BANYAN BLOG

CHAK SOPHEAP, 29, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CAMBODIAN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

2/25/2015

"The legacy for my role is to prove that as a woman, and as a young person, we can do the work, and we can do it even better"

Sopheap on a field mission for the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) in August 2013. As Program Director at that time, she was helping to monitor the Peace Walk organized by the Peace Working Group at the Royal Palace. In March 2014 she became the youngest Executive Director for CCHR. ©CCHR 2013

Chak Sopheap, 29, Executive Director, Cambodian Center for Human Rights

Chak Sopheap, at just 29 years old, is the youngest Executive Director for the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), one of the most active human rights organizations in Cambodia. Born in Kampong Cham province, her parents moved the family to Phnom Penh to give their children better economic opportunities. As a child, she once dreamed of being a doctor, to serve the poor, but now her dream is to help create a freer, more open and just Cambodia.

In September 2014, her work was acknowledged by U.S. President, Barack Obama, in a forum with world leaders at the Clinton Global Initiative. She is determined to create a legacy beyond herself; to help improve the state of human rights in her beloved country, and to prove that a young woman can do the work--and can do it even better.

I interviewed Sopheap and asked her who was the most influential person in her life, what the state of human rights is in Cambodia, her hopes and dreams for her country, what it was like to be honored by President Obama, and whom she sees as the change maker for the country.

This is her remarkable journey from a rural village in Kampong Cham, to being at the helm of leadership in one of Cambodia’s most preimminent human rights organizations.

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KOUY CHANDANICH, 26, TOP MODEL

2/16/2015

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"Believe in yourself. Be yourself. Push yourself."

Kouy Chandanich, Judge & Model, Cambodia's Next Top Model

Chandanich (Danich) pictured here in the promo for the TV show, "Cambodia's Next Top Model". Danich started her modeling career at 21, and has since been one of Cambodia's most prominent models. ©CambodiasNextTopModel

Kouy Chandanich, 26, Judge & Model, Cambodia's Next Top Model

Kouy Chandanich (who goes by Danich) has had an amazing career as a model. First discovered at 21 by Sapor Modeling Agency, it is hard to believe she once lacked the confidence to be a model. She overcame her insecurities, pushed herself and believed in herself. In 2012 she was the first Cambodian model (and only Asian model) selected to participate in Australia Fashion Week. Now at 26 she is Cambodia’s most sought after and seasoned model, gracing the covers of magazines, walking the international runways, and now being the face of the popular TV show “Cambodia’s Next Top Model.”

She wants more, not only for herself, but for her country. She wants Cambodia to be put on the fashion map. She dreams of Cambodia as a destination where top models are sought after; where Cambodian models grace the cover of Vogue; where people travel to Cambodia not only to see Angkor Wat, but for high fashion shopping. She is determined to help raise the profile of professional modeling in Cambodia and wants to help young Khmer models embrace their natural beauty. She is breaking the mold and helping to bring Cambodia to the next level of fashion.

Danich shares with me what it was like to grow up in Phnom Penh in the early 90s, how she started her modeling career, how she overcame her insecurities, her hopes and dreams for the fashion industry in Cambodia, and what advice she has for new models.

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Dara Veung,25,Harvard Business School

2/10/2015

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"I want my generation to never stop learning"
Dara Veung, 25, MBA Candidate, Harvard Business School

Dara Veung, standing at Harvard Business School's iconic Baker Library, August 2014.

Dara Veung, 25, MBA Candidate & Aspiring Entrepreneur, Harvard Business School

Dara Veung, 25, is one of Cambodia’s best and brightest students. Born in a poor rural village along the banks of the Mekong River, Dara understood early on the importance of education. At just twelve years old, he asked his parents to move to Phnom Penh in pursuit of a better education. He lived with an uncle in the capital for the first few years, before moving to stay with his aunt’s family, while his parents worked hard in their village to save up for his schooling. They invested their savings so their son could have the best education possible.

All their sacrifices paid off. Dara, who has a thirst for knowledge and a knack for learning languages, studied hard and worked his way through school at Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa) as a janitor and a librarian. He graduated with a double major in Economics and French. He is now living his dream, studying for an MBA at Harvard Business School, the first for a Cambodian national at the prestigious school. Upon graduation, Dara, will join the ranks of famous alumni such as Michael Bloomberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and Mitt Romney. He intends to use this golden education to giving back to his country someday. His story is an inspiration, a testimony of the power of education, hard work, and the love of his parents to sacrifice everything for their children.

I interviewed Dara and asked him about his roots, when he realized education was important, and the problems and possible solutions to Cambodia’s education system today. Writing from chilly Boston, Dara shares with me his inspirational story.

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NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS II

2/9/2015

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This is the second edition of the popular Young Leaders Series. This series aims to inspire, motivate and tell a more positive story of Cambodia through the next generation of leaders. Too often we only hear about the problems plaguing Cambodia. This special series is dedicated to recognizing the intelligence, talent, creativity, innovation, and promise of Cambodia’s future. Each week in February, through a series of interviews, I will profile a young leader, all under the age of 35, who is contributing to Cambodia’s development in various fields.

In this second series you will meet the men and women who are changing Cambodia in civil society, education, fashion, art, and more. They are making their own unique contribution to Cambodian society now and in the future. These leaders are the ambitious Mr. and Mrs. 30s who are taking the helm of leadership in civil society and government. The young leader is the 25-year-old attending the world's most prestigious university that claims Michael Bloomberg and Sheryl Sandberg as alumni, but who once worked as a janitor to pay for school. She is the beautiful young woman walking the catwalk on the international runaways, determined to put Cambodia on the fashion map. He is the award-winning artist pushing the boundaries of art through thought provoking photography. There many young leaders in Cambodia today. This is only a small sample, together they are all making a difference in their own way, all contributing to a brighter future for Cambodia.

This is the story I want to tell. That despite our challenges, our dark corners, we have many beacons of light. For those outside of Cambodia, I would like to let you know that, through the remarkable promise of these exceptional young leaders, and many others who are positively contributing to our country, WE are on the cusp of something special, a revival of a golden age in a country once shattered by war. For those inside Cambodia, the young generation who is struggling, wanting success but not knowing how to attain it, seek role models and inspiration through these stories. Learn from them. See yourself in their eyes, because at one point, they were struggling just like you.

I hope you will enjoy reading these stories and will be inspired by them.

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CATCHING UP WITH SOCHEATA VONG

2/4/2015

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The highlight of 2014 for Socheata was traveling to Stung Treng Province in December and visiting the home of Cambodia's most famous singer, Sin Sisamuth. Socheata, pictured here with Lok Yeay Khav Thong Nhot, widow of Cambodia's Golden Voice. ©Socheata Vong 2014

Socheata Vong, had a busy year professionally and personally. The 33-year old development professional started 2014 by meeting International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Madam Christine Lagarde at a private luncheon for young leaders in Cambodia. By mid-year she volunteered with hundreds of others, to help monitor the controversial high school exam where she met H.E. Hang Chuon Naron (Minister of Education). She wrapped up the year by traveling to Stung Treng Province to meet the widow of Sin Sisamuth, a dream come true for her. In between that she appeared on Cambodian Television Network (CTN) to discuss her views of youth & ASEAN Integration. Passionate about development, arts and culture of Cambodia, Socheata is working on some very interesting projects in 2015, one of which is helping to preserve the legacy of Cambodia’s most famous singer. I caught up with Socheata to see what her year was like in 2014 and what exciting things she will be working on in 2015.

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CATCHING UP WITH KAVICH NEANG

2/1/2015

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Kavich Neang spent part of last year working in front of the camera, instead of behind it. The young filmmaker made his first acting debut in the critically acclaimed short film “Cambodia 2099” by Cambodian-French director Davy Chou. Cambodia 2099 made its’ world premiere at the Cannes Director Fortnight category.

His middle length documentary ‘Where I Go’ continues to bring him success. Last year, Kavich was busy traveling to film festivals across Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and Singapore) to screen his film. In 2015 Kavich will go back behind the camera where he is writing and directing his first short fictional film. I caught up with Kavich to see what he was up to last year, what big plans he has for 2015 and what changes he sees in the Cambodian film making industry this year.

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CATCHING UP WITH BUNLEANG CHANG

1/25/2015

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Bunleang speaking at the Brown Annual Party for staff. Bunleang and his partners (who are all in their late 20s) own Brown Coffee and Bakery, Fox Wine Bar and Gong Cha. With multiple locations across Phnom Penh, these companies combined employ over 600 staff (full and part time). With more plans for expansion in the future, Brown (and company) will create more employment opportunities for young Cambodians. Photo courtesy of Brown Coffee and Bakery ©Brown 2014

Bunleang Chang, Managing Partner & Co-Founder of Brown Coffee and Bakery, was very busy last year. In 2014 Brown recently reached an important milestone, a 10th location in Phnom Penh. The company also added more outlets for Gong Cha and Fox Wine Bistro across Phnom Penh. The popular company is growing fast to meet the demands of an ever growing clientele seeking the perfect mix of ambience, flavor, and comfort in their coffee outing experience. I briefly caught up with Bunleang to see what the company has accomplished in 2014 and what big plans he and his partners have in 2015. I also asked him whom he thought was the person to watch in 2015 and here's what he had to say.

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CATCHING UP WITH THE 2014 YOUNG LEADERS

1/19/2015

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It has been over a year since I first launched the popular Young Leader Series. Many people continue to be inspired by the younger generation's drive, vision, and determination to help create a better, equitable, and prosperous Cambodia. The road is difficult and long with many bumps, twists and turns, but this generation is tenaciously paving the way for a brighter future for our country.

In the lead up to the next group of 2015 Young Leaders, I decided to catch up with last year's group to see what they were up to last year, what goals they have this year, and whom they see are the changemakers in the country. One has moved overseas to work at prestigious international organizations, another expanded their entrepreneurial empire, and one even starred in a film that was screened at the Cannes Film Festival! There is no doubt that they have done some amazing things this year and will continue to reshape, and in their own way, redefine Cambodia.

The first person I caught up with is Dyna Heng, who writes from chilly Washington D.C.

Group photo of the new inductees of the 2014 IMF Economist Program (EP). Dyna (second from left, front row) was one of the 28 economists (out of the thousands of applicants from around the world) selected in this highly competitive program. This is the first year a Cambodian national was chosen. Photo credit © IMF 2014.

CATCHING UP WITH DYNA HENG

Dyna Heng has had an exciting year. The young economist was recently accepted into the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) highly competitive Economist Program (EP), the first for a Cambodian national. Now working at the IMF Headquarters in Washington D.C., in the Western Hemisphere Region, Dyna is learning about global best practices in economic and fiscal management. He hopes to apply this knowledge and experience to help with his country’s development in the future. Writing from chilly Washington D.C., Dyna shares with me some of the exciting changes in his life in 2014, his goals in the new year, his positive outlook for Cambodia in 2015, and whom he sees as the change makers of the country.

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REDEFINE CAMBODIA!

12/29/2014

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REDEFINE CAMBODIA: A LETTER TO THE NEXT GENERATION
First published in Milk Magazine. Reposted with permission.
December 2014, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
(Khmer Translation Below)

I have always wondered what my life would have been like had we stayed in Cambodia after the war. It is hard to fathom all the struggles my country faced as we tried to get back on our feet; limited water supply, rations of rice, no electricity and no running water. This generation grew up living under the threat of violence from rocket fire, grenade attacks and millions of landmines.

You were robbed of being able to learn from the many talented artists, musicians, filmmakers, and intellectuals who came before you. The country started over and the burden fell on the shoulders of your parents’ generation. Many conformed to the mentality of doing whatever it took to survive. You inherited all these remnants of war, and with it, a terrible legacy that defined your parents’ generation, and to many in the outside world, defined our country.

Over 30 years have passed since then. Much progress has been made. Much more needs to be done. Yet, in some ways, many still see our country trapped by the shadows of our past.

It’s time to redefine Cambodia.

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SMOT

12/9/2014

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Eerie Art Form

There’s something about smot that gives me peace and calm. I close my eyes and at once I am in a trance. For most Khmer people, young and old, smot is an eerie type of traditional music, one that beckons the dead. Just saying the word is enough to give some people the creeps.

I did not grow up listening to smot. I only heard of it last year when my parents listened to it constantly as my father’s health was deteriorating. My mother would play the CDs of smot music for my father to comfort him, to comfort both of them. Since then, I have been fascinated by this unique traditional music. Though I have limited understanding of the verses, it’s the sound that captivates me the most. The melodies are melancholic and heavy, unlike most traditional Khmer music, which are upbeat and light. The voices of the smot singers are mature and hauntingly beautiful.

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CHAK SOPHEAP, 29, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CAMBODIAN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

KOUY CHANDANICH, 26, TOP MODEL

Dara Veung,25,Harvard Business School

NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS II

CATCHING UP WITH SOCHEATA VONG

CATCHING UP WITH KAVICH NEANG

CATCHING UP WITH BUNLEANG CHANG

CATCHING UP WITH THE 2014 YOUNG LEADERS

CATCHING UP WITH DYNA HENG

REDEFINE CAMBODIA!

SMOT

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