Khmer Youth Association

The New-Generation project is being implemented in two province (Ratanakiri and Stung Treng provinces), 7 districts (Voen Sai, Taveng, Borkeo, Andoung Meas, Siem Pang, Thalaborivath and Sesan districts), 25 communes (Kachoun, Koh Peak, Pong, Phnom Kok, Pakalan, Taveng Loe, Taveng Kraom, Lung Khung, Soeng, Ki Chong, Malik, Nhang, Talav, Kom Phun, Phluk, Samkhuoy, Anlung Chrey, Sre Roesei, O Rey, Talaborivath, Sre Sambo, Prek Meas, Sekong, Thmor Keo and Santepheap communes), and 124 villages.

Miss. Romam E Vann is one of young people who are very interest in the Adolescence Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) activity. In particular, she wanted to get involved in the New Generation Project by becoming a local peer-to-peer educator. Since December 2019, she has joined with other CYN members, and she was elected as a deputy leader in February 2020 in Kachoun commune. Romam participated in the training on Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) organized by Khmer Youth Association. The deputy leader stressed that she was very satisfied with the training because she had learned various lessons. "I am really interested in disadvantages of getting early marriage. Personally, I did not know about this issue, I only knew that a young lady would get married after turning 15 or 16 years old”, she added. During the training, the facilitator noticed that she was very active and making contribution to help other indigenous youth who struggled by raising questions, sharing her expressions and experience in group discussions.

Romam holds about one-year experience working on Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE). She has facilitated activities with her friends and other young people in her commune to promote the Comprehensive sexuality education enabling young people to protect their health, well-being and dignity. More importantly, she aims to change the mindset of indigenous people regarding certain traditions and customs. For example, the pressure on children to get married early so that they can help with the plantation. This is usually because otherwise the parents become worried of their children (especially girls) ending up spinsters (an unmarried woman, typically an older woman beyond the usual age for marriage).

On a personality perspective, the transformation that Romam has from being an ordinary indigenous young woman to a community leader is inspiring. She has developed her resilience and leadership through overcoming difficulties, disappointments and hard work. Moreover, she has become very dedicated to educating other indigenous youth in her communities in order for them to take leadership roles and adapt their attitude toward related sexual and reproductive health and behaviours. She did this by coordinating and mobilizing youths to join the CSE sessions with the Commune Committee for Women and Children (CCWC) and Village Health Support Groups (VHSG). In addition to that, she attended commune councils meetings to raise concerns regarding sexual and reproductive health among young people, especially adolescent girls and young women. Consequently, the commune councils recognized these issues and thus correspondingly they encouraged youth to spread the Sexual and reproductive health in the communes.

Looking back at the previous version of Romam, she has made a milestone. She was once forced by her parents to get married when she was 16 years old. She was very nervous and worried about her life after married, and unfortunately, she did not have confidence to discuss with her parents. However, after participating with the activities at KYA and gradually becoming more aware of the disadvantages of early marriage, she found her courage to confront the issues with her parents. Furthermore, she is also determined to find a good job in order to support her family. Particularly, she wants to engage with social work in leading young people who are passionate about challenges and issues that they are facing and would like to address them for the sake of community improvement. With these reasons and evidence, her parents become convinced and has agreed with Romam’s decisions.

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