Never give up

Story from my childhood

2011-11-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

When I was in mysecondary school, my father used to own a big motorbike. It was high and heavy.As I kid I was curious about how to drive it so I annoyed my dad about that. Hetold me how to drive it, gave me his helmet, and let me drove it around to testit. I drove it around our house, which was national road number 7, for a fewminutes. As I was reaching my house, my mum and the neighbors told me to stopdriving it because it was dangerous. But my dad said to me “daughter you don’tneed to stop driving it, instead drive it more often so that you get used toit. Just remember to wear helmet, drive very slow, and stick to the side of road.If you are careful enough, you won’t fall down”

Hot Line? Emergency contact?

2011-08-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, when my familywas driving from Phnom Penh toward Kampong Cham province at about 11pm, we sawa man in his min 40 maybe beating a woman who looked like 30 years old orsomething. My father stopped the car and had a look on what really happening. Mymum noticed that the woman whisper the world “Help”. I then search for policesnumbers from other people who might have them. After about 5mn, I got twonumbers which are hot line police for emergency cases. I was glad to get thenumber, but guess what? Nobody pick up both phones. I call and call and callmany times, still no answer. That man walked to our car and told us “This is myfamily issue, just go.” My father decided to open the car window and told thatman the he already called polices and polices are coming. That man picked her upfrom the ground, started his motorbike and quickly left that place. We followedwhile I keep trying to call that two hot line numbers. After about 2kilomaters,we realize that his motorbike was very very fast which could cause accident andthe woman was behind him without the helmet, so we decided to stop following;otherwise, we would driver faster as we follow. I was sad that we couldn’t helpmuch; but more importantly, that the hot line isn’t helpful. Polices weresleeping.

Last night at about 11pm, I got acall from a friend who relative was missing since 6pm. The lost girl was 17years old. History has shown that she cannot be running with someone else sinceshe has never had a boyfriend or any issues within her family. Her family ofcourse files a complaint to the police office in her village already. My friendasked if I know any numbers for emergency contact or any assistant to find her.My sister, my brother in law, my boyfriend, and I spend one hour looking forhot line numbers whom we hope might be able to do something. We found many hotline numbers included head of police in that village, child abuse hot line,child help line, human trafficking hot line, ministry, and a lot more NGOs. Myfriends called to all the number I gave her, and guess what? Nothing works.Most of the hot line numbers ring without anyone answering the phone, thepolice said he already told his team to work on it but he was at home sleeping,the ministry said please file a complaint tomorrow, some NGOs said it isoutside of our coverage area. After mid night, we lose hope and stop trying tocall. It is morning now. That little girl has lost for 15 hours already. Ifthat was a human trafficking act, she might end up in prostitute already.

Shame on hot line numbers! How dothey dare to put their numbers in the Emergency Contact list and callthemselves “Hot Line” if they don’t even pick up the phone? Where and who canwe, poor people, reach for help in such cases?

A better country starts from each of us

2011-08-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

Being a part of Initiatives ofChange Association (ICA) for many years now has been one of the greatestmoments in my life. What made me so proud isn’t the title of a president, butthe opportunity which has been given by this association to witness thegreatness, kindness, friendliness, and a lot of commitments by young people ofCambodian in seeking a better country starting from them. Last weekend, ICA FoodProgram committee had organized the 6^th annual food program atCambodian-Russian Hospital. I usually cannot help much except I do test thefood they cook and taking their pictures. It just a short periods of time, thecommittee have been working very hard and resulted in having enoughcontribution to cook food for about 300 patients in that hospital.

HIV Patients

The food itself wasn’t really themain point of this program. What matters most is that those patients werevisited and served by young people who don’t even know them but sharing thesame nationality – Khmer. Most of the patients are poor people who were affectedby HIV and TB disease. Let me go back into history a little bit to show theconnection of why offering food related to helping Cambodia.

I’m sure we all know the regimesof 1975-1979 – Pol Pot regime. We all acknowledge that Pol Pot and his crewwere the major cause of such a terrible leadership, but how could severalpeople managed to get support by millions and turned the country into a zeroyear? Several people cannot kill 2 million people….right? In a radio drama which was produced base ontrue story by the Women Media Center called “The last road” and together with myreading of some history books plus my family experiences in that regime, I cameto realize that the killing of 2 million people were possible because of the hatredof poor people against rich people. In that mentioned drama, the poor peoplejoined revolution military to revenge the rich who, in the previous regimes,enjoyed their luxury and not caring at all for the poor. The gap between therich and poor were very huge. Many people were poor and lots of young peoplewere jobless.

Kids who comes to the hospital with their family

ICA is just a small volunteerorganization and the food program can only serve food for some hundreds people.It won’t help much to close down that gap between the rich and the poor, butisn’t it better than not doing anything at all? Offering food was only our tool,but offering love and care were our aim.

I deeply thank, on behalf of ICA,to all the contributors who have made this program possible for 6 years andmore in the future. A very big thank to the organizing committee who have contributedtheir time and energy to organizing this.

A better country starts from each of us!

Am I doing the right thing?

2011-06-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

My career at the lovely night talk show is quite a success. People started to know my name, becoming fans on facebook, contacting me for different reasons; some have changed their attitude and becoming stronger. I’m so proud for that. However, I now starting to question myself if I am doing the right thing?

My fans are also starting to depend so much on me. They have tried to get my phone number from whoever they could ask. That includes my sisters, brother in law, boyfriend, sponsor, my staffs, and more. My family got called during work and late night for people needing help urgently. Who I am, to be able to help everybody? The purpose of my work at the show is to help people becoming an independent and strong person. In contrast, people are becoming weaker because they expect that I will be able to help them in whatever they need.

I now rethink and I need help to make decision. Shall I continue my work at the radio as a consultant? I have been an educator. Shall I be just an entertainer?

Programming

2011-05-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

I have enrolled in World Philosophy class this term. Today I have learned something very interesting: Determination. It is a philosophy which explained that human being is just like a computer. You are able to use computer to type an article because this computer were programmed for typing.

Human being can never escape their shadow. Every things they do or decide are base on their past which including family, education, environment, and people they have met before. A lazy person cannot suddenly become a hard working person if she wasn’t influenced by the advice from her parents or maybe a good book she read. Determinism believes that we are always influenced by things around us. People are different from each other because they met different people, read different book, and live in different environment. Therefore, people do not have free-will. We are who we are depending on our past. We have been programmed by our past like a computer has been programmed by programmer. According to determinism, our past and environment is our programmer.

This theory teaches me that while we are programmed by others, we also program them. We help to shape people we meet and talk to. If you are a good person, you are influencing the person next to you to become a good person too. We all influence each other, so why not be a good responsible person? Doing good things help us become a good person, and it will also influence other people.

We will never stop fighting for our rights

2011-04-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening (02.04.2011) at around 5:30pm, a group of about 15 security polices from Khan Don Penh came to our dancing place to warn us not to put the music on. I asked one of them who named was Chantha. Here was the conversation:

Me: Why are we not allowed to plays music while the state music was loudly plays the Korean song right in front of Wat Putum?

Security police Chantha: Because he got order from the Mayor of Phnom Penh

Me: And why he order so?

Security police Chantha: Because when the mayor exercises he doesn’t need music

Me: But that is him not us. Where is the letter than he made order?

Security police Chantha: I don’t know. If you play the music, I will collect your equipment then you can complain later.

To be noted that this police security was standing on the green grass when talking to us.

Me: Pu, this green grass is not allowed to step on.

Security police Chantha: I am the care taker of this garden; I have the rights to step on it.

Then, he walked away à we followed

After walking here and there, they (security polices) took off. We started to play our music and dance. This time we played the smaller speakers. I then called to four Parliamentarian members to ask whether this is this regulation that music is not allowed. Four of them said “NO, there isn’t.” I then called Madam Mu Sochua, elected parliamentarian. I don’t care if she is from the opposition party, but all we need was someone to protect us. At that moment, she was the only one I could reach. She came to have a look at our dancing place. After a while when we was dancing, the security polices came again. While stepping down their cars, they may have seen Madam Mu Sochua, they got back in the cars, took off, and never come back again till we finish dancing.

We need an explanation why music is not allowed? Is it true that the Mayor did really make an order? If the music is too loud or we dance too late, we can negotiate. Therefore, we are collection the thumb print of our supporters and will submit this thumb print together with a request letter to the City Hall of Phnom Penh on Monday. As of today (03.04.2011 at 11am), we have got 106 thump print. We will continue to collect the thump print and will go to the city hall on Monday morning.

We you would like to give your support through your thumb print, please come to the Wat Butum park in front of Hong Kong Center from 5:30pm this evening.

They suddenly tell us to stop playing music

2011-03-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

While we were dancing at the public park yesterday evening, two polices came and told us “No more music from today.” Our dance teacher asked “Why?” and “Till when?” the two polices keep silent and only said that they got order to do so. They came with no paper, nothing else, but words from their mouths. They said we can dance but not allow playing music. Excuse me, how do you dance without music?

Exercise through dancing has become very popular in Cambodia, both and Phnom Penh and other provinces. It is more than just dancing. It has been a community where people feel together. That place was where I feel all are welcome and treated equally. You can find all kinds of people dancing together and teach each other when needed. There are very rich people who come with their body guard, famous singer who wear mask on their faces so that people don’t recognize them, street kids who beg for living (they dance for free), a 11 years old girl who has just had heart operation, a 13 years old boy who have been dancing here for 2 years, a group of gays and lesbians, students who dance to refresh their mind, my family, and even a few years old cute girl who just enjoy dancing along with her mother. There are really many more who have stories behind and who need to dance. I met a 20 years old adult man who quit using drug when he joins this place. We have all kind of level dancers, from expert down to people who have just broken their comfort zone and learn dancing. There was when I feel myself the most. People become healthier physically and mentally.

If we are not allowed to play music, how could we dance? We do not against the government or city hall regulation; but at least you need to explain us why? This is a public park. Do you understand what does PUBLIC means? I thought we are the public. When I say “We”, it is not just my family. “WE” the dancers who are about at least four hundred people need this place, and MUSIC.

What would you do?

2011-02-28T17:21:00.000-08:00

Ritu lives in India and worked for an organization doing work for street children. The money she is earning from her work is paying back a loan she took from a bank to pay for her sister's weeding. She has been set the task by her boss to apply for much needed government funding for a project to help street children. Ritu gets in touch with the appropriate public servant. They say that they are willing to support the orphanage if she pays a bribe on behalf of the orphanage. Her boss tells her that she has to secure the project by paying the bribe.

If she pays the bribe:

-She keep her job

-She continues to be able to pay back her loan for the family

-She secures much needed finance to run the program for street children

-She goes against her value and is dishonest

If she doesn’t pay the bribe:

-She risk losing her job

-She will have to search for another way to pay back the loan

-The project for street children will not go ahead

-She lives out the values she believe in

What would you do if you were her?

ទេពកោសល្យដឹកនាំរបស់យុវតីខ្មែរ សម័យបច្ចុប្បន្ន

2011-01-12T18:10:00.000-08:00

Published on វិបផតថលស្តីអំពីស្ត្រី :: Empowerment for Social Change (http://women.open.org.kh)

ដើម > ទេពកោសល្យស្ត្រី

ភាពជាអ្នកដឹកនាំ ចំពោះនាងខ្ញុំ គឺជាការជះឥទ្ធិពលទៅលើមនុស្ស ឲ្យពួកគាត់ ចេះប្រើប្រាស់សក្ដានុពលដ៏ប្រសើរបំផុតដែលខ្លួនមាន ធ្វើឲ្យជីវិតរបស់ខ្លួនបានប្រសើរឡើង តាមរយៈការគិតធំ ផ្ដើមធ្វើពីតូច "នេះគឺជាសម្ដីរបស់កញ្ញា នាង សុវត្ថានា ប្រធាន "សមាគមគំនិតផ្ដួចផ្ដើមនៃការផ្លាស់ប្ដូរ" នៅក្នុងបទសម្ភាសន៍មួយ ជាមួយអង្គការវិទ្យាស្ថានបើកទូលាយ ។ កញ្ញា ត្រូវបានមជ្ឈដ្ឋានជុំវិញ ទទួលស្គាល់ថា ជានារីឆ្នើមមួយរូប ដោយសារ ទេពកោសល្យដឹកនាំដ៏ប៉ិនប្រសប់របស់កញ្ញា ដែលមាន ទស្សនវិស័យ "គិតធំ ផ្ដើមធ្វើពីតូច" អនុញ្ញាតឲ្យកញ្ញាត្រូវបានជ្រើសតាំងជាប្រធានសមាគម ចូលប្រឡូកក្នុងពិភពការងារតាំងពីវ័យក្មេង ។

សុវត្ថានា បានដំណាលប្រាប់ អំពីដំណើរជីវិតការងាររបស់ ខ្លួន ដូច្នេះថា ៖ "...នាងខ្ញុំ ផ្ដើមធ្វើការងារពេញម៉ោង នៅឯសមាគមយុវជនខ្មែរ "ក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០០៤ ។ តាំងពីឆ្នាំ២០០៧មក នាងខ្ញុំ បាននិងកំពុងធ្វើការ ជាអ្នកជំនួយការកម្មវិធី "មូលនិធិ ហ្វ្រេឌិច ណៅមែន" ។ ក្នុងពេលជាមួយគ្នានេះ ដែរ នាងខ្ញុំ ក៏ជាប្រធានស្ម័គ្រចិត្តនៃ "សមាគមគំនិតផ្ដួចផ្ដើម នៃការផ្លាស់ប្ដូរ" ដែលជាអង្គការយុវជនស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត ស្ថិតនៅរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ និងមានការិយាល័យសាខាមួយ នៅខេត្តបាត់ដំបង ។ តាំងពីអាយុ១៥ឆ្នាំមក នាងខ្ញុំ បានចូលប្រឡូកក្នុងសកម្មភាពស្ម័គ្រចិត្តជាច្រើន មានជាអាទិ៍ ការបោះជំរំយុវជន សិក្ខាសាលា កិច្ចប្រជុំ ការបង្រៀនភាសាអង់គ្លេសនិងកុំព្យូទ័រ ជំនួយការគម្រោងអភិវឌ្ឍន៍នានា និងការបង្កើតគម្រោងជាច្រើនទៀតសម្រាប់យុវជន"។

ឈរលើទស្សនវិស័យច្បាស់លាស់របស់ខ្លួន កញ្ញា នាង សុវត្ថានា បានបង្ហាញពីបែបផែននៃទេពកោសល្យដឹកនាំរបស់ខ្លួនថា កញ្ញាប្រើប្រាស់ភាពជាអ្នកដឹកនាំរបស់កញ្ញា ដើម្បីជះឥទ្ធិពលដល់មនុស្ស ដោយការផ្ដល់ឲ្យអ្នកទាំងនោះ នូវគំរូវីរភាពណាមួយដែលបុគ្គលនោះពេញចិត្ត ហើយនិងលើកទឹកចិត្តឲ្យអ្នកទាំងនោះ ជឿជាក់លើសក្ដានុពលដ៏ប្រសើរបំផុតដែលខ្លួនមាន ។ កញ្ញាបានបន្ថែមទៀតថា ជាដំបូង កញ្ញាផ្សារភ្ជាប់ទំនាក់ទំនងផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន ជាមួយអ្នកទាំងនោះ តាមរយៈការចែករំលែករឿងរ៉ាវផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន និងការជួយពួកគេដោះស្រាយបញ្ហាផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន។ កញ្ញាបានប្រកាន់យក នូវជំពូកអ្នកដឹកនាំមួយបែប ដែលកញ្ញាបានឲ្យដឹង ដូច្នេះថា ៖ "នាងខ្ញុំ ចង់ធ្វើជាអ្នកដឹកនាំមួយប្រភេទ ដែលគិតអំពីការបម្រើអ្នកនៅក្រោមបង្គាប់ ជាជាងការពង្រឹងការបង្គាប់បញ្ជារបស់ខ្ញុំទៅលើពួកគេ"។

ជាសមិទ្ធផល សុវត្ថានា បានប្រាប់ថា៖ "ឥទ្ធិពលទី១នៃការដឹកនាំរបស់នាងខ្ញុំ ដែលនាងខ្ញុំសង្កេតឃើញ គឺបន្លាស់ប្ដូរវិជ្ជមានជាច្រើន របស់យុវជនដែលនៅជុំវិញខ្លួន ។ ពួកគេ បានប្រែក្លាយ ការគ្រាន់តែចេះគិតគូរថែទាំអំពីខ្លួនឯង ឲ្យទៅជាការចេះយកចិត្តទុកដាក់ថែទាំសង្គមទាំងមូល ហើយបានចាប់ផ្ដើមស្វែងរកវិធីសាស្ត្រ ជួយធ្វើឲ្យប្រទេសកាន់តែប្រសើរឡើង ។ នាងខ្ញុំបានឃើញផ្ទាល់នឹងភ្នែកថា ប្រមាណ ១០នាក់ នៃយុវជនទាំងនោះ បានផ្ដើមគំនិតបង្កើតគម្រោងជាច្រើន ទាក់ទងនឹងការស្ម័គ្រចិត្តនានា ក្រោមកិច្ចសម្របសម្រួលពីសមាគម ។ ...ឥទ្ធិពលទី២នោះ គឺថា ភាពជាអ្នកដឹកនាំរបស់នាងខ្ញុំ ត្រូវបានប្រើប្រាស់ជាគំរូវីរភាព សម្រាប់យុវជនដទៃទៀត ដែលជំរុញឲ្យពួកគេធ្វើសកម្មភាពនិងជឿជាក់លើខ្លួនឯង"។

ក្រៅពីជោគជ័យ ដែលរៀបរាប់ទាំងអំបាលម៉ានខាងលើ សុវត្ថានា ក៏ជួបប្រទះនូវការប្រឈមមួយចំនួនដែរ ទាក់ទងនឹងការគ្រប់គ្រងពេលវេលា ។ ទោះបីជាខិតខំបែងចែកការងារទៅតាមអាទិភាពរបស់វាយ៉ាងណា ក្ដី កញ្ញាមានអារម្មណ៍ថា ខ្លួនពុំទាន់ចេះគ្រប់គ្រងពេលវេលាបានល្អ ពិសេសពេលធ្វើការងារច្រើនកន្លែង សិក្សា និងថែទាំប្អូនៗរបស់កញ្ញា ក្នុងពេលតែមួយជាមួយគ្នា ។ ថ្វីបើយេនឌ័រត្រូវបានកញ្ញាធ្លាប់គិតអាចជាឧបសគ្គដល់ភាពជាអ្នកដឹកនាំ កញ្ញាបានផ្លាស់ប្ដូរការគិតនេះ ក្រោយពីកញ្ញាបានចូលប្រឡូកការងារ ក្នុងស្ថាប័នអង្គការក្រៅរដ្ឋាភិបាល ហើយអះអាងថា ស្ត្រីត្រូវបានគេផ្ដល់អាទិភាពជាច្រើន។

កញ្ញា នាង សុវត្ថានា បានផ្ដល់ជាមតិយោបល់ថា ៖ "គ្មានអ្វីដែលអាចជួយស្ត្រីឡើយ ប្រសិនបើស្ត្រីមិនទទួលស្គាល់នូវគុណតម្លៃនិងសក្ដានុពលរបស់ខ្លួននោះ ។...ស្ត្រីត្រូវយល់ថា ការកើតមកជាស្ត្រី មិនមែនជាបន្ទុកទេ តែជាអត្ថប្រយោជន៍"៕

Remarkable People of the Year 2010

2010-12-30T20:24:00.000-08:00

Time, as always, runs super fast. 2010 is ending and 2011 is starting super soon. I would like to take this opportunity to thanks some remarkable people of the year 2010. They made my life more beautiful, more joyful, and have contributed to my successes.

One the occasion of our one year anniversary

First most important person is Panha, my boyfriend. As of today, we have been together for 19 months and 13 days. He has supported me with no condition. He is not just a boyfriend, but also a motor taxi driver, a massager, a teacher, an editor, a report writer, a designer, a consultant, a bank, a reminder, a great helper, an entertainer, a photographer, an audient, a source of information, and much more. He is the only person who I can have a good cry with. He has been doing everything I ask or even not ask and has done them from his heart. He is the man behind the scene of all my works. Plus, he does things he doesn’t like if it made me happy.

Second, thanks to my program manager, my colleagues, and FNF in General. I have been working here for 4 years now. This place gave me freedom; allow me to experiences political life, broaden my attention, and link me to a broaden network. Most importantly, my program manager, Mr. Khim Sophanna, allow me to experience freedom to work while at the same time being a responsible person and teach me how to handle pressure. He has been a role model for being committed, a planner, and a follow up person. My colleagues, Kok Tha and Kunthea, are the greatest cooperator. They trusted me 100%.

Kok Tha, En Sokunthea, Khim Sophanna, and Me

ICA Core Team members in Phnom Penh and Battambong

Third, thanks to all ICA members for elected me as the president. I have to deeply thank my only staff- Rany. She has been providing me great assistant at anytime including night time, weekend, and holiday. All the core team members have inspired me to never stop fighting for a better Cambodia. They are the reminder to keep me motivated and having hope. They allow seeing and believing in “thinking big starting small.” They are great people. Their works with ICA has contributed to decreasing gap between the rich and the poor. They spend their time, energy, and money to have the work done. I have been with ICA for six years now, seeing their hard work keep me believing that Cambodia is having the chance to prosper.

Dj Lion, Niko, and Me

Fourth, thanks to Sarika FM 106.5 and of course my fans. Being a radio host of Lovely Night talk show for 2 years now, made me feel like a super star. My fans love me like their sisters. Without them I couldn’t have been working for media that long. Media is the fourth power and I am in it now. While helping my fans to deal with their problems, it increased my general knowledge and keeps me informed/updated about relationship matters. Some issues are totally new for me. My fans are also my teachers. One more, working at Sarika allowed me to be updated with new song. Being the radio host, led me to other working area too which is being MC for different event/party.

My bother, sisters, and Me

Last but not least, thanks to my family; especially, my brother and sisters. Well, they are more like a burden but at the same time the reasons for being hard working. Without these responsibilities I may have wasted my time. The challenges I face are what make me stronger. They are the reasons I have to work more, and the more works I have, the more lessons I learn. They made my life more meaningful and useful. There are many more people to thanks but I better stop here. These are the most remarkable people of my life, they made 2010 so successful. Thanks.

Expressing our sadness

2010-11-23T18:29:00.000-08:00

Dear All

For your information, my team and I are going to meet at 5pm tomorrow (25th November 2010) at parking place at Wat Botum (in front of Hong Kong Center). We are going to dress in black and white, carrying candle, incense, and flower, walk from there toward Koh Pich bridge. Arriving Koh Pich bridge, we are going to pray for our people who passed away. I know it doesn't help much, but what we are doing to show that we care and we are sorry for what have happened.

I have found some families who lose their family members and in need of urgent help financially. Therefore, while gathering there, we are also going to do some fund raising for them. I will be responsible for bringing those money to the families by myself. If you wish to donate, please contact me.

If you, your family, or friends wish to join, please be there at 5pm. You will see us dressing in black and white.

For information relating tomorrow walk, please contact :

Nana : 092 663 062

Srey Leak (Nana's sister) : 098 863 396

Panharath (Nana's boyfriend) : 016 369 155

Best Regard,

Nana

Mourning

2010-11-22T18:50:00.000-08:00

more than 300 of our own innocent people including kids died last night tragically. I am sharing my mourning by dressing black and white today till 25th November (the official mourning). If you see any kids walking around somewhere on the street, please ask them if they are looking for their parents. Please bring them to the city hall.

Ethic

2010-10-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Case study: When I arrived home from school, I saw a cockroach biting my shirt which was newly bought and I love it so much. In this case is it ethical or unethical to kill that cockroach?

Killing cockroach is unethical. Killing is unethical no matter what. We, human being, are different from animal or insect that we have the ability to think weather our action is ethical or unethical. For the cockroach, as its nature, don’t have this element. Biting my favorite shirt is a big deal; however, I cannot complain the cockroach, but myself. Why wasn’t I careful enough to protect my shirt? The cockroach doesn’t have the brain that I have. On the other hand, my shirt doesn’t have a life, but the cockroach does. My shirt won’t be hurt, but the cockroach will be hurt and lose its life. It is unethical to kill a life for a thing. Lastly, killing that cockroach won’t make any better anyway. What is the point of killing that cockroach?

However; according to ethical egoism, one can argue that it is ethical. Ethical egoism explained that people can do things that make them happy. Killing that cockroach is, at that exact moment, release anger. For some people, release anger could help them emotionally.

Killing a cockroach seems to be small issue. Just a cockroach; who care? Yet, we have forgotten that we are actually killing a LIFE. Nobody wants to lose their lives. Taking somebody’s life just to release our anger is unethical. Releasing anger couldn’t be done by many other means. Almost all the countries in the world have eliminated dead penalty because any killing is simply unethical and killing won’t make any better at all. It only increases conflicts and endless revenge.

Media Game

2010-08-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

The media game explains relationship between media and politics or journalist and politician. Government and political parties need the media to spread their ideology and policies while the media need news from government and political parties to be reported. In order to gain popularity, the government wants to spin news so that media would report something good about them while journalist is searching for negative news which could make a bigger headline. After the raise of private media, competition emerged between state owned and private own media.

Reinforcement strengthens existing ideas, believes, and opinions from media and individual. That’s explains self-selected news. Peoples read news of their interest and benefits from time to time and keep searching for news which confirm to their opinions.

Media is so powerful in setting our personal agenda as well as government’s agenda. They influence what we think and talk about. Media is very important. Without media, nothing become serious issue and without serious issue, why the government should respond. The media in Cambodia during the last two years make us talk about Preah Vihear conflict with Thailand by repeatedly report and debate about single situation at the border on TV, newspaper, radio, web site, and so on. Is Preah Vihear cast the only serious problem now? What is happening to price of gasoline? About a year ago, we all talk about price of gasoline and that time it was 4,400 Riel per liter. But now because all the news is about Preh Vihear, we don't talk about other stuffs anymore event if the price of gasoline now is 4,900 Riel per liter. Media somehow purposely or unintentionally make us stop talking about gasoline, but Preh Vihear. Media could also bring attention to government to debate on some certain agenda by reporting people living standard, problems, gasoline, and other requests from the people.

How journalist report on any event contribute differently on how we see it. Media frame our image on particular events. For example; the event of 9/11 which was reported as terrorist attack. Our view of that event could be different if the media reported as a group of Muslim hijacked the plan as robbery case and hit the building by accident. Another example of framing would be the recent Ms. Mu Sochua case against prime-minister Hun Sen. The event could be reported as personal case or political case which needs different response. A description under the photo of Mu Sochua walking on the street after the court room could be reported as “Mu Sochua as a law maker caused traffic jam in front of the royal palace” or “Mu Sochua express her demand of justice by demonstrating in front of royal palace” or “Armed police violate citizen (Mu Sochua and her supporter) right to freedom movement”. These descriptions frame and bring our attention differently.

PS: Dear Media people, please take some of your interest from Preah Vihear conflict to price of gasoline. The price of gasoline now is almost 5,000 Riel now. Please do something, Please!

What to do when I have free time? (beside meeting)

2010-07-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

Starting from becoming a president, adding another hour of part time job, joining the working group for peace, and the women movement network, there have been million of meeting each week. These last three months, I found myself in three situations: (1) - sitting in meeting, (2) - sitting in front of computer, and (3) addicting to TV show. My third activities (watching TV show) is something I hate myself for addicted to it without even know what is it for. Sometime I just know that I don’t want to do anything, but killing time with these TV show like American Next Top Model or How I met your mother. You know because I didn’t have time at all to watch it, I let myself watching it till 1 or 2am. Anyway, my point is that I found myself lately with computer rather than human being. This evening I had two and half hour free time and I have no idea what to do or who to meet.

I somehow missed my life before a little bit. I remember that I was freer and my brain was quite fresh. Also, I enjoyed reading book a lot. Now, having a dinner with friends, I have to rush from here and there and then I can’t enjoy since I am already tired. I don’t really know what is missing, but I know it might be because I spend less time reflecting and doing quiet time or meditation.

Have you ever had this kind of feeling and situation?

Life

2010-05-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wonder or ask yourself how you define the meaning of your life? Or something like: when and what make you feel that life is so beautiful?

I raised up this question doesn’t mean that I have the answer and I guess the meaning of life is define differently depend on who you are. A person may be so happy and excited about earning 5,000USD/month while another person may feel so happy and excited about having a day off at the beach enjoying the view of the sea.

What is the meaning of my life?

It really is about being useful for everyone. When I know that people think of me when they have problems and approach me, I fell that I am being useful and in a way that my life is not just for me but others too. I of course don’t enjoy people having problems, but I enjoy being supportive to those who need. Realizing that I can be able to help others, make me feel that my life is so beautiful and meaningful.

What’s yours?

Do what we can, and do it the best

2010-03-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

I usually come back home from work at 10pm at night. Along the way home, I always see different things all those stuffs always teach me something. One day along the way home, I saw a little girl whose age was about10 years old, holding her blind dad’s hand crossing the street. After 10pm, most of the traffic lights are off, car and motorbike drive messy. Can you imagine, a ten years old little girl holding her blind dad’s hand helping him across the street when the traffic light are off? I cried heavily seeing that situation. I put myself in that situation, and I’m sure my feeling was just not able to compare to them at all. It was already very hard for me just to imagine. They might be looking for place to sleep, I guess. Hmm..I was wondering if that little girl goes to school in the morning. And I answered myself, No maybe not.

I wish I could have more political power and money to help them, but god I don’t. What if I am a prime-minister now and ask for donation from all these Excellencies who own many companies? How much food can I offer; how many houses can I provide to my people? Hmm…now I don’t have that power and money yet, what else I have done and doing?

My kids (brother and sisters) packed the left over food from restaurant after our meal and gave it to people on the street. I know it was a very small action and it couldn’t help much but believe me, this little thing does have power to change.

At initiative of change association where I’m leading, we organize a food program once a month on Sunday the fourth week. Our friends and network shared some small amount of money and cook together at our office then go to the street to distribute food. Twice a year, we cook food for HIV and TB people at Russian hospital. Also, once a year we raised fund and study stationery for about 600 students in Takeo province. Those kids in Takeo province often think about dropping out from school because they are poor. Our gift is to encourage them to continue their study.

For information about our program, please visit www.icacambodia.org

This is not an advertisement, but is an opportunity to be a good and responsible citizen. Our organization is a volunteer organization. Except our administrator and accountant, we are all volunteers. I am a volunteer president too. We don’t get paid for doing the charity work, but it is the work of our heart. Join us.

is back after a while silent

2010-02-21T17:43:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since my last article. The internet at my office seems to be broken. It didn’t allow me to get into my blog. Oh maybe it is not the internet, but the virus in my computer. Whatever…hehe..

Good news, I was just elected as a president of Initiative of Change Association (ICA). I Was made aware of ICA at the 11th Asia Pacific Youth Conference in Siem Reap back in 2004. I was touched by the mighty concept of Quiet Time and the four absolute standards. I can still recall the excitement of seeing this young active group discussing what changes they could make for the benefits of themselves, families, communities, and the world. I was 18 years old at that time, and my inner voice asked, “How could an 18 years old girl change the world?” “This is too unrealistic,” I said to myself. There are just too many problems in Cambodia. I am too powerless to change any of them.

As time passed by, I began to realize that what I heard during the conference were true. Young people in Cambodia, no matter where we come from, have so much potential to change and to make Cambodia a better place to live in. Many of my friends immigrated to other countries, expecting better lives. I asked myself, “Should I move out too in order to have a better life? Or why don’t I make my country a better place and have a better life here?”

If I change, my family, my community, and my country change. So does the world.
Make the change for the better.

2009 is ending - Let's make plan for 2010

2009-12-29T23:24:00.000-08:00

2009 almost comes to the end. I still can’t believe that time is flying that fast. Want it or not, 2010 is just two days ahead. Going back to the yearly plan I set on the January 1st 2009 and reflect how well my plan works, it scares me. I remember; I was laying on the floor, drawing my 2009 planning sheet together with my sibling and parents, this moment was like yesterday. Today is December 30th 2009 already. Why am I talking about this?

This is to scare you too. Time is flying really fast each day. Each minute gone and never ever return; therefore, making plan is truly important. You can’t just live your life according to anything. You need to be time master, and lead your life throughout time that passing by to achieve what you set. “Plan our future today” was the topic of the 2nd youth camp I organized in 2008.

If you are working in a project, you of course know what the important elements of a successful project are. I started working in 2004. That was when I know how the project was coordinated. Once, I attended a project planning meeting to apply for funding. I was trained to make vision, mission, activities planning, expected result and so on. One day I sat by myself thinking why don’t I apply what I have learned in the project planning in my life too. Vision, mission, activity planning, expected result are what a project coordinator prepare to get funding from donor. What about life? Then, I start making those stuffs in my life too. I plan my life on daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly base. Learning from my manager, I draw my life in a one page mind map.

All in all, I do encourage you to spend sometime making plan for the upcoming 2010. Having a clear plan is good, but don’t forget to follow up your plan and reflect on it.

If you have already done your plan, I do really appreciate if you could share how did you make it? Each person has different ways of making life plan, it would be good to learn from each other.

Happy New Year 2010 !

Love Languages

2009-11-30T23:22:00.000-08:00

Offend in my radio program “Lovely Night”, lots of callers asked how do you know if he/she loves me or not? Well, the easiest way to know that is of course “just ask her/him”. However, young people especially women don’t dare to be so direct. Most of the time, my female friend would say “How can I go straight to ask him if he loves me? It would be so embarrassing”. Another male friend of mine experienced a time when he didn’t love her, but he has to say “Yes” because he doesn’t want to embarrass that girl who was directly asked him. He added that I don’t love her but she isn’t bad at all. Then he keeps the relationship moving ahead and hoping that he will love her one day. After a few months, he decided to tell her that he doesn’t love her and that he couldn’t be in this relationship anymore. They broke up. What do you think about that?

Back to a few years ago, I attended a discussion on “Love Languages”. They explained how people express their love to other.

1- Wording person: this is the direct one. Some types of people like to be straight forward. She/he uses sweet words to express their feeling toward their partner.

2- Gift person: this kind of people use gift as a tool of expression their love. Wherever they go, they will never forget to bring something back for the one they love. She/he used observation to buy her/his partner a gift. For example, by accident while walking together in a bookstore, she/he hears her/his partner said that “This book is so beautiful”. The next day, she/he will come back to the store and get that book for her/him.

3- Service provider: this type of person value serving. They like to serve their partner. For example, he/she visit someone’s home together with other friends. There is a beautiful lamp in the corner, and his/her partner say “this lamp is so beautiful. I have one at home but it doesn’t work”. So he/she would response “well would you like me to check it out for you, I may be able to fix it”. This type of person will always be there for him/her to make sure that his/her life is comfortable.

4- Touch person: These types of person like to express their feeling by being close to her/his partner. They like to hold hand while walking, they like to hug or kiss, and like to be around closely. In a country where tradition is concern, there are not many Touch persons.

5- Quality of time: for some people, spending time together is important. These kinds of people like to express their love by being around all the time. They may not able to help a lot, but they make sure that you are not alone and that you can also share with them your sadness. They like to share whatever moment with you no matter when you are happy or sad. And they like to have you with them.

There is a website that you can read it for more detail at www.fivelovelanguages.com , I never check it before, but it should be interesting, I guess.

Youth Camp in Pailin

2009-11-16T02:30:00.000-08:00

Every early of the year, I make activity plan. Among those plans in 2009 was to organize a youth camp on "Youth and Social Engagement".

During water festival holiday, I managed to do it as plan.

I, together with my volunteers, brought 50 young people; who were carefully selected by face to face interviewing, to held a youth camp on this issue. This camp has becoming my biggest success of the year. I am so glad I have organized it and I am so thankful to other volunteers who have worked very hard to make it an unforgettable event.

At the camp, we shared, learned, danced, talked, sang, and cried together. We learned about each other's experiences of how we manage our time to serve our society. We shared our experiences on how to make ourselves successful. We created a new dancing band. We sang lots of song. And we cried a lot. You may wonder why do we cried at a youth camp like this ? it suppose to be a happy time. Well, our tears were a happy tear.

At the youth camp, we provided enough time and space for each participant to share their hard time history, their sadness, their family stories, and more. All these were organized because I know that behind all these happy faces, each one of us has a story. Each of us may need hug, need a word "I love you", we all need to cry at some point. After all the sharing, I realize how important is it to talk about our sadness. One of the participants said : "All I want in this is life is to have a Mum and Dad to call". His parents divorced when he was three years old. His dad passed away soon after that, and his mum had another husband and left him with his gradma. One other girl shared another long story and asked: "why my brother could forgive his friend, but not me?". Another poor girl said: "my mum doesn't love me anymore". we shared more stories in a room with light off and candle on. Listen to other's stories and saw how difficult their family relations are, one participants cried and said: "I just know today, how much my parents have devoted for me. I love them and I will be best for them." There are another 100 pages of their stories if I keep writing. After a few hours of honest sharing, we gave each other warm hug and said to each other "I love you".

Sharing is not a discussion. At my youth camp, participants were encouraged to share but not discuss. Everyone has a story, all I want is to let it out. To cry the most we want, to express our pain. So if you do have pain, let is out !

Expectation and Jealousy

2009-11-05T23:12:00.000-08:00

Everyone has expectation on whatever they are doing, whoever they are in relation with, wherever they go, and so on. Student expects high score from their exam, manager expects her staff to perform the best, couple expects faithfulness from each other, and more. Expectation inspires each individual to try harder to get what they expect. If they don’t have expectation; what for?

However, is having high expectation a mistake?

Students who expect A+ from their exam, if they get only A- which is already very good compare to others, they will be very upset and feeling very down. Some people said that having this high expectation make you feel very negative about yourself. Other point of view claims that having high expectation is a guarantee of high quality. This question “is having high expectation a mistake?” remained a flexible answer. Expectation motivates people to put a lot of effort. That’s why when their effort doesn’t pay off, they are upset. However, isn’t better than not putting any effort to avoid that you don’t get upset afterward. At least, people who have high expectation give it a try.

Where jealousy does comes from? Does it also created by expectation?

First of all, there is no clear definition of this word “jealousies” or maybe there is but I don’t know. So far I am not a jealous person (I assume). Only when I have very high expectation on boyfriend, I realize that my expectation created jealousy. Logically, the first person who comes shall be the first person to be served, regardless of who you are. If you date a person before I do, you will have him because I date him later than you; however, because I am a girlfriend I expected my boyfriend to be there for me even if I date him later or at least he should had in his mind that his girlfriend needs him. Before he accepts other’s date, I expect him to ask himself “do my girlfriend needs me at this time?” Well, this sounds of course very selfish and unreasonable. Base on this experience, I concluded that my expectation create jealousy. And jealousy is selfish and unreasonable.

Quick advertisement

2009-09-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

This is a quick advertisement of my talk show program "LOVELY NIGHT" at Sarika FM 106.5 from Monday to Friday, 09pm - 10pm.

Listen to other people's stories, call in to share your opinion, support them emotionally, and most importantly, learn from them to prepare your future.

Questions for reflection

2009-09-08T20:09:00.000-07:00

There are many times that we ask people questions and we expect to get answers. We, human being, like to find out how good or bad others are? Sadly, there are not many times we ask ourselves. Let's take sometime to answer these questions. Enjoy !

1- What am I grateful for today?
2- Is there anything/anybody I have taken for grated in my life?
3- Are there any people I should thank, today?
4- In what way do I think my country need to change?
5- What kind of change do I need for myself, so that I can be part of solution, not problem?
6- What are the main motivations/force of my life?
7- How can I use my energies/talent/skills for others, for my country, and for the world?
8- What promises have I made in the past? How well have I keep them?
9- Have I ever let other down, in what way?
10- Is there any relationship I need to re-build? How? When ?

knowing what you shouldn't know

2009-08-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

Have you experience knowing the unconvinced thing that bother you? Sometime wouldn't it be better to not knowing it? I have no idea now which one is better. Please share me some ideas.

You know people are curious, we want to know everything especially about ourselves and people around us. But once we find out something that make us happen, we wish we haven't known it. :( However, our brain is not a computer memory stick that can be deleted whenever we want. So what can I do?

Lessons learn from Taiwan

2009-08-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me say a very big thank you to the APYC organizing committee and IofC international for giving the greatest opportunity to a group of ten Cambodian youth to attend this 15th Asia Pacific Youth Conference which is more than just a conference. This is my third time attending APYC. The first one was in Cambodia in 2004; the second one was in the Philippine in 2007. Each APYC has given me a new chapter of a better and freer life. Being chosen to lead other nine Cambodian youth, I was honored to make this trip an experience of a life time. On July the 31st, I departed from Phnom Penh International Airport to Taiwan with lots of expectations and excitement, but also hesitation. I was not sure how well I would be able to lead the team.

Even before the official opening started, friendship already started to build with participants from different countries; some were old friends. While playing games and getting to know each other with lots of smile, I was also thinking that this was how the world should be. “There is no stranger in the world, only friends we haven’t met”

Each day, the session started with a quiet time and sharing that gave me a really good time connecting to my inner voice. Several questions raised up which reminded me that I should have thought about them more often for a better relationship with people around me including family, friends, teams, co-workers and my romantic relationship. Honest discussions within my family group were the greatest foundation of relationship building. I was inspired by so many people just by listening to their honest life story sharing. While focusing so much on my pain that others gave me, I forgot to care about my contribution to those conflicts. I got to realize that “I too was wrong” and I should apologize to those who got hurt by me. In one of my quiet time, my inner voice told me that I too was wrong in breaking up with my ex-boyfriend. At night I wrote him a letter of apology (via e-mail) to ask for his forgiveness.

Listening to other people’s sharing, I have learned that lots of relationship can be fixed if we are willing to change and have the courage to take action. The power of oneself is so strong that it can change the world. “As I am, so is my nation.” I was inspired by the I CARE campaign which was presented by IofC Korea to create “Phnom Penh, I CARE” project in Cambodia. I believe in the four steps of change; (1) Change myself, (2) Engage others, (3) Create answers, and (4) Give hope to humanity. Living in a developing country like Cambodia, many young people lose hope and give up; therefore, actions have to be taken. If not me, who? However, while caring for others and my country, I know that I also have to care for myself. I wrote in the decision making card, “Myself, I Care.” One a month I will take a half day off alone on Saturday morning and this decision will be implemented from August to December this year.
There were many songs that inspire all of us. One of the song was about how war started and the answer “fighting for who is right”. Cambodian and Thai have been fighting for who is right for many decades. We claim that our history is right and therefore their history is wrong. What did we get from that kind of argument, peace or war? People have different perspective, but this should be our search “not for who is right, but what is right” IofC Cambodia has no answer of who is right, but we know that what is right to do is to have a real dialog between the two team. We believe that people will never understand each other if they don’t take time to share what they think. The theme of this APYC is Challenge, Choice, and Change. There are many challenges we are facing to make this exchange program possible such as: history, funding, politic, social perspective, and more but we don’t choose to give up. Gandhi said that “when we are fighting for a good course, people will pop up and support us” Our choice will be: “by the end of this year, the 1st Cambodia-Tai Exchange Program will be held in Cambodia.” We know that this is the right thing to do, and the change we are creating is positive.

Every human being has their own history. Some parts of their histories were enjoyable while some were painful. I too had a painful history but I have been pretending to be strong and hiding my weakness for four years. The last day of APYC, I finally opened it up and to be weak as I should. However, my tears were a new start of being a real and strong me. I was so proud of myself. Others who had painful history were of course not proud of it, but the most important thing is who we really are after those mistakes. All those painful experiences were the greatest lesson which we can never learn from any university.

Being a leader is what my life is for. I love leading people and I thought I was good and strong enough to handle everything on my own. This APYC allow me to look at myself and realize that a step back is needed. There have to be places where people should enjoy my leadership, and there have to be places where I should enjoy other’s leadership. Even if I thought I was a good leader, I realized that I was not a good follower yet. The engine of my soul becomes weaker and if I don’t fix it, it will break.

I was overwhelmed by the warmest care from the organizing committee. I know saying “thanks you” alone is not enough. Many thanks for the financial support from IofC Austria, Taiwan, Julie, and friends of ICA who made our trip possible. From a deepest of my heart, I ensure you that I am and will be using the best of what I have learned from APYC for the benefit of Cambodia and the world.

Phnom Penh, 12th August, 2009

From one to one hundred

2009-06-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

This is the 4th week of June. It is time to print my "Respect Traffic Law" T-shirt. This is not to show off but a lesson learn. Last month I was thinking of writing on the back of my T-shirt "Respect traffic law for our security and dignity" but than a thought came out of my brain asking why don't I engage other instead of doing it alone. So I started to do fund raising. By now (one month later), from the dream of wearing this t-shirt alone, another 99 more people will join me. However, I am a bit ambitious. To make it even more, I put one/fifth of my salary this month to print extra 50 T-shirt.

I am 22 years old, I am just a student, I am not someone famous, and so on, but I was doing the right thing. I believe in Gandhi philosophy "when you are fighting for a good cause, people seem to pop up and support us" Here are the evident:
- My mother who is a an uneducated person, living in Kampong Cham, a business women who never like to waste money. But she did contribute some money.
- Young people/students who don't have job or earn any income, and never know me at all, they contributed small amount of money too. Not just themselves, they talked about it with friends, and their friends made contribution too.
- Someone (sorry I forgot his name) living in Ratanakiri province got this information from someone. He called me to ask for further information, than he raise money within his work place and send the money to me. Can you believe this?
- My boss contributed two small amount of money, one for him, and one for his daughter who is about 14 years old. My other colleagues contributed some money not just for themselves but also for their wife and girlfriend.

You see, people do care of making small changes. And you know who didn't care? Our ministries ! I send the announcement out to most of ministries including the city hall. Non of them even send a reply. Well, it is their problem, not my problem.

I am so happy now with my achievement. Thanks to all who have made contribution to make this possible. I do really really appreciate your commitment and putting trust on me. I'm sure what we have done is contributing to our society good.

How to be good to myself?

2009-06-03T18:03:00.000-07:00

Being selfish is something good people trying to avoid, isn't it? I have been an un-selfish person for ages. I put lots of effort to help family, friend, boyfriend, and other young Cambodian. It is time now that I lose a lot of energy!!!!! I'm awear that I'm starting to be so weak. When I try so hard to please and care for others, my heart keep telling me "Nana, you haven't care of me enough", therefore, I told my heart back "ok ok, I will put more care for you" while my brain said "But Nana, how can you be selfish?" if you don't answer his phone, you are hurting him.

A sentence said "Put yourself first, you can't be anything for others unless you care for yourself" Nice sentence but how to put it to practice ?

Making a different in Phnom Penh

2009-05-21T02:17:00.000-07:00

Most of us including myself keep complaining about traffic situation in Phnom Penh nowadays. How many hours do we have to spend in traffic jam each day? Isn’t it a waste of time? Being stuck in the traffic jam wasted our time, plus affected our feeling, isn't it?

So what can we do instead of keep complaining and being angry?

Please find in attachment file for the announcement of fund raising for printing T-shirt (campaign), Please make best used of your few dollars/riel to make a small different in Phnom Penh. We all wanted to tell people to respect traffic light, this T-shirt will help to tell them. This campaign is NOT a project of any organization, association, or government agency; it is truly a project initiated by young people of Cambodia who care to make a simple practical step toward better Cambodia . The T-shirt will be done by the end of June 2009.

Those who make contribution will get one (or more) T-shirt back! Good deal?

If you wish to make contribution, you can contact me at anytime (7 days a week, 24 hours a day). Please include your full name, telephone number or e-mail and most importantly the amount of money you wish to contribute and how the money can be delivered. Please note that any amount (1$ or 1,000 reil) is counted.

A better Phnom Penh start with me and you !

The Heart or The Brain?

2009-05-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

Have you ever experienced when your heart and your brain are fighting each other? What will you do if for example, your heart like to do something but your brain said to you No you can't do this? will you follow what your heart want or follow what your brain said?

Give me some advice, please!

Difficult decision

2009-05-18T17:56:00.000-07:00

If you have only one choice and have to choose between Hurting yourself and Hurting other, which one would you choose?

In life, sometime we do need to make harmful decision. In theory, we all try to choose the win-win solution, however, in practice sometime we can't always be win-win, someone need to lost. isn't it?

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul

2009-05-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

I read a book last night "Chicken Soup for the teenage soul". Here are some interesting quotes:

"Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all"
Isn't it the oppisite from Khmer culture??

"Treat yourself as a whole person, not half a couple"
Many young Khmer women think that they lose their half when they broke up. Why can't they treat themselves as a whole person by themselves??? My boyfriend is an extra part of my life, but without him, I am still a whole Nana. I might lose the extra part of my life, but not half of my life.

"You never lose by loving, you always lose by holding back"
If you feel loving someone, let him or her know. Trust their answer no matter Yes or No, rather than he or she didn't know at all.

What do you think?

Thanks to a friend of mind, Pahnarath for giving me the book. I have learn alot from it.

Nana

Democracy is dying?

2009-04-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

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Knowing me better

2009-04-27T03:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks for visiting my blog. This is the first time to have my own blog, it is kind of excited. For those who haven't know me yet. Beside my full name, some people called me Nana. I'm 23 years old this year which is kind of scary, I have just realize that time run so fast. I'm a first daughter in my family. I have other two sisters and one youngest brother who are living with me in Phnom Penh. My mum is a clothes seller and my dad is a human right activist. I was born is a very poor family in Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. Having born in a poor family, my parents have struggle a lot for life, yet they have never give up my education. I'm so grateful for that.

I got my first job in the age of 14 years old as a part time volunteer, than at the age of 15, I have earned my first salary of USD 30 for translating during the election. My first salary was unforgettable. Just by having good English and strong commitment, I got selected to a youth exchange program to Sweden for a few month when I was 16. At that time, I considered my victory as it has been a real good luck and I have never imagine that I would be able to travel abroad again. After returning back from Sweden, I went back to my high school and continue my volunteerism with Khmer Youth Association. I finish my high school in 2003 when I was 17. Right after high school, the decision was clear that I can't continue my study in Phnom Penh. So I never consider of coming to Phnom Penh for university. Than, I became an English teacher at a school with the salary of 60,000 Real which equal to USD 15. Being a volunteer at KYA, offered me a lots of chances to attend workshops, meetings, trainings, and other youth activities. At the same time, I was somehow playing the role of my father's personal assistant and driver. By doing that, I learn how to write report, how to organize events, and how to handle pressure. Five months later, I applied for a job at KYA head office in Phnom Penh. I came twice for interviewing, than got accepted. Knowing that I got accepted for the work, my parents allow me to move to Phnom Penh in 2004.

2004 has been a new start of a new life. I live in my own apartment alone for about a year. Than, allowed some friends to live together. Everything I have today started in 2004. As a project assistant at the Peace Building project at KYA head office in Phnom Penh, I received more capacity building and got to know many people and network. I than started to be involve with Citizen Action Net for Social Development and Initiative of Change in 2004. Than, Friedrich Naumann Foundation in 2005 and Global Peace Initiative of Women in 2007. Knowing these organization, I got invited to different programs in Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Malaysia, Philippine, India, and Germany. By now, the dream of traveling is not a problem anymore. I moved from KYA to work for FNF in 2007 after returning back from Germany.

I am now a Program Assistant/Accountant at FNF, a BoD president of KYA, a Core Team member of Citizen Action Net for Social Development, a Core team member and president candidate of Initiative of Change Association, and a Team leader of Cambodian Youth for Leadership.

There are really a lot more to write about life. Let me stop here, I'm open for any comments or questions. I've been always very interested in life story of other people.

For whatever reasons, don't give up. If you can't handle life alone, I wish I am there with you to support at least to be a good listener.

With Love
Sovathana Neang