Criticism

I haven’t blog for quite a while now but have been using Facebook to criticize the government every day. Criticizing the government has become one of my daily activities like drinking coffee. Friends and fans on Facebook say that I am bias to the opposition. No Objection! But let me be clear that I am not bias to CNRP – by opposition I mean if CNRP came to power and CPP become opposition, I will be still bias to the opposition which would be CPP.

Why?

First, I believe in criticism. I have been dating this not so handsome but super smart guy for more than four years now and so far he has been the only person who criticizes me a lot more than ever. Not too much but far more than others have done. And that is the main reason that I am becoming more successful in my life.

Second reason, I see no use to admire the government, not because they are not doing anything good at all because if facts they did something good, but TV and most of the media are already on their side. In democratic country, people need balance of information. The facts that I criticize the government everyday by Facebook or blog, has nothing compare to balance with TV and other media tools. How many people my criticisms reach? Let say 5000 people at most. How many people the good things of government news reach? Whole country.

Third, able to receive criticism is what make a leader. The government which is the leader needs to be able to receive criticism from its people. If I got arrested for criticizing the government by just posting the facts that my phone and money were stolen and that I think that it is the government responsibility, than this is how to measure if our leader a good one, and if we are living in democratic county.   

Ok, here are the reasons why you see my posts on facebook are all criticizing the government. Accept them or not, will not change my points of views. Plus, you know me, I don’t care what people say. I believe in what I thought and I act the way I see right. 

Youth !

I am sitting in a conference on Youth and Union which is held now (October 27-28, 2012) in Battambog province. There are about 100 youth attending in this conference. My session will be in about an hour talking about general social issues in Cambodia. Sitting in the corner of the conference room listening to a panel of speakers who are talking now about youth’s issues, reminded me of 10 years ago when I am sitting as one of the participant in such an event.

Sitting opposite to me now are two young man and woman who are listening very carefully on what the speakers are talking about and writing down important points in to their notebooks. On the panel tables are four speakers. Those included three men (age more than 30 years old) and one female who looks like around 20 years old.

The way the conference room is set up is very typical youth capacity building event which I have attended since the last 10 years. There is nothing bad about this; yet, it is very old fashion type which might not be so effective anymore. One of the reasons I think so is the facts that older people are talking about youth issues in quite a formal way which, to me, is not youth friendly. The female speaker whom I just talked about earlier is a good example. She is in her early 20 and she is just a volunteer in one of the youth organization. Her speech wasn’t very well delivered as public speaking isn’t her ability yet but I think she is better related to youth participants who are facing the same challenges in employment. I enjoyed her speech much more than the other three.

I am not saying that older generation is taking our seats but youth are not capable enough to sit there as speaker. Lack of confidence, the fear of public speaking and the lack of experiences are the reason behind this lack representation of youth.

I end here and you can make your own conclusion! Thanks.      

Why bad things happen to good people ?

A soup eating place in the corner of Olumpic market was the place where I first introduced to Lim Pisith whom I didn’t like at all when we first met. He jokes a lot which at one point during that dinner, I started to felt uncomfortable. As two people who first known each other, he asked me where do I work and so on... after a few questions, he came to realize that I was the selection committee of a youth camp which he has just applied for.

A week later, the selection committee of the youth camp had announced the successful candidate and Pisith was one of them. 28^th October, 2008 was day one of our 5 days camp in Koh Kong. The camp went on as planned and ended after 5 days. My view on Pisith has changed 100%. During 5 days of our youth camp, Pisith has clearly shown that he was one of the most active participants. Even jus being there as a participant, he played the role as care taker to other participants especially those who were younger.

Pisith became the next year youth camp committee in Siem Reap province. Pisith was so dedicated to this volunteer works. Without any payment, he tried his best sharing his private time and money to the success of our youth camp. Later in 2009, he was selected to attend Asai Pacific Youth Conference with me in Taiwan. Upon return, he became more active with our volunteer youth organization, Initiatives of Change. He joined as participant and committee in most of our programs. One of his most achievements was the preparation and proceeding of Cambodian-Thai Exchange Program. Without him this program couldn’t be the same at all. He added not just the success of program’s content, but also the friendly loving environment during the program.

From years to years, other committee member including myself got tired of volunteer works, we grow older, we had life partner, became busier with our life, we had more responsibilities,...so we withdraw ourselves bit by bit from volunteer works which we used to be very active when we was younger. Pisith was the opposite, he became more active each other, not just with us but also other youth group. Pisith isn’t rich at all but he always reserves some of his money to support volunteer work especially the youth group like Youth Experience Sharing group.

Youth nowadays have a lot of chance to travel abroad for free as more programs are funded as capacity building. We all want to travel and want to make Cambodia presented at international programs. I too, travel from time to time to here and there, but we all know that we were willing to travel to represent our country at international events on scholarship. We want to make Cambodia presented at international community but only if we don’t have to spend our own money. There are not many, including myself, who would spend thousand dollars for an air ticket to attend anything. But Pisith did. He saved and saved and he travel always with Cambodian flag to different part of the world to make sure that Cambodia is represented.

His last missing to make Cambodia known was claiming the highest mountain in the world, the Everest. On 11^th October 2012, I called Pisith to say Good Bye and wish him all the best for his trip to place Cambodia flag on the top of Mount Everest. That was the last time I hear his voice. Pisith made his way to half of the mountain and passed away due to health condition. It was too expensive to bring his body back to Cambodia, so yesterday with his brother in law and a monk travelled from Cambodia, his body was buried in Nepel. His ash will be brought to Cambodia and his funeral will be done as soon as his brother in law arrived with Pisith’s ash.

He is gone now, forever. We will never see him again. The legacies of his works have impacted our lives. Pisith has been my most respected person. He has lived with full love to anyone even the person he doesn't like. He inspired me to give the people I hate a second chance. He has helped us a lot and it is time we should help him back. The cost of his medical care in Nepel was very high. We are doing fund raising to support his family. If you wish to make any contribution, please contact me (Nana) at +855 92 66 30 62 or Mr. Kim Vuth at +855 12 33 88 87. Your contribution is highly appreciated.             

My phone rang with bad news.....

Yesterday, my phone rang and I answer:

A young man   : Are you Dj Nana?

Me                   : Yes, I am. What’s up?

A young man   :  Do you happen to remember one of your callers named Pros Leak? His number was 098............

Me                   : Sorry, I have too many callers to remember who is who, but what about him? and who are you?

A young man   : I am his relative who has just attended his funeral a few days ago. He has hanged himself and now he is dead. I am calling you and wish to know if he has told you about his intention to commit suicide?

Me                   : Sorry, I still don’t know which caller was he. What was his problem? Usually I don’t remember the person but I do remember their issues.

A young man   : He was the one whom his parents force him to go to work in Korea.

Me                   : Oh...

By then I recalled his issue...

Pros Leak is 19 years old and he is studying in grade 12. Pros Leak is the youngest son in his family which living standard was not that good. His parents asked him to quite his study and go to work as worker in Korea as the neighboring houses did. His parents believe that working in Korea would earn much more income for the family. Pros Leak was in dilemma between continuing his study which he really really wants and fulfilling his parent’s request. He called in my show about a month ago to ask for my opinion if he should go to Korea as his parents wish?

I didn’t give him a Yes or No answer, but asking him back about his future plan and health condition. Pros leak said that he wish to be an IT engineer. He knew that he wouldn’t have enough money to study IT in university but he will tried to do best in high school hoping to get scholarship when he enter university. As a youngest son in the family plus having a thin body, he never really works physically hard before. Nevertheless, he doesn’t want to upset his parents.    

I have an uncle who used to work for 3 years in Korea before so I knew how hard the work there could be, physically. So I told him that going there would be a risk for his health. I have suggested that he ask his parents to stay but he would find part time job to support family while studying. Yet, if at the end, he has to go anyway, I have a close friend who is studying there and there are some Khmer NGO workers who would be willing to give any support possible.

Pros Leak said thank and he would talk with his parents again. The second time he called in, he said he hasn’t talk with his parents yet but he will. For this time he called in, he asked if IT a good subject? Will there be job market available for this subject? I said yes if you are really good at it. The certificate alone cannot offer any job, but the real knowledge.

After that night he called in for the second time, I never had any more update about him till his relative called yesterday that he has committed suicide. I was so sad hearing this and started to felt very angry with his parents. I suddenly recalled my other fans’ issues. There have been so many callers who wanted something so bad but rejected by the parents or hated something so bad but forced to accept by the parents. The parents always have one excellent reason “I am your parents” which I mean I know what is right for you.

I’m sorry parents but this is a stupid reason. Another caller of mine was in grade 11 when her parents forced her to marry a man who is rich. She got married for 5 months now but she felt nothing better than living in hall, she said. The doctor said that she is now having some kind of woman sickness and should not be having sex. The husband who she was forced to married to ignore her health condition and keep having sex with her. She told this to her parents but her parents didn’t believe her. Her parents said that you are making excuse to try to divorce. Please don’t divorce my daughter. If you divorce, it will be bad for our family reputation, her parents said. Damm it! I said.

             

7 Minutes Drive of FEAR

What is Freedom? Typical question which students and scholar in the field of social science would ask. I have attended a two weeks seminar at International Academy for Leadership in Germany in May last year. After that two weeks seminar plus the 5 years work with a foundation which works on freedom, the concept of Freedom was quiet clear to me; yet, last night was the real life meaning of Freedom I found.

At my show last night, a caller asked about the field of agriculture which he wish to study as a degree after he finish high school soon; however, he has been told that in 2015 ASEAN will be integrated which mean the competition for job market will be higher too. He heard from other people that Cambodian student won’t be able to compete with the neighboring countries which have exported more agriculture to international market than us. So his question was “Should he choose this field while knowing that he might not be able to compete with others?”

As a counselor, I did my job giving him advice and motivation. I encouraged him to try best in school and gather practical experiences. One thing was it was difficult for me to keep the truth. The truth that our quality of education is lower than the neighboring countries. Even if Cambodia was blessed by good quality of land, good weather, and good climate; but the corruption of this country has made all these blessing qualities; more or less, almost useless because they benefits more to the investors and the rich. So I automatically said worlds like “corrupted system, poor leadership of the government, deforestation” and nearly to the end of my respond to his caller, I talked (on air) to my co-host that I should stop now or I might not be able to do the show the next day.

My dad who was listening from home called my brother who was waiting for me at the radio station immediately that he would pick me up with a car, instead of we coming back home with our usual motorbike because it not gonna be safe tonight. Unfortunately, the car key is locked and our shop so my dad could not pick me up. So by the end of the show last night, I came back home on a motorbike with my brother as usual. This was when I clearly define FREEDOM. My brother drove much faster than the usual and I had to use more than two eyes to watch out to see if anybody was following us. As soon as any motorbike that drove fast across us, we were scared to death. Once we arrived home, my brother in law was waiting at the door. It was a “7 minutes drive of fear”

Was I just being too afraid to express what I think?

Well, while I was speaking, No I wasn’t scare and I didn’t want to lie.

Did anybody threaten me?

No. Not at all. Never.

So why my family and I were so scare?

The facts that I have seen many violent acts on Cambodian citizen on the land dispute issues. The facts that our leaders (both from the governing parties and the opposition parties) attacked even just by words to each other like enemy using gangster words to not just on political element but also on individual. The facts that some people/activities were arrested for what they have said. The facts that polices could be beating us rather than protecting us.

All these facts scared me. This feeling of fear has limited my Freedom. It measured how free I am living now under this standard of “Democracy” What does freedom mean when I was scared to death just because I said something on air?

I wrote this down to express my rate of freedom but also if I have traffic accident or any danger in the following days, you would know why? :-) And now I am thinking, Should this article be posted? Well yes, it worth spreading.

    

Be CLEAN

This morning we violated the traffic law by carrying two people at the back of the motorbike instead of just one. The police stop us and said “You have violated the traffic law so you are supposed to be fined for 6,000 Riel (1.5$) but if you want to be quicker and easier just pay me 5,000 Riel (1.25$).” I myself wasn’t sure of what did the law say about the amount to be paid but we knew we were wrong so we were ok with paying the fine; however, it was clear to us that we rather pay full amount with receipt rather than paying to police’s personal pocket. So we told them back, we are paying full amount and we wish to have the receipt. The police said this and that then make some discount. Ok, just gave me 1$ then, one of the police said. We rejected the offer and stick with paying 6,000 Riel with receipt.  We told the police that we will be catch again and we want to show the other polices that we have paid the fine already. They replied, if you three will be catch again, just tell them that you paid 1$ to me already, they would let you go. We keep not paying 1$. By chance I was carrying my big camera so I took pictures all the way long during the process of negotiation. I guess it scared them a bit so they finally issue us a receipt with say 6,000 Riel – the full amount; even they keep convincing us to pay fewer amounts to their personal pockets.

This is not a strange story. It happen every single day in Phnom Penh and other cities in Cambodia. It is our duty to respect the law, and if not, we should pay the fine; however, we must be clear that we are not part of the corruption. Polices are those who should be implementing the law; yet, so far, they (maybe not all) have initiated corruption. As a responsible citizen, we can always say “NO” to their corrupt offers. Being “CLEAN” take us more time and more money (it was cheaper and quicker to just pay to personal pocket), but what we do today would contribute to how our country will development. We don’t want our children to born in a corrupt country.

Don’t corporate with corrupt traffic police. Don’t accept their corrupt offer. Rather pay fine with pride! So that we can say to our children: “I have contributed to the clean country you are living now”   

Someone we met

Yesterday, my boyfriend and I brought lunch for my sisters at my store. When we arrived, my sister told me ‘I feel so pity for your fan. He came here to buy your books; he bought four copies for him and for his friends. You know, he came with a very old bike and his house is about 6km away from here. Plus, he didn’t know where the store was, so he called many times for direction to get here.” Immediately, our response to my sister was “call him back as he was just leaving.” My sister felt so guilty of taking his money, she should have given the book for free, she said.

So my sister called and asked him to come back. When my sister was calling him, he was sitting under the tree reading my books because he was so tired of riding his old bike for two hours under the hot son just to find my store. We looked from distance as we saw him approaching back to our store. Tears were almost come down. So my sister gave him back the money and let him keep the books for free. He first refused to get it. He said I bought them, so I need to pay. At that moment, my boyfriend has turned out to be a great liar. He said I came from a charity organization, we offer poor people these things as long as they aimed for education. So we were able to offer him some more note books, pens, pencils, T-shirts, and some other stuffs. My boyfriend gave him his number just in case he needs help which regard to education. This young man is in grade 11 in high school. He goes to school during day time and rides his bike to work at night time in Kampong Spue. 

Having met him and able to support him was the greatest thing we have done at our weekend. To see someone so dedicated to education is such an inspiration. Someone like that is what this country is missing. A lot of young kids in Phnom Penh have had more than enough to study, but they have taken their opportunity for grated while someone like him has next to nothing but never given up education.

By the way, I have written two very small books on Tips to Speaking Fluent English and Tips to Public Speaking. These two books aimed to help my fans/listeners/callers in their daily practice as follow up of what they have got from the show. So far I have sole around 200 copies. They cost less than one dollar and Free for poor students.  

Where have the morality of people gone?

I am in a very bad mood and about to exploit now. Here are why:

1-      I had opened a shop along the gate of Sorthormok High School from the last 17 days. Every single day I saw many rich-bad-unfriendly-self-centered-thinking about them only. Every few hours, there would be expensive; but cheap attitude, car driven by either young or old people, park in front of my shop and because their car was big expensive enough, they block my whole shop and the nearby too. I don’t really mind because I do understand that the land of our Kingdom of Wonder is getting smaller. No more places for parking. But what anger me was that those stupid rich people have never bother to come to us (the sellers whose shops are blocked by their cars) for permission or even giving a simple smile towards us. They would just park there and gone for their coffee and breakfast for a long while. Blocking our shops isn’t too big of a deal, what bigger was, they caused huge traffic jam. And this happen every day not once in a while.

2-      Every night I came back from work at around 10:30pm. First sentence when we arrived home from my brother who usually drove me from work has been “Pu, have you got enough water?” this question is asked to the security guard who guards the neighboring house. This rich house never even asked the guard if he has water to drink. So we filled his empty drinking bottle of water every night. This rich house had minimum of three expensive-but cheap attitudes, cars. Both the day and night time guards had to clean those cars twice a day or else, they are fired.

3-      Today we install new internet connection in our office but wasn’t successful because this  same neighboring house said that I need to wait for their big boss (the father) for permission or else they will cut the wired which would pass along their roof together with other electricity line. I don’t understand what is a big deal of adding a small line to all the existing electricity line? This is a STATE line...My God !

Where have the morality of people gone? Can money, cars, nice houses, determine that those idiots have more rights than us?

                                                                                                       

My Shop - My Favorite

I don’t really like sitting in class a lot. Spending 6 years in my university degree have been a real challenge especially when it comes to subject like math, computer application, and statistics. Nevertheless, education is too valuable to gave up, so I keep going. To help me to like writing down notes on my books, I use beautiful note books and pen as attraction – like I am 7 years old girl while I am actually 25. My boyfriend know it best how much I enjoy walking in the book store even if I don’t need to buy anything. I enjoy so much looking at new design note books, folders, stickers,..That it has become my habit. Whenever I have time, feel stress, or have nothing to do; I would go to book store – just to check things out. This is the first reason I have opened my own stationary shop which was opened yesterday.

My second reason was to create job for my second sister. I got a job when I was 14, my first sister god her job when she reached 19, while my second sister is already 21 and still don’t have job. I guest she doesn’t belong to office kind of work. I hope this shop can be the start of her business.

A little bit of advertisement here. This little shop is located at the gate of Sonthor Mok high school, in front of CD selling place, near Psar Kilo Number 4. Contact 017 668 127. One thing about this shop is that you cannot buy anything that I don’t like because those items were carefully handpicked by me in Thailand. It took not less 20mn decision making which I spent on each every item. :-)   

Only when you experience it

My room usually filled with noise and energy by my 20 years old sister and my 16 years old brother who play a lot. They created a lot of fun at home. I have been enjoying them. Tonight, I am sitting alone in my room filled with soft music, light off, computer on, while the air from the fan cooling down the room. My two noisy children are on their holiday in Sihanouk Ville with their friends. This is the first time that they are away over a night without me. They have asked for this kind of holiday since a few years ago but I never dare to let them go on their own till today.

My two energetic children who are on holiday far away without me for the first time

11 years ago which I was 14 years old; I started complaining about my parents not letting me out with friends. Not to mention far trip, I was never allowed to join class party, friend’s family wedding, ect. At the age of 17 after my high school, I so looked forward to living on my own which I did. I looked forward to having my freedom from their control which I did success. I never really understand why my parents were so strict.

5 years ago, I brought my two sisters and my brother to live with me in Phnom Penh. They have been studying in private school. These 5 years have explained me very well how and why my parents were so strict to me when I was younger. I now understand the feeling of being a mother, a parent. I cannot explain this feeling, but you will understand it very well when you become a parent yourself.

Is prostitution a job to look down for?

Linda is a fake name I refer to a 32 years old woman who has been a prostitute for 10 years. Through one of my work, I got the chance to interview her story shortly.

At the age of 22, she has decided by herself to become a prostitute instead of looking for other job because she didn’t have any education and she needed easy money which pay quickly, so that she could effort daily expense in her family of four siblings and a sick mother. Later, her siblings got married and they had moved on with their lives without taking any responsibility on the sick mother.

Linda has been a self-employed prostitute. She has been on her own looking for her customer which each time would pay her 5$ after having sex. Each day she could get 3 customers at most. She married once to a man whom she expected to be a helper, but turned out to be a drug addicted who would beat her when she couldn’t give him money. They broke up and leave her a son who is 10 years old now. When Linda left home for work, her son sometime asked her “Mum, what is your work?” she said “I work at Karaok” Linda never tells her son about her real work, and she has no idea when and how she would tell him.

When asked what the most difficult time she has been through as a prostitute was, she answered with tears. Sometime ago she was arrested together with other prostitutes into a police car. The car brought her and other girls to a re-education center but she wasn’t allowed to take off. Those four polices dropped other girls at the center and brought her with them. They all raped her. There was also times when customer forced her to eat a condom after sex.

I ran out of words to ask her after hearing these. What polices are for? Aren’t they supposed to protect their citizen? How would you tell your son if you were her? Is prostitution a job to look down for?

Story from my childhood

When I was in my secondary 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. He told me how to drive it, gave me his helmet, and let me drove it around to test it. I drove it around our house, which was national road number 7, for a few minutes. As I was reaching my house, my mum and the neighbors told me to stop driving it because it was dangerous. But my dad said to me “daughter you don’t need to stop driving it, instead drive it more often so that you get used to it. 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?

A few months ago, when my family was driving from Phnom Penh toward Kampong Cham province at about 11pm, we saw a man in his min 40 maybe beating a woman who looked like 30 years old or something. My father stopped the car and had a look on what really happening. My mum noticed that the woman whisper the world “Help”. I then search for polices numbers from other people who might have them. After about 5mn, I got two numbers which are hot line police for emergency cases. I was glad to get the number, but guess what? Nobody pick up both phones. I call and call and call many times, still no answer. That man walked to our car and told us “This is my family issue, just go.” My father decided to open the car window and told that man the he already called polices and polices are coming. That man picked her up from the ground, started his motorbike and quickly left that place. We followed while 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 and the 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 help much; but more importantly, that the hot line isn’t helpful. Polices were sleeping.

Last night at about 11pm, I got a call from a friend who relative was missing since 6pm. The lost girl was 17 years old. History has shown that she cannot be running with someone else since she has never had a boyfriend or any issues within her family. Her family of course files a complaint to the police office in her village already. My friend asked 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 for hot line numbers whom we hope might be able to do something. We found many hot line 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. My friends 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, the police 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 is outside of our coverage area. After mid night, we lose hope and stop trying to call. It is morning now. That little girl has lost for 15 hours already. If that was a human trafficking act, she might end up in prostitute already.  

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

A better country starts from each of us

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

HIV Patients

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

I’m sure we all know the regimes of 1975-1979 – Pol Pot regime. We all acknowledge that Pol Pot and his crew were the major cause of such a terrible leadership, but how could several people managed to get support by millions and turned the country into a zero year? Several people cannot kill 2 million people….right?  In a radio drama which was produced base on true story by the Women Media Center called “The last road” and together with my reading of some history books plus my family experiences in that regime, I came to realize that the killing of 2 million people were possible because of the hatred of poor people against rich people. In that mentioned drama, the poor people joined 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 the rich and poor were very huge. Many people were poor and lots of young people were jobless.

Kids who comes to the hospital with their family

 ICA is just a small volunteer organization 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, but isn’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 and more in the future. A very big thank to the organizing committee who have contributed their time and energy to organizing this. 

A better country starts from each of us!

Am I doing the right thing?

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

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

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

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?

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?

ទេពកោសល្យ​ដឹកនាំ​របស់​យុវតី​ខ្មែរ​​ សម័យ​​បច្ចុប្បន្ន

Published on វិប​ផតថល​ស្តី​អំពី​ស្ត្រី​ :: Empowerment for Social Change (http://women.open.org.kh)

ដើម > ទេពកោសល្យ​ស្ត្រី

ភាពជា​អ្នក​ដឹក​នាំ​ ចំពោះ​​នាង​ខ្ញុំ​ គឺ​ជា​ការ​ជះ​ឥទ្ធិពល​ទៅ​លើ​មនុស្ស​ ឲ្យ​ពួក​គាត់​  ចេះ​ប្រើប្រាស់​​សក្ដានុពល​ដ៏​ប្រសើរ​បំផុត​ដែល​​ខ្លួន​មាន​ ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ជីវិត​របស់​ខ្លួន​​បាន​ប្រសើរ​ឡើង​ តាម​រយៈ​​ការ​គិត​ធំ​ ផ្ដើម​ធ្វើ​ពី​តូច​ "នេះ​គឺ​ជា​សម្ដី​​របស់​កញ្ញា នាង សុវត្ថានា​ ប្រធាន​ "សមាគម​គំនិត​ផ្ដួចផ្ដើមនៃ​ការ​ផ្លាស់​ប្ដូរ​" នៅ​ក្នុង​បទសម្ភាសន៍​មួយ​ ជាមួយ​អង្គការ​វិទ្យាស្ថាន​បើក​ទូលាយ ។ កញ្ញា​​​ ត្រូវ​បាន​មជ្ឈដ្ឋាន​ជុំវិញ​​ ទទួល​ស្គាល់​ថា ជា​នារី​ឆ្នើម​មួយ​រូប​ ដោយសារ ទេពកោសល្យ​ដឹក​នាំ​ដ៏​ប៉ិន​ប្រសប់​​របស់​កញ្ញា​ ដែល​មាន ទស្សនវិស័យ​ "គិត​ធំ ផ្ដើម​ធ្វើ​ពី​តូច" ​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​កញ្ញា​ត្រូវ​បាន​ជ្រើស​តាំង​ជា​ប្រធាន​សមាគម ចូល​ប្រឡូក​ក្នុងពិភព​ការងារ​តាំងពី​វ័យ​ក្មេង​ ។ 

សុវត្ថានា បាន​ដំណាល​ប្រាប់​ ​អំពី​ដំណើរ​ជីវិត​ការងារ​របស់ ខ្លួន ដូច្នេះ​ថា ៖ "...​នាង​ខ្ញុំ​ ​ផ្ដើម​ធ្វើ​ការងារ​ពេញ​ម៉ោង​ នៅ​ឯ​​សមាគម​យុវជន​ខ្មែរ​ "ក្នុង​ឆ្នាំ​២០០៤ ។ តាំង​ពី​ឆ្នាំ​២០០៧​មក នាង​ខ្ញុំ​ បាន​និង​កំពុង​ធ្វើ​ការ​ ជា​អ្នក​ជំនួយ​ការ​កម្មវិធី​ "មូលនិធិ​ ហ្វ្រេឌិច ណៅមែន​" ។ ក្នុង​ពេល​ជាមួយ​គ្នា​នេះ ដែរ នាងខ្ញុំ​ ក៏​ជា​ប្រធាន​ស្ម័គ្រ​ចិត្ត​នៃ​ "សមាគម​គំនិត​​ផ្ដួច​ផ្ដើម នៃ​ការ​ផ្លាស់​ប្ដូរ​" ដែល​ជា​អង្គការ​យុវជន​ស្ម័គ្រ​ចិត្ត​ ស្ថិត​នៅ​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ និង​មាន​​ការិយាល័យ​សាខា​មួយ​ នៅ​ខេត្ត​បាត់​ដំបង ។ ​តាំង​ពី​អាយុ​១៥ឆ្នាំ​មក​ នាង​ខ្ញុំ​ បាន​ចូល​ប្រឡូក​ក្នុង​សកម្ម​ភាព​ស្ម័គ្រ​ចិត្ត​ជា​ច្រើន មាន​ជា​អាទិ៍ ការ​បោះ​​ជំរំ​យុវជន សិក្ខាសាលា កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​ ការ​បង្រៀន​ភាសា​អង់គ្លេស​និង​កុំព្យូទ័រ​ ជំនួយការ​គម្រោង​អភិវឌ្ឍន៍​នានា និង​ការ​បង្កើត​គម្រោង​ជាច្រើន​ទៀត​សម្រាប់​យុវជន​​"។

ឈរ​លើ​ទស្សន​វិស័យ​​ច្បាស់​លាស់​របស់​ខ្លួន​ កញ្ញា​ នាង សុវត្ថានា​ បាន​បង្ហាញ​ពី​បែប​ផែន​នៃ​ទេពកោសល្យ​ដឹក​នាំ​របស់​ខ្លួន​ថា កញ្ញា​​ប្រើ​ប្រាស់​ភាព​ជា​អ្នក​ដឹក​នាំ​របស់​​កញ្ញា​ ដើម្បី​ជះ​ឥទ្ធិ​ពល​ដល់​មនុស្ស ដោយ​ការ​ផ្ដល់​ឲ្យ​អ្នក​ទាំងនោះ​ នូវ​គំរូ​វីរភាព​ណាមួយ​ដែល​បុគ្គល​នោះ​ពេញ​ចិត្ត​ ហើយ​និង​លើក​ទឹក​ចិត្ត​ឲ្យ​អ្នក​ទាំង​នោះ​ ជឿជាក់​លើ​សក្ដានុពល​ដ៏​ប្រសើរ​​​បំផុត​ដែល​ខ្លួន​មាន​​ ។ កញ្ញា​បាន​បន្ថែម​ទៀត​ថា ជា​ដំបូង​ កញ្ញា​ផ្សារ​​ភ្ជាប់​​ទំនាក់ទំនង​ផ្ទាល់​ខ្លួន​ ជា​មួយ​អ្នក​ទាំងនោះ​ តាម​រយៈ​ការ​ចែក​រំលែក​រឿងរ៉ាវ​ផ្ទាល់​ខ្លួន និង​ការ​ជួយ​ពួកគេ​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ផ្ទាល់​ខ្លួន​។ កញ្ញា​បាន​ប្រកាន់​យក​ នូវ​ជំពូក​អ្នក​ដឹកនាំ​មួយ​បែប​ ដែល​កញ្ញា​​បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ ដូច្នេះ​ថា ៖ "នាង​ខ្ញុំ​ ចង់​ធ្វើ​ជា​អ្នក​ដឹក​នាំ​មួយ​ប្រភេទ ដែល​គិត​អំពី​ការ​បម្រើ​អ្នក​នៅ​ក្រោម​បង្គាប់​ ជា​ជាង​ការ​ពង្រឹង​ការ​បង្គាប់​បញ្ជា​របស់​ខ្ញុំ​​​ទៅ​លើ​ពួកគេ​"។

ជា​សមិទ្ធផល​ សុវត្ថានា​ បាន​​ប្រាប់​ថា៖ "ឥទ្ធិពល​ទី​១​នៃ​ការ​ដឹកនាំ​របស់​នាង​ខ្ញុំ​ ដែល​នាង​ខ្ញុំ​សង្កេត​ឃើញ​ គឺ​​បន្លាស់​ប្ដូរ​វិជ្ជមាន​ជាច្រើន​ របស់​យុវជន​ដែល​នៅ​ជុំ​វិញ​ខ្លួន​ ។ ពួកគេ​​ បាន​ប្រែ​ក្លាយ​​ ការ​គ្រាន់តែ​ចេះ​គិត​គូរ​​ថែទាំ​អំពី​ខ្លួន​ឯង​ ឲ្យ​ទៅ​ជា​ការ​ចេះ​​យកចិត្តទុកដាក់​ថែទាំ​សង្គម​ទាំងមូល​ ហើយ​បាន​ចាប់​ផ្ដើម​​ស្វែង​រក​វិធី​សាស្ត្រ​ ជួយ​​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ប្រទេស​កាន់​តែ​​ប្រសើរ​​ឡើង​ ។ នាង​ខ្ញុំ​បាន​ឃើញ​ផ្ទាល់​នឹង​ភ្នែក​ថា ប្រមាណ​ ១០នាក់ នៃ​យុវជន​ទាំងនោះ​ បាន​​ផ្ដើម​គំនិត​បង្កើត​គម្រោង​​ជាច្រើន ទាក់ទង​នឹង​ការ​ស្ម័គ្រ​ចិត្ត​នានា​ ក្រោម​កិច្ច​សម្រប​សម្រួល​ពី​សមាគម ។ ...ឥទ្ធិពល​ទី​២​នោះ​ គឺ​ថា ភាព​ជា​អ្នក​ដឹក​នាំ​របស់​នាង​ខ្ញុំ​ ត្រូវ​បាន​ប្រើ​ប្រាស់​ជា​គំរូវីរភាព​ សម្រាប់​យុវជន​ដទៃ​ទៀត ដែល​ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​ពួក​គេ​ធ្វើ​សកម្ម​ភាព​និង​ជឿជាក់​លើ​ខ្លួន​ឯង"។

ក្រៅ​ពី​ជោគជ័យ​ ដែល​រៀប​រាប់​ទាំង​អំបាល​ម៉ាន​ខាង​លើ សុវត្ថានា​ ក៏​ជួប​ប្រទះ​នូវ​ការ​ប្រឈម​មួយ​ចំនួន​ដែរ ​​ទាក់​ទង​នឹង​ការ​គ្រប់​គ្រង​ពេល​វេលា ។ ទោះបី​ជា​ខិត​ខំ​បែង​ចែក​ការងារ​ទៅ​តាម​អាទិភាព​របស់​វា​យ៉ាង​ណា ក្ដី កញ្ញា​មាន​អារម្មណ៍​ថា ខ្លួន​ពុំ​ទាន់​ចេះ​គ្រប់គ្រង​ពេលវេលា​បាន​ល្អ ពិសេស​ពេល​ធ្វើ​ការងារ​ច្រើន​កន្លែង សិក្សា​ និង​ថែទាំ​ប្អូន​ៗ​​របស់​កញ្ញា​ ក្នុង​ពេល​តែ​មួយ​ជាមួយ​គ្នា ។ ថ្វី​បើ​យេនឌ័រ​ត្រូវ​បាន​កញ្ញា​ធ្លាប់​គិត​អាច​ជា​ឧបសគ្គ​ដល់​ភាព​ជា​អ្នក​ដឹក​នាំ​ កញ្ញា​បាន​ផ្លាស់​ប្ដូរ​ការ​គិត​នេះ ក្រោយ​ពី​កញ្ញា​បាន​ចូល​ប្រឡូក​ការងារ​ ក្នុង​ស្ថាប័ន​អង្គការ​ក្រៅ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ ហើយ​អះអាង​ថា ស្ត្រី​ត្រូវ​​បាន​គេ​ផ្ដល់​អាទិភាព​ជា​ច្រើន។

កញ្ញា នាង សុវត្ថានា បាន​ផ្ដល់​ជា​មតិ​យោបល់​ថា ៖ "គ្មាន​អ្វី​ដែល​អាច​ជួយ​ស្ត្រី​ឡើយ ប្រសិន​បើ​ស្ត្រី​មិន​ទទួល​ស្គាល់​នូវ​គុណ​តម្លៃ​និង​សក្ដានុពល​របស់​ខ្លួន​នោះ ។...ស្ត្រី​ត្រូវ​យល់​ថា​ ការ​កើត​មក​ជា​ស្ត្រី​ មិន​មែន​ជា​បន្ទុក​ទេ តែ​ជា​អត្ថ​ប្រយោជន៍​"៕