National Youth Networks Conference 2007

DAY 3

2007-09-26T23:27:00.000-07:00

PLENARY SESSION

It was the last day of the conference. After breakfast and refreshing game, the Plenary Session started. We had four topics related to youth presented by four guest speakers.
Youth and Community Service(Experience from IV program)
Presented by: Mr. OK Amry YCC
Download: Presentation can be downloaded here.

Youth and Importance of Community Information
Presented by: Mr.Im Sokthy Open Forum of Cambodia
Download: Presentation will be available here.

Youth and Cambodia Millennium Development Goal
Guest Speaker by: Mr. So Nimol UN
Download: Presentation can be downloaded here.

Youth and Political Participation
Guest Speaker by: Mr Seng Rithy KYA
Download: Presentation can be downloaded here.

In the afternoon is the final day of the National Youth Conference that organized by YCC committee and nine province youth network participations have a cleaning enviroment compaign at Ou Chhortel beach,Sihanouk Ville in order to make a beautiful beach view that can attract local and international visitors.This activity makes national and international visitors admire youths participation for cleaning beach compaign and it is also good example for the society.

At the same ycc youth networks visited Sihanouk Borey Orphange Center in order to take some funds and some toys that got from ycc networks fundraising to give to children and orphange leader that they really need for survice.At that center ycc networks make funny activities with children in loving spirit and give firm hope for thier lives,too.

Brief Description

2007-09-23T17:49:00.000-07:00

The Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC), sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAIDS) through International Republican Institute (IRI), and Forum Syd through the National Council for Swedish Youth Organization (LSU), will organize a national youth networks conference entitled, “Youth and Community Services” from September 21-25, 2007 at the Golden Sand Hotel, Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia. The conference will bring a hundred of the most active youth network members of YCC from its nine target provinces and will feature key speakers concerning institution and NGOs partners in Cambodia.

The objectives of the youth networks conference are three-fold: (1) to bring together like-minded youth to share experiences in their respective provinces, (2) to deepen their knowledge with better tools so that they can participate in local governance in a greater effective manner, and (3) to build a better communication among them both locally and nationally. Through breakout sessions, plenary sessions, panel discussion, and mock trainings, the conference will examine and discuss some of the major challenges and successes of youth participation in Cambodia.

The youth networks conference will in addition to plenary sessions consist of breakout sessions, panel discussion, mock trainings, and community services activities:

Breakout sessions: The conference will consist of 3 simultaneous breakout sessions and participants are asked to choose any one of them at their preference. Topics of the breakout session may include: youth and commune/sangkat decentralization process, youth empowerment, and youth and election. A single participant at least has opportunity to participate in two different topics which one in the morning and other one in the afternoon. Each breakout session will be facilitated by skillful resource persons who are invited from local and international organizations.

Panel discussion sessions: There are two different panel discussion sessions during the youth networks conference. The first panel discussion session will be conducted to share experiences and success stories of youth involvement in democratic, good governance, and decentralize process in provincial level which will be shared by YCC representatives from each of the nine target provinces. During the sharing, participants can raise questions if they would like or they need clarifications. The second panel discussion will be conducted to share knowledge on some important topics related to youth in general such as:- youth and community services, youth and community information, youth and Cambodia Millennium Development Goal, and youth and political participation. The panelists to share knowledge on these topics will be invited from YCC, OFC, UNDP, and PDP.

Training with Practice: The conference will conduct two different mock trainings on topic: debate, and fund raising. The trainings will help participants to get more knowledge and skills on how to make debate and how to make fund raising. During the conference, the facilitators will facilitate the participants to organize the debate on some topics related to youth and social issues in the evening activities and also will organize the participants into nine different groups to do fund raising activities in order to collect some fund for community services (charity to orphanage center in Sihanouk Ville).

Community Services: To make youth (participants) more responsible to community around their life, YCC will organize an hour-activity to clean the beach by organizing participants to collect rubbish along the road and along O Chheuteal reach and also organize a visit to an orphanage center located in Sihanouk Ville. During the visit to orphanage center, participants will organize games with children and give some money raised from fund raising activity as charity.

Hobbies and Leisure: The conference will also organize some activities for participants to feel more relax and making friends, the activities such as evening activities, city tour, and playing group building games. (See at the agenda in Khmer & and English for a detail program)

DAY 2

2007-09-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

Through training programs in nine provinces, YCC recruits network member in commune basis. Participants, who have the opportunity to attend the National Youth Conference, are selected carefully by local network members with the facilitation of YCC provincial representatives. Outstanding network members are nominated by their peer in the commune or district base. The criterias for the selection are based on their activeness in local governance and democratic participation such as their attendance at commune council meetings, local workshops/public forums/seminars, petitions circulations, follow-up meeting with commune councils and local authorities and internal network meeting in their communes and districts.

After the nice breakfast, participants started the second day of the National Youth Conference. Activities of the second day include Panel Discussion (Experiences & Lessons Learned: Youth’s participation in Local Governance in Cambodia. The preventative of YCC nine different target provinces presented the annual report of programming activities and network activities in each comparing to
each others,follow by Q&A.

Awards were given to outstanding provincial networks which had volunteered their time and resources to build, motivate, and promote good citizen,governace,transparency and democratic practice in their communities in order to develop their country.

Through training about Fund Raising by Mr.Mak Sarath in the afternoon and after participants have a break with nice snack then YCC committee are divided into 9 groups that each group has 10 persons come from different provinces and all of them started doing the fund raising activities in the area that YCC provided by taking just only one hour and half all of YCC networks fundraising total money $ 907.30 from nine groups including the loser and winner group but
winner groups have a present from YCC and loser groups they don’t feel upset because all of them think that win or lost is not important ,but they think they can help the orphans in BOREY Sihanouk Ville as possible as they can do in the society.

At night all the participants had a delicious dinner and really enjoyied dancing after watching the Second Youth Leadership Challenge (YLC) at the conference room that right now is showing on the CTN channel on Monday to Friday that sponsor by USAID,IRI and ANZ.

Day 1

2007-09-22T02:20:00.000-07:00

Opening Ceremony:

On September 22, 2007, from 08.00am to 09.00am, the opening ceremony of national youth networks conference was organized at the conference room of Golden Sand Hotel which participated by hundred of youth networks, representatives from YCC member organizations, YCC program staff, resource persons, and extinguished guests. The opening ceremony started by national anthem, introduced to each other, and followed by welcoming remarks from Mr. Tep Bunnarith, Representative of YCC Board of Director and Executive Director of Cultural and Environmental Preservation Association (CEPA), impression remark by Mr. Mean Lux, Assistant to Program Officer of International Republican Institute (IRI), and opening speech by Mrs. Erin Soto, Mission Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Please download the attached files for detail speeches:
- Welcoming remarks of Mr. Tep Bunnarith, Representative of YCC BoD
- Impression remarks of Mr. Mean Lux, IRI
- Opening speech of Mrs. Erin Soto, USAID

Breakout Workshops:

The conference divided participants into 3 simultaneous breakout workshops and the participants are asked to choose any one of them at their preference. There were 30 to 35 peoples in each workshop and the topics of the breakout workshops include: 1). Youth and Commune/sangkat Decentralization Process which facilitated by Mr. Youk Senglong, Commune Council Support Project (CCSP), 2). Youth Empowerment which facilitated by Mr. Cheang Sokha and Mr. Chea Sopheak, Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP), and 3). Youth and Election which facilitated by Mr. Mann Kimleng, Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia (Comfrel). A single participant had opportunity to participate in two different topics which one in the morning and other one in the afternoon.

Please download the attached files for detail speeches:

- Youth and Commune/sangkat Decentralization Process

- Youth Empowerment
- Youth and Election which facilitated

Opening Remarks by Ms. Erin Soto

2007-09-22T00:29:00.000-07:00

I am delighted to talk with all of you for you are the “leader” not only of YCC networks but, more importantly, the future leaders of Cambodia. Leader in all shapes and sizes. Some are tall, some are short; some are men, some are women; some stand up and give speeches while others work behind the scenes for change. But good leaders have some characteristics in common – they set a good example by their behavior; they put others before themselves; they know right from wrong and have the courage to stand for what is right regardless of the risk; they are responsible citizens – they know and exercise their rights – and responsibilities; they believe in themselves; they don’t let the word “no” or anyone stop them form achieving their dreams. Each of you is a deader any by demonstrating your leadership in big and small way, together you can make a difference. You are the hope and inspiration for the future of Cambodia. Click here for full opening speech.

Departure from YCC to Golden Sand Hotel

2007-09-20T07:05:00.000-07:00

Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC) recruit ten hard working volunteers in each province/town by nine representatives to participate in National Youth Conference at Golden Sand Hotel in Sihanouk Ville that start from 21-25 September 2007.After all volunteer in each province/town already get information they feel very happy and also prepare everything to go together at YCC head office. In the afternoon at 21st September 2007 all networks come to meet altogether by showing happy-smile face and very closed to each other in order to go to Sihanouk Ville.

In same afternoon all YCC volunteers departed by two buses during departing we know that our youths have good relationship even thought they come from different target province/town.

Ms. Seng Channeang, network in Reoul Commune, Bouk District, Seim Reap Province said that I feel happy because of I can know new friends, it is the first time for me to see Phnom Penh and also Sihanouk Ville but I feel a little bit tired.

Mr. Ath Makara, network in Tmor Boun Communce, Kanhchreach District, Prey Veng Province said that this is an opportunity for me that I can know new friends and YCC nine representatives especialy YCC staff and some donors. On the other hand I can joint youth conference that I never.

Mr.Sun Touny, network in Samrong Thom Commune, Kien Svay Dristrict, Kandal Province said that I am happy and honor to joint this conference because I can know new different networks, get good knowledge and experience from them. I have some difficulty for traveling from province to PP because I don’t know YCC head office exactly.

Ms.Leng Putheary, network in Ampil Commune, Kompong Siem District, Kompong Cham Province said that I am very glad and first great time that I am able to participate this youth conference.

Ms.Sim Leakana, network in Svey Reng Commune, Svey Reng District, Svey Reng Province told interviewer that after she got the information that she can joint she is absolutely happy and know new friends especially I get a lot of good knowledge and experience. For my difficulty is car renting and the car is small so that some of friends vomit and the ferry gets stuck.

Mr.Ek Chandara, network in Kampong Brieng Commune, Songkei District, Battambong Province said that I feel pleasure and hope that I can get many knowledge and see Sihanouk Ville, too.This conference is good for youths that we can know leader of YCC.There is no place for me to stay in PP so we decide to stay in Ouknaluom Pagoda and a little bit raining.

Ms.Nhy Sokunvery, network in Rom Chorng Commune, Samrong District,Takeo Province said that I am glad , know new friends and get knowledge from this conference that I never joint before.My journey is difficulty because of raining.

Mr.Chea Bunseng, network in Boeung Kork III, Sangkat Toul Korch, Phnom Penh city said that I feel different for coming to Sihanouk Ville especaily get occasion to participate.

Mr. Chhim Sitha, network in Tom Bor Meas Commune,Samrong District, Kampong Speu Province said that I used to joint just only workshop and now I am happy and first time for me to joint this conference .

Now we arrive at Golden Sand Hotel in Sihaknouk Ville at 5:50 minute, all networks leave from the bus and meet altogether around the hotel by showing happy-face and then the YCC organizers distributed material and allowance and key-room to them. Besides these we also have a nice dinner

The Cambodian Charities Foundation Incorporated

2007-09-20T03:36:00.000-07:00

The Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC), the organizer of the National Youth Networks Conference would like to thanks Mr. Phann Channy (Khmer-American) and The Cambodian Charities Foundation Incorporated (CCYFI) has sent US$600 personal donation to buy 100 book bags for youth networks and US$20 for each outstanding participant who are the most active in their communities.

Hotel Golden Sand (Sihanouk Ville)

2007-09-18T03:56:00.000-07:00

The Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC), the organizer of The National Youth Networks Conference would like to thanks The Hotel Golden Sand for provided ten hours to internet access for setting up and posting all the activities of the National Youth Networks Conference 2007 to this web blog.