In July 2024, the Cambodia Youth Internet Governance Forum (YIGF Cambodia) welcomed five new organizing committees, each assigned to one of four main teams: administrative, program, website, and communication. With clear goals and missions, these committees are dedicated to promoting Internet governance topics and addressing key issues within the YIGF Cambodia framework.
Here are five enthusiastic new organizing committees that will be strong assets for the upcoming YIGF Cambodia 2024. They will share their journey of entering the YIGF Cambodia community, discuss internet issues they are concerned about and hope to tackle in Cambodia, and present their missions, goals, and key messages that they aim to spread to the public, especially youths, regarding internet matters.
Communication Team
Rin Rosa, 22, is a recent graduate with a bachelor degree in Media Management from the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
Rosa used to participate in YIGF Cambodia 2023 as a debater in the debating program regarding the internet that was organized by the YIGF Cambodia organizing committee. He also used to join the main event of the YIGF Cambodia last year. These experiences have inspired and sparked his interest in internet governance.
As a passionate youth on the internet, Rosa believes that the YIGF Cambodia is a crucial platform for youth engagement on internet issues such as internet equity and inclusivity. He will use his previous experience and skills in media management to provide a unique perspective on the role of communication in shaping public understanding.
Rosa was incredibly excited and honored to be selected for the Communication and Media Committee and was ready to challenge himself in the new working environment with the team.
“It\'s a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to something meaningful. I\'m also a bit nervous, as I want to make sure I live up to the expectations of the team and deliver impactful results. But overall, I\'m feeling very motivated and eager to get started on this new challenge,” he said.
As a new member of the communication committee, he has a mission and goal to raise the voice of youths and build a community of passionate young people who will champion digital rights for inclusivity.
“My mission with YIGF Cambodia is to empower youth to shape our digital future. I believe in open dialogue, education, and collaboration to create a generation of digital leaders,” he added.
As a media practitioner, he will use his skills to bridge the digital divide in Cambodia through his role in YIGF Cambodia . “I\'ll advocate for accessible internet infrastructure, digital literacy training, and local language content. I\'ll collaborate with diverse stakeholders and amplify marginalized voices to ensure everyone can benefit from the opportunities the internet provides,” Rosa said.
“Not everything you see online is true. Develop your critical thinking skills, question sources, and verify information before sharing it,” is a key message from the new communication committee.
Website Team
Chan Ty, 20, is a 4th year student in Digital Business from the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT) and has completed a diploma in software engineering at the American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP).
Ty first learned about YIGF Cambodia in 2023 through his school, which immediately caught his interest due to its focus on technology and Internet advocacy. With a background in coding and design, Ty decided to apply as a website committee member for YIGF. His mission is to create a collaborative environment where youth can learn, exchange ideas, and develop solutions to the Internet\'s current challenges.
“My goals include promoting digital literacy through educational programs and workshops and encouraging youth engagement with CamYIGF. That is why YIGF 2024 is such an important event that I must help make it a successful forum by joining as a committee,” he said.
The final key message from the new website committee is: “The internet is a powerful place for connection and innovation, but it requires responsible use and active participation. Stay informed, advocate for a free and open internet, and prioritize online safety and privacy. Your voice matters—let\'s work together to create a positive and inclusive digital future.”
Another member of the website committee is Hour Livhoung, a year three student in Computer Science, specializing in Data Science, from the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT).
She has always been fascinated by Internet governance, particularly its impact on online spaces, privacy, security, and access to information for everyone. These questions have motivated her to apply for the YIGF Cambodia committee.
“When I saw the incredible work the YIGF Cambodia website committee was doing, especially their work on promoting media literacy among young people, I knew I had to be a part of it. Their website is a powerful tool, and I wanted to jump in and contribute to making the internet a safe and informative space for everyone,” Livhoung recapped.
“It\'s an honor to be selected for the YIGF Cambodia Website Committee. I\'m brimming with ideas to combine my technical skills with my internet governance knowledge to create a website that empowers young Cambodians to be active participants in shaping the digital future,” Livhoung said after she was selected to be a member of the new website YIGF committee.
With her background in data science, she will use her skills to make the Cambodian YIGF website a dynamic hub for everyone who is interested in internet governance topics by creating data visualization to make complex topics more convenient to understand for the audience.
She added, “I want to use data to tell compelling stories that make complex topics accessible. Imagine interactive quizzes that test your media literacy skills or infographics that showcase the benefits of responsible online behavior.”
Cyber threats are a growing concern in Cambodia, and she sees the YIGF Cambodia website as a weapon against them.
“Don\'t be a passive passenger on the internet highway! The YIGF Cambodia website is your launchpad to become an active citizen. Learn about your rights, understand the rules of the road, and join the conversation about building a better internet for everyone. Remember, with knowledge and a little data magic, we can all be changemakers! \"\"—final key message from the new YIGF Cambodia website committee.
Administrative Committee
Ou Cheatta, aged 21, is a junior student majoring in English for International Business at the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL), Department of English, RUPP. Additionally, she is a sophomore studying International Relations at the University of Cambodia (UC).
Cheatta is a young enthusiast who is curious about Internet Governance topics as she believes it has a tremendous influence in society which drives her to be part of YIGF Cambodia 2024.
She was selected by YIGF Cambodia Committees after evaluation and interviewed. Now, she becomes YIGF Cambodia member, in Human Resources and Administrative team. She was selected by the YIGF Cambodia Committee to become the new Administrative YIGF committee after application evaluations and interviews.
YIGF Cambodia is a community where Cheatta hopes to explore more new experiences while connecting what she has learned from schools to put into practice in the administrative team.
“Having got selected in YIGF Organizing Committee 2024 made me feel blissful. Being a part of the YIGF Organizing Committee 2024 will benefit me and my youth team, for us to comprehend in depth internet governance and internet access,” Cheatta said.
As a new YIGF committee, Cheatta demonstrated the optimism of the internet for Cambodia society with the mission to make the internet accessible to everyone and everywhere.
“Lacking internet access to information is not the challenge for our community anymore. Additionally, we are pleased to know that our community has improved with internet governance and we, as youths, are committed to engaging together with the policy\'s procedures from the government, and we promote the stability of social security and social development.”
Seeing there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the internet, especially for those who are in rural areas in Cambodia, Cheatta would like to join YIGF Cambodia which aims to address ‘The Gap of Internet Accessibility and Internet Knowledge’ in Cambodia.
“We, as youths and changemakers, had better enhance our capabilities on internet matters. To propose the essential solutions to the challenges, we have to engage together in activities, campaigns and so on. Therefore, cooperating with government movements enables us to develop technological access in advance,” her last key message.
Program Team
Hok Lihuy, 27, obtained a bachelor degree from Royal University of Law and Economics and got selected as a new program YIGF Cambodia committee.
Lihuy applied for the YIGF committee because she sees the potential opportunity that would broaden her perspective beyond her current professional responsibilities and serve as an inspiration for her to be involved in ‘Internet Governance’.
“Being part of the committee will not only facilitate ongoing learning and skill development but also empower me to actively contribute to a community dedicated to shaping the future of internet governance,” she said.
As a new program YIGF Cambodia committee, Lihuy hopes to apply her skills in program designation and the knowledge that she has to contribute to the safe internet user community.
“It brings back memories of how I was super excited back then when I was a student volunteer,” she expressed her feeling after she got selected.
Lihuy envisioned herself as a digital citizen who would love to take any given opportunities, either participating in or designing any internet-related discussion with YIGF Cambodia .
Her ideal mission would be to address the issue of digital literacy, which involves offering individuals the necessary skills to utilize digital tools and navigate online platforms, understand digital privacy and safety, and utilize technology for both personal and professional growth.
“Approach the internet with a mindset of both opportunity and responsibility. The internet offers incredible potential for learning, connection, and innovation, but it also requires us to be vigilant about privacy, security, and the accuracy of information. Embrace digital literacy, be critical of the content you consume and share, and always consider the ethical implications of your online actions. By doing so, we can create a safer, more inclusive, and empowering digital environment for everyone,\" was the was the last key message from Lihuy.
