agile Collaboration was an exploration which I and the other 5 of my friends involved in making for the betterment of people with disability’s lives with the implementation of Smart Home System. With the collaboration with Agile organization, we believe that the Smart Home System could genuinely bring conveniences including time-saving and security purposes to their houses. 

To achieve the above mission, our team went to a variety of organizations and companies to meet with experts and audiences to interview and discuss as a step toward making our goals become reality. We went to 17 Triggers in which they are working with design thinking, researching, as well as Human-Centered Design. We’ve explored and learned about a variety of projects that 17 Triggers have done in which it can benefit our team when we implement the system. 

Additionally, we took another trip to PPCIL (Phnom Penh Center For Independence Living) to do our first-ever observation and interview people with disabilities. It was an incredibly stupendous experience for our team to communicate with them as well as getting to know the struggles they are facing daily. 

During the process of implementation, our team used methods that are called Human-Centered Design. Those methods are an approach to problem-solving, commonly used in management frameworks and design in order to develop solutions by involving the human perspective of the problem-solving process. As a team, we discussed and chose some of the methods to practice in our process. Some of the methods are Analogous Inspiration, Expert Interview, Interview, and Define Your Audience. 

Along with the process, our team did a lot of research and found a lot of interesting products that related to turning on/off the light, door lock, gate opening, and more. Meanwhile, our team had also created a mosquito prototype to help lift their mosquito. Finally, we will be implementing all of these products in the houses of people with disabilities.   

“Is It Possible For Rural Cambodian People To Have Their Own Organic Household Gardens?” – Household Garden

With the enormous amount of vegetables produced by Cambodians daily,  Cambodia still needs more tons of vegetables to supply the population. According to KhmerTimes, 540 tons of vegetables are needed in Cambodia to meet the demand, however, Cambodia can only make 400 tons for the country. Based on this statistical fact, it demonstrates that tons of vegetables are being imported. 

This was the root of why Household Garden Exploration created. Our ambition was to inspire some rural Cambodians to have their own fresh, organic vegetable gardens at home, instead of buying invalidated vegetables from the market. In addition, those vegetables that aren’t being ensured, are mostly produced with chemical fertilizer and pesticide in which the process could severely affect the health of the daily consumers as well as the producers. With this being said, a variety of organizations and projects are helping with the mission of encouraging farmers and households to grow more organic products to their needs.           

To achieve the above ambition, our team in this exploration went to different trips such as farms and research stations, conducted interviews to be able to observe and aware more on the current situation of vegetable plantation, type of vegetables that suitable for household garden, the process of creating organic fertilizer and pesticide, as well as the process of making compost. 

One of the best experiences, we visited Saange District, which is one of the heartland areas of vegetable farming that stretch hugely across the district’s land. Our ultimate goal was to understand the farmer’s lives and their farming practices. After the interviews, it shows that all of the farmers use chemical fertilizers because the process isn’t time-consuming and much more convenient. This result made our team a bit discourage, however, I hope that farmer’s mindsets will aware of the unbeneficial of prioritizing the chemical fertilizer. 

By the end of the exploration, as an experiment, we created a garden at Liger Campus where we grew different types of vegetables. With the little amount of time we had, we couldn’t clearly identify our goal, yet we had a much better understanding of vegetable farming in Cambodia. I positively hope we will be able to continue the project to better the lives of Cambodians.

Foldscope, a Mini Microscope That Indeed Will Blow Your Mind

“Foldscope Cambodia aims to empower socio-economically disadvantaged students by providing more accessibility to the microscopic world so that they realize and are aware of their potential to create sustainable impacts in the community.” 

Imagine, you’re a young student who lives in a rural area of a province. In a matter of time, you would want to drink water that is from different sources around your zone. However, the problem is that the cup of water you drank is filled and crowded with billions of hazardous monsters and bacteria you could not notice with your bare eyes. This eventually leads to sickness and other menacing problems. 

On the other hand, have you ever wondered what might the onion cells that your teacher was talking about in your biology class look like? Isn’t it monotonous to learn about many organisms and cells but you don’t have the opportunity to discover with a microscope? Thinking about this particular concept, it could lead thousands of students to be uninterested when it comes to learning about biology, or science as a whole. 

As a matter of fact, those cells in onions or cruel monsters in your cup of water can only be seen by an expensive microscope that many rural areas and schools could not afford to invest in for the students?

Foldscope 

Because of the problems as stated above, this was why Jim and Manu who are from Standford University have invented the most amazing tool you have ever seen. A mini microscope called Foldscope that’s almost 1,000 cheaper than an actual microscope. Within their astounding invention, this is the hope for millions of students out there who are underprivileged and disadvantaged for their learning opportunities. 

Foldscope is made entirely out of folded paper, is exceedingly affordable, portable, and durable. On the other hand, this Foldscope has the ability to see objects and almost the same as the big microscope that costs thousands of dollars.

During one of the workshops with students
One of the students who was exploring with Foldscope

Currently, I am a part of the Foldscope Cambodia that is working on implementing workshops and creating Foldscope videos in Khmer in order to introduce this astonishing tool to rural Cambodian students.  To achieve this great mission, our team has implemented a few workshops in Kampong Thom, Cambodia, in which we brought this efficacious device to enhance the quality of visual experience for student’s science learning and self-exploration. 

Our team gave two sets of Foldscope to the school.

During our successful workshops, we covered a lot of knowledge with scientific skills as well as soft skills in which we have improved their curiosity in science and gave them opportunities to let them discover the microscopic world they have always wondered about. 

I believe that Foldscope Cambodia is one of the best projects that made huge positive impacts on the students from my communities. I hope we would be able to support and assist more students during our future workshops.

A poem, inspired by the novel Inside Out & Back Again

During my Literacy class, I had a marvelous opportunity to read an outstanding book I have never heard of. Inside Out & Back Again, by Thannhha Lai, is a verse novel based on the journey of a young little girl, Ha, who fled from her native country to a new country. As an inspiration from what we’ve read, I and my classmates wrote each a gorgeous poem. This poem dedicated from a perspective of a character that went similar life experience as Ha from the novel. Please enjoy reading my poem about this character that has been forced to flee her home country for a safer place. 

Photo from Diacritics.org

Me, sitting under the shadow, 

Of this old world. 

 

Without any work to do, 

Anyone to play with, 

I ended up here. 

 

In a quiet place,

Giving me a state of serenity, 

At the same time, with water all of my body. 

 

Upon the branches, 

The soft voice of the bird is singing, 

Intended to express their bliss. 

 

Unfortunately, my mouth isn’t singing as the bird

But my stomach does

It is growling 

 

I am a Kurd, 

Moved from Iran, 

Are what my mom used to tell me, 

 

I was born to be here in Turkey, 

In a refugee camp, 

To be craved for food, 

To be slumbered in a small tent, 

For nine of us. 

 

Mom, we are Kurd, and…we are here?

Was what I once asked my mom

 

Jihan, my little girl

That’s why we need to endure such these

We have nowhere; we have no spot, 

But what we have is an identity, 

To be a Kurd 

 

A young little girl as me, 

Realize that I have no country, 

Cognize my own self, 

At that juncture. 

 

Is it faith that I have nowhere, 

To go, 

To breath with contentment, 

To gulp my favorite food. 

 

Part II

 

Days passed, we are fortunate, 

When missionaries, 

Sponsor us to come to America. 

Continue reading “A poem, inspired by the novel Inside Out & Back Again”

China Robotics

Robotics was an exploration where I and the other three students from the Liger Leadership Academy, preparing for the 2019 Guangxi Adolescent Robot Competition and the ASEAN National Adolescent Robot Invitational Tournament that head in Wuzhou, Guangxi, China.

It was a memorable memory for all of us, to be privileged to represent Cambodia to compete with other ASEAN and China teams. We were the first and only team from Cambodia and our team named was NORAKBOT. It was a Lego League which we designed our robot to complete the missions on the board under the theme of Into Orbit (Space). Even though the tournament had some confusion rules, our team could adapt to it quickly and perform the best we could. During the competition, our team put our best to be as flexible as we could. 

 

It was our honor of representing Cambodia in such an amazing competition. We had one whole day competition and the other days of exploring different places such as the Museum of science and technology and the ASEAN theme amusement park. 

One of the nights during this trip, our team participated in the Culture Exchange where all the countries shared their wonders to each other by having different performances such as dance, sing, and more. 

Khmer Traditional Dace

In addition, It’s the way that introduces Cambodia and its culture to other countries in the competition. Especially, our team was honored to hold our Cambodia’s flag in this Science-Technology competition.

Your happiness with your homework (R5)

How to be happy when you have a lot of homework? (essay)

By : SaraVotey Mom

Have you been feeling pressured about having a lot of homework that you can’t even submit them on time?​ Homework can often feel a little stressful or boring but it handles with numerous positive purposes. Unfortunately, if you are at study age it’s all part of student life. It’s the way of how your teacher evaluates how much you understand of what’s going on in class or to help you better understand the subjects that you’re studying. One major point that every student should be aware of is that all of those tasks and assignments are there to benefit you and your learning. However, having happiness while at your study age, as well as doing your homework is such a crucial point since it’s only the thing that motivates and encourage you through the journey of your learning. Fortunately, if you think you have a hard time doing your homework, there are some wonderful steps you can follow. I guarantee you will quickly become accustomed to doing any kind of homework with full of joy, as well as having a beaming smile on your face.                         

 

1). Plan out your task and time: Homework is from different classes with different types. Some of them might take a long term to finish, while others only require a short term to finish. If you have too much work, you should plan out with the list of tasks and works. In addition, it’s best if you attach the duration of those works with the time you are going to start and finish. For instance, Emily Listmann, a Co-Authored of an article in wikihow.com, was saying, “You’ll feel happier and more productive if you’re studying during a time when you’re experiencing a peak in energy”. This could mean that you have the potential to finish your work early because you’ll be able to concentrate on your work. 

Continue reading “Your happiness with your homework (R5)”

Algebra in Math Class (R5)

Algebra is the way in which the letters or even other general symbols are used to represent numbers and quantities. It quite benefits to human daily life because it could play a role of representing other quantities that people are not sure about. First time, It might seem to be complicated for some students as the way it looks, including me. But as you explore future more, you could easily discovers the way to express those problems. In the algebra expression, there are relationship between positive and negative, too. As part of humanity, we usually don’t know the exact quantities of the things. However, as in mathematics, you can replace a letter to represent the the quantity you want to figure it out.

Find the value of y when x=10

y = 9x/5

y = 90/5

y = 8

 

ការប្រគួតប្រជែងរឿងខ្លី Khmer Short Story Competition

During the round 5th of the year, There was an event called “Khmer Literacy Event” which head in the Liger Leadership Academy. This event was to promote the literature and culture in Cambodia. This is an event, there was a competition called Khmer Short Story. Below is my Khmer short story that I’ve participated in the competition. Especially, I won first place. 

នៅក្នុងជុំទី៥នេះ មានកម្មវិធីមួយដែលហៅថា ទិវាអក្សរសិល្ប៍និងវប្បធម៏ខ្មែរ ត្រូវបានប្រារព្ធនៅ សាលា ភាពជាអ្នកដឹកនាំ ឡៃហ្គឹរ។​ កម្មវិធីនេះ ត្រូវបានប្រារព្ធឡើង ដើម្បីលើកកម្ពស់់ អក្សរសាស្រ្ត និងវប្បធម៏ នៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។ ម្យ៉ាងវិញទៀត នៅក្នុងកម្មវិធីនេះបានការការប្រគួតប្រជែងរឿងខ្លីផងដែរ។ ខាងក្រោមនេះ គឺជារឿងខ្លីដែល ខ្ញុំបាននិពន្ធក្នុងការប្រគួតនេះ  ហើយខ្ញុំក៏ត្រូវបានជ្រើសរើស បានចំណាប់ថ្នាក់ លេខមួយ។

 

រឿង ព្រហ្មលិខិតរបស់វិសិដ្ឋ (Viseth’s Destiny)

ដោយស្មេរ  មុំ សារ៉ាវត្តី

នាវេលាព្រឹកមួយ សិស្សានុសិស្សនៅសាលាអនុវិទ្យាល័យមួយ បាននាំគ្នាដើរចូលថ្នាក់រៀងៗខ្លួន ដើម្បីចូលរៀន។ បុឹង បុឹង មួយសន្ទុះក្រោយមក ពេលវេលាចេញ​​​​​លេង ក៏បានមកដល់។ ក្នុងនោះដែរ មានសិស្សានុសិស្សចំនួន៤ នាក់បានដើរចេញពីថ្នាក់ ដោយមានការសន្ទនា យ៉ាងសប្បាយរីករាយ ផងដែរ។ ក្នុងនោះមានសិស្សស្រីបីនាក់ ដែលមានឈ្មោះថា ធារី វ៉ាន់ឌី និងយ៉ាយ៉ា ព្រមទាំងសិស្សប្រុសម្នាក់ ដែលមានឈ្មោះថា វិសិដ្ឋ។​ ធារីក៏បានសួរទៅកាន់វិសិដ្ឋថា “ អេ អាខ្ទើយ ឯងបានយកអីពីផ្ទះផ្ញើពួកយើងអត់ហ្នឹង ”។ វ៉ាន់ឌីក៏បានបន្ត “ អឺ មានយកមកអត់ហ្នឹង ”។ វិសិដ្ឋ បានឆ្លើយថា “ ចា ចា ជិតស្និទ្ធជាមួយពួកឯងយូរហើយ នាងខ្ញុំមិនដែលភ្លេចទេ ខំឡើងបេះស្វាយ ហើយបុកអំបិលម្ទេស យ៉ាងឆ្ងាញ់ឯណោះ ”។ “ អឺ ល្អណាស់អាខ្ទើយនេះ ចេះយកចិត្តពួកយើងទៀត ” យ៉ាយ៉ាបន្ថែម ។ មួយសន្ទុះក្រោយ​មក សម្លេងមួយក៏បានបន្ទរឡើង “ តោះ តោះ រៀបចំស្វាយទុកដាក់វិញ ដល់ម៉ោងចូលរៀនហើយ ”។ បន្ទាប់ពីនោះមក ពេលដែលសិស្សទាំងអស់កំពុងនៅក្នុងថ្នាក់ លោកគ្រូបន្ទុកថ្នាក់ក៏បាននិយាយថា “ មើលកូនៗ តើកូនណាពីរនាក់ ស្ម័គ្រចិត្តអានអត្ថបទ ការសន្ទនារបស់មេរៀនយើង ថ្ងៃនេះបានទេ? ”។ ពេលដែលលោកគ្រូ និយាយដូច្នេះភ្លាម វិសិដ្ឋក៏បានលើកដៃឡើងយ៉ាងរហ័ស។ ទន្ទឹមនឹងនេះ ក៏មានសម្លេងមួយបន្ទរថា “លោកគ្រូៗ នុះអាប៉េដេ លើកដៃហើយឲ្យវាទៅ ”។ សិស្សនៅក្នុងថ្នាក់ទាំងអស់ បានអស់សំណោច ដោយពាក្យសម្ដីមួយនេះ។ លោកគ្រូក៏បាននិយាយ​ “ អូ វិសិដ្ឋ  ដូច្នេះតើកូនណា ស្ម័គ្រចិត្តម្នាក់ទៀតបានទេ ”។ ២នាទីក្រោយមក មិនមាននរណាម្នាក់លើកដៃឡើយ។ លើកនេះ លោកគ្រូក៏បានចាប់ហៅ សុធា ដែលអង្គុយជួរខាងមុខ។ ប៉ុន្ដែសុធាក៏បានយកលេស ហើយនិយាយថា “ លោកគ្រូៗ ខ្ញុំមិនចង់អាន ជាមួយនឹងអាខ្ទើយនឹងទេ វាអានម្ញុិកម្ញ៉ក់ដូចស្រីអញ្ចឹង ខ្ងុំខ្លាចកាត់ចរិក ដូចវាដែរ ”។

Continue reading “ការប្រគួតប្រជែងរឿងខ្លី Khmer Short Story Competition”

Exploring through Adobe Photoshop (Round5)

Diversity of skills, basics of technology and multimedia have been discovered throughout the year. It incorporated as individual and teamwork tasks. This year, we discovered many technology and multimedia huge areas such as Adobe tools, photography/videography basics, and Python programming. Since this is the last round of the year, as a learner we chose a topic that we want to cover and learn more about. Through the improvement of the project, I explored my interest in Photoshop, which a fact that I chose this skill to work on. Throughout the journey of working with Adobe Photoshop, I could transfer all of my pictures into the sense of gorgeous. As working on Adobe Photoshop, I decided to work and generate on Ink Smudge Effect. It is the process of putting the ink smudge with some paint brush on the picture. As the limited of time on the previous round of working in Photoshop, I didn’t know much materials yet before I additionally worked on this project. However, after I explored this concepts, I clearly have an idea how exactly Photoshop works. I was learning this with one of my friends and we learned by watching a YouTube Video tutorial of how to create Ink Smudge in Photoshop. As things were going, there were also some challenge that I met. One of them was that, When I and my friend watch the video and practice in Photoshop, We were not really sure about how the function and materials works and why we need them for our photo. But as we tried our best of listen to the instructions and practice in our own, We could figure out and solve all of those problems easily. I think that this project gave a lot of advantages to me on the course of Adobe Photoshop. In addition, by working in this project it makes me to be passionate on Photoshop and edit beautiful photo in my own free time.

                                                               

Motion & Distance

Can you give some examples of motions? But first of all, lets me give a simple definition of what motion is. Basically, Motion is the act, process of moving, or the change of position. Many many things around you are moving, which means it relates to the process of motion. For example, I ride my bike to my house, it means I am in motion.

Distance : Distance is the length of the route between two points, which are the starting and finishing line. The SI unit for distance is the meter.

(1 m = 3.28ft), ( 1 cm = 0.01 m), ( 1 km = 1000 m)