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July 31, 2020

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.

July 13, 2020

First Experience As Deputy Chair in Khmer Model United Nations, 2020

Throughout my Model UN career, I was always represented as a delegate. Nevertheless, this year in Model UN in Khmer, I was going to step on a more challenging, yet a new experience to even make it a more glorious journey. In February 2020, Liger Leadership Academy hosted another MUN conference to all the Liger delegates. This conference was one of the most incredible adventures I have attended since it was full of excitement and joy.

Being a deputy chair of a committee, I required to write a chair report in the Khmer language according to one of the topics of the committee. I spent my time wisely and was able to write an amazing 10 pages report based on “The question of reducing pesticide use,”. During the conference, everything in my committee went smoothly and in a successful way. Although it was my first experience charing a committee, I felt so welcome and pleased by all the delegates.

I appreciate how all the delegates were actively involved by asking other delegates questions and brought their courage into making speeches in front of the whole committee. Especially, 2 of 3 resolutions were able to successfully passed after the powerful, compelling, and persuasive debate by all the delegates. In my opinion, the conference was genuinely able to influence and inspire me in a way that makes me extremely motivated to lead the conference.

I believe this opportunity of charing in a conference will succor me for the next expedition of Model United Nations. Truthfully, it was one of the most memorable experiences I will never forget. Still, I hope to participate in more conferences down the road.

July 13, 2020

“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.

July 9, 2020

ISPP Model United Nation, 2019

This was genuinely the first time ever I participated in a Model UN in the English language, yet it was one of the most spectacular conferences as well. This experience was full of excitement, challenge, and indeed a success. It was my privilege to represent the Delegate of Nepal in such a formal conference. I was able to meet with other delegates from different academies around Cambodia.

All the delegates from Liger Leadership Academy

Under the theme of Giving Youth a Voice for 2019, I was a delegate of the Junior General Assembly 2 (JGA2). I believe that this theme had truthfully empowered delegates including me to speak up and share their voice. Talking about this concept, it is significantly crucial for youth to speak their voice in order to make a positive impact on their community. The conference of JGA2 was full of power and strength in which we were all actively involved by asking other fellow delegates questions. Even though it was my first time in English, I felt it was a victorious experience that I gathered all my courage to speak up and shared my voice representing the Delegate of Nepal.

In the conference, 3 different topics were being discussed by the delegates. All 3 resolutions (toward the topic of equal access to education, moving towards sustainable energy sources, and government censorship of social media) were able to pass in the conference.

This Model UN conference has lighted me to a new experience in which I had learned a lot of new things. From researching my topics in preparation for the conference to making speeches, and to communicating with other delegates were the skills I learned. This conference made my Model UN journey a lot more empowering and I can’t wait to continue this amazing journey.

July 6, 2020

“Your Voice Matters,” Annual Youth Talk

“The more youth begin to recognize that they have a voice, the more change is possible” — Usher

“I am the youth. I believe that my voice matters and could make a difference to bring equality.” — Votey

In the current situation, many major global issues are threatening the lives of humanity, the natural environment as well as lives of endangered species out there. It is a significant concept that we all should collaboratively solve for a better world. I believe that the youth of this generation are raising their voices for positive changes in their communities and the world. As a teenage girl, I also want to contribute my voice to talk about some mattered issues as well.

In the afternoon of December 21st, under the theme of “Creating the Spark”, The Annual Youth Talk was held in Nesson Cripps Academy. It was an extraordinary event that youth of grade 9 to grade 12 had the enormous opportunity to raise their voices and talked about an issue they are passionate about. The event sparked with amazing speakers each talking full of inspiration and passion.

I was honored to be one of the speakers that had the moment to share my ideas with hundreds of people. Since the beginning, I have always been passionate in talking about gender inequality in Cambodia, as well as the world. Through different summits I have attended, I think there’s still the barrier between gender in society.

My topic was about gender equity and equality in Cambodia society. Mostly from the past up to present, there seem to be various aspects toward gender, especially with discriminations and inequalities. In culture, girls are defined as weak, because people tend to think that they are often both emotionally and physically weak. However, this aspect doesn’t seem to be right at all.

The purpose of my speech was indeed to change people’s mindset toward this issue and see the world equally treat both genders. In society, this kind of issue is rarely discussed and dialogue in the events. I believe that my speech had changed their mindsets so that this world can be full of equity, equality, and justice.

July 2, 2020

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?

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.

June 30, 2020

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.

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”

June 29, 2020

Khmer Model United Nation Conference, 2019

In May 2019, the Liger Leadership Academy hosted a Khmer Model United Nation that consisted of 60 delegates from three different academies. Model UN is one of my interests and passions, in which it has grown since I participated in the first time. In my opinion, Model UN is such an impactful event to students and young minds as a young perspective in which delegates could truly understand what is happening around the world. This conference was a precious time for me and other new delegates I have never met to come together to discuss, collaboration, and debate in order to find reasonable and appropriate solutions to current global issues.

It was a privilege for me to present the French Republic in this conference, and discussed, debated under the question of tackling food insecurity, and rights of children of incarcerated parents. By exposing these two topics, I have perceived a lot of facts and became a lot more aware of each countries food security and children’s rights.

During the conference, I was pleased to be the main submitter on the topic of tackling food insecurity. Especially, I and the other delegates were productively participated by asking a lot of questions and do the speeches of our country’s stands.

This conference was one of the most successful Model UN I have attended. It gave me numerous knowledge about the topics, as well as current global issues as a whole. It transformed me to become a girl with confidence and courage to speak up. Having this conference in the Khmer Language is another glorious experience to support our native language and I hope there will be more Khmer Model UN conferences in the future.

June 29, 2020

World Robotic Olympiad, Cambodia

“Every girl deserves to take part in creating the technology that will change our world and change who runs it” – Malala Yousafzai

First of all, it was an honor to be the only girl in a team of three to represent in this marvelous worldwide robotic competition. World Robotic Olympiad (WRO) is a truly global competition dedicated to science and technology to give as many young creative people all the opportunities to develop their innovation and problem-solving skills. This competition was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia before the qualification in international competition in Thailand. Despite the little experience we had in the robotics field (since this competition was our second time), the two teams from the Liger Leadership Academy did an extraordinary job in engaging in the competition as an individual who worked hard in the team and thought of taking the skills and experiences rather than winning as a whole.

The two teams of Liger Leadership Academy

As a member of the team, I appreciated the effort and endeavor they had put in preparation for the actual competition. This competition and the process of teamwork made me came to a realization and an understanding that teamwork is genuinely the heart of great achievement for the team.

During the competition, my team did our best and we managed to priority the methods that work best for our team. We had only one chance to complete our robot and those moments were filled with excitement and nervousness. Due to the vigorous teamwork we had and our extreme confidence in our robot, that nervousness seemed to fade away on the second rounds of the three rounds.

This competition didn’t only teach me the skills of technology, science, and teamwork, it brought me to a world that is filled with young creative minds. Most specifically, I had made a lot of new friends from the different academy and shared our robotic journey as adolescents who passionate about robotic.

On the evening of the competition day, it came for a time to announce the winners. Both of the Liger teams are in Junior Category. What a piece of incredible and phenomenal news, my team qualified for the FIRST PLACE of junior division while the other team qualifies for SECOND PLACE. It is a successful moment for my team and my friend’s team. It was also an honor to receive our achievement trophies from the Secretary of State of Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, Deputy Director of STEM Cambodia, and more. It is an unforgettable experience of our robotic journey.

October 28, 2019

How I change Cambodia 2018-2019

Being a fourteen Cambodian girl, that got the scholarship in a marvelous school which is Liger Leadership academy seems as a fascinating opportunity for me. I got the privilege to out of my comfort zone and look to the outside environment of my own society. I am very honor to be born in this place, a place with amazing culture. In addition, by studying at Liger I got to make and generate many many positive impact and changes in my own country through our school based-learning projects. Through the projects, my mind has open and started to think deeply through the areas of each project. In addition, it also create change the people of the ways they look and think of their surroundings, the actions that they are doing every day in their daily life, and their reflection of their environment and country. Majority of those projects had the field trip to the provinces around Cambodia. For some of those, we either had performance or educational presentation to the community. While a few of those, we had the trip to conduct our data, or to o the research method. My projects that are a part of Cambodia are Community Documentary, Traveling Theater, Ecotourism and Robotic.

Community Documentary was the exploration which we document information in the rural community. I was being a part of helping and keeping important information to get the next generation to know the rural community in my country. Through those documentary, We created our final products for the community such as creating blog, photo book, podcast and video. In addition, during the journey of the documentary we trained some of the community youth from the community, too. We gave such an awesome opportunity to them to hold the camera in their first time and produce stunning picture and video. Moreover, after our documents were finalized we went to the community to share our products and do the presentation of what we have done to the villagers. Especially, there were many people come to our presentation and they were very impressed of our achievements.

Traveling Theater was a theater exploration where we travel from place to place to perform. Our goal for this exploration was to showcase performances, educational films and play to the rural communities and schools in the provinces around Cambodia by contributed opportunity to get awareness of their outside environment while they are having entertain. Before going on trip, Our team had prepared on setting up the stage depending on the situation of place we are going. We Also learned how to set up the electricity and the speaker. I would say that This was one of my project that could change Cambodian’s mindset of their surroundings. It changed of how people look at things and treat things in positivity. Especially, our target audiences which were students and villagers were really really inspire and impress of what we were doing while they were having fun. I am really proud of myself and my team of being brave of performed such an in touch plays to all the audience.

Ecotourism was an exploration which we are planning to create a Community-based ecotourism site in a Kuy Indigenous community in Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia. This year, I spent almost 14 weeks of working on this project. For the first 7 weeks, in order to create this site we needed to do the research on marketing of the project. In particular, our team spreaded the journey of interview the tourists of their interesting toward our site. We also went to the community to do our feasibility study to whether know if the place potential enough for Community-based ecotourism. I hope this project will actually happen one day, because it give such huge impacts on the community. It creates job for local people, by being a tour guide, giving accommodation or homestay to people, ability to show their skills or other. Therefore, it give the advantages to the natural resources, and environment as well. Before, most the villagers in the community are cutting down trees to sell or make coal, hunting for animals… But if the project happen, all of those activities will not going to happen again.

Robotics was also a project 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. The First Lego League theme for this year is Into Orbit which is related to Space. It was such an amazing experience as a competitor in this competition. There were teams from 4 ASEAN countries including Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippine and many many teams from China. However, There was just one team from Cambodia which is NORAKBOT (my team). It was really honour of representing Cambodia in this competition. It was the way that shown “Cambodian kids also can do it”. It’s the way that introduce 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.

The four above projects are a part of my changing Cambodia. But there are a lot of projects more that aimed me the step of changing my country. Those changes are start from myself or other peoples and it doesn’t matter much because of how old you are. I believe that those small changes might make a piece of positive change in Cambodia. And I hope those small changes are very benefits to my country and help me to prepared to create greater changes in the future.