In the vibrant and culturally diverse province of Ratanakiri, there is an ethnic minority youth, Loe Chenda. Growing up, she witnesses the relentless struggles her community faced in accessing quality education. From a young age, she noticed that the language barrier created significant obstacles for many of her peers. In her village, indigenous languages were spoken at home and in the fields, but these languages were absent from the classrooms, where Khmer, the national language, was the curriculum’s official language. This disconnect created a significant challenge for many of her peers, who found themselves lost in a sea of incomprehensible lessons, eventually leading to high dropout rates.
The introduction of a multilingual education (MLE) program in her village brought hope to Chenda and her community. However, the shadow of past struggles remained, fueling her determination to contribute to the cause of improving educational access for ethnic minorities. Chenda’s journey toward making a meaningful impact began when she was introduced to the Ratanakiri Provincial Education Sector Working Group (P-ESWG), a group of organizations dedicated to enhancing education in Ratanakiri.
Eager to make a difference, Chenda actively participated in P-ESWG meetings, where she provided valuable input and engaged with other members to address the educational challenges faced by ethnic minority students. In May, she joined the P-ESWG’s data collection led by the NGO Education Partnership (NEP), aimed at gathering information on the state implementation of the MLE program in 5 district of Ratanakiri.
During the data collection process, Chenda visited numerous schools in remote areas, observing the conditions and speaking with teachers, students, and community members. This hands-on experience gave her a deeper understanding of the educational landscape at the grassroots level. She was struck by the dedication of teachers working with limited resources and the enthusiasm of students eager to learn despite the obstacles they faced. The data collected revealed several critical issues: a lack of textbooks and learning materials for the MLE program, insufficient capacity-building opportunities for MLE teachers, a shortage of qualified MLE teachers, and a general lack of understanding about the importance of education among community members. These findings highlighted the urgent need for targeted interventions and advocacy efforts.
Motivated by the insights gained from the data collection, Chenda became even more committed to improving education for ethnic minority students. She set to continue with the P-ESWG to use that data to advocate for better resources, training, and support for MLE programs in Ratanakiri. Her efforts contributed to P-ESWG’s advocacy campaigns, which aimed to raise awareness and drive policy changes to enhance the implementation of MLE programs.
Loe Chenda’s journey is a testament to the power of grassroots advocacy and the impact that determined individuals can have on their communities. Through her involvement with the P-ESWG, she not only gained valuable technical skills related to research and data collection but also empowered herself to be a voice for her community.
This story is connected to the NEP project, “Promoting Access to Quality and Inclusive Education for All through Public Advocacy Campaigns.” NEP’s initiative supports Cambodian civil society’s advocacy efforts to promote quality and inclusive education through capacity development, mobilizing collective action, democratic processes, and advocacy campaigns. Chenda is a shining example of how the power of youth can ignite transformative change, ensuring that every child has an equal opportunity to succeed in school and beyond.