WASHINGTON DC - Better social development in Cambodia will require more education and volunteer work from the country’s young people, a youth ambassador says.
Preung Sokun Osaphea, a representative of the US ambassador’s Youth Council, told “New Voices” on Monday that tomorrow’s leaders and professionals need to prepare today.
The role of the council is to act as a liaison between Cambodians young generations to the US ambassador, in an effort to develop their capacity as future leaders.
Preung Sokun Osaphea said Cambodia’s fate will one day soon be in the hands of this generation, which will deal with legacies ranging from civil war and political turmoil to sweeping economic change. These are challenges today, she said, and the youth must now concentrate on educating themselves and becoming socially active.
Informed youth are increasingly concerned about the future of the country and are trying to contribute to its development, she said.
“In the past our youth weren’t willing to work for their communities,” she said. “They didn’t care. But from year to year, our youth have begun to be thoughtful and to understand more about their society. They’ve started to speak out about issues facing their society. But first, we need to strengthen our own capacity and develop ourselves.”
The hope is that more and more people will become aware of social issues and become engaged in solving them, either through civil society or through the government, she said.
Preung Sokun Osaphea, a representative of the US ambassador’s Youth Council, told “New Voices” on Monday that tomorrow’s leaders and professionals need to prepare today.
The role of the council is to act as a liaison between Cambodians young generations to the US ambassador, in an effort to develop their capacity as future leaders.
Preung Sokun Osaphea said Cambodia’s fate will one day soon be in the hands of this generation, which will deal with legacies ranging from civil war and political turmoil to sweeping economic change. These are challenges today, she said, and the youth must now concentrate on educating themselves and becoming socially active.
Informed youth are increasingly concerned about the future of the country and are trying to contribute to its development, she said.
“In the past our youth weren’t willing to work for their communities,” she said. “They didn’t care. But from year to year, our youth have begun to be thoughtful and to understand more about their society. They’ve started to speak out about issues facing their society. But first, we need to strengthen our own capacity and develop ourselves.”
The hope is that more and more people will become aware of social issues and become engaged in solving them, either through civil society or through the government, she said.
