On Saturday 24^th June, the PUC faculties of Social Sciences and International Relations (SSIR) and Communications and Media Arts (FCMA), in collaboration with youth group Politikoffee, co-organized an event on the rise of Facebook and youth voice in Cambodia.

Nearly 100 participants attended the video launch and panel discussion, including the SSIR and FCMA Deans, a majority of PUC students, Politikoffee members and others.

The event was highly dynamic, with participants deeply engaging with the speakers on this timely topic. The discussants were all young Cambodians, at the heart of the rise of Facebook:

• Catherine V Harry: A current PUC student and rising Facebook voice via her viral video blogs on A Dose of Cath
• Hok Kimhean: Assistant researcher at the Cambodian Development Resource Institute (CDRI), a local think-thank, and co-author of the research “Facebooking: Youth’s Everyday Politics in Cambodia”
• Vong Socheata: Democracy and Governance Specialist with USAID, who manages a program on elections, political parties and civic youth participation

They shared their unique experience using Facebook in their professional activities, focusing on:

• The role of Facebook in shaping youth political participation
• Examples on the influence of Facebook (both positive and negative) based on
  • Research and everyday politics
  • Viral videos on sex education and social issues
  • Political campaigning

Dr. Trond (SSIR Dean) and Dr. Leos (FCMA Dean) introduced the event, chaired by Vanaka Chhem-Kieth (SSIR lecturer and Assistant Dean). Politikoffee presented a short clip on “Youth Political Participation” to open up the discussion. Research for the clip and the corresponding brief was conducted by two current SSIR students, Bong Chansambath and Sen Chantarasingh, in close collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Foundation and edited by Vanaka Chhem-Kieth.

Please find the video and research brief on:

www.facebook.com/politikoffee

www.politikoffee.com/youth-political-participation

Event poster for “The Rise of Facebook & Youth Voice in Cambodia”