By Bodalin Heng Dalin @ TEDx Phnom Penh A few seconds before I stepped onto the red dot at TEDx Phnom Penh, everything went quiet. The hall. The spotlights. Even my thoughts. I took a deep breath, looked up — and spoke. In that silence, I met the girl I used to be — the one who always followed the rules, who lowered her eyes, who believed her voice was too small to matter. That moment — breaking silence, daring to speak for all the girls who were told to “sit properly” or “s

In communities across Cambodia, young people are rising with energy, creativity, and a powerful sense of purpose. They're not waiting for change to happen — they’re making it happen. This is the heart of International Youth Day 2025, a day that celebrates Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond . At Breakthrough, we see these stories every day. From the vibrant streets of Phnom Penh to communities across Cambodia, youth are leading the charge on issues that matter — from

Breakthrough's Poev Sinoun (right) hosts the podcast “Indigenous Women, Traditional Knowledge Keepers & Climate Actors,” featuring the Cambodian Indigenous Women Association (CIWA) 's Fong Champei (left) and Prak Phuong (center). Illustration: Breakthrough Movement Phnom Penh, Cambodia — A powerful new podcast series is amplifying the voices of young Cambodian women leading the fight against climate change. Launched by the youth-led Breakthrough Movement , in collaboration w