Category - LIFT

Love is in the Air

July 13, 2010

We asked radio personalities whose programmes deal with the topic of love to share their ideas on how Cambodian youth can find a place for love in their busy lives and enjoy the benefits of romance without getting hurt in the process. Their responses have been translated from Khmer and edited for clarity and length.

Ek Monosen

Ek Monosen / Photo supplied

Love consultant for Radio FM 102
and vice rector at Human Resources University

Heng Sokchannaroth

No photo

Radio personality for radio FM103

Chhy Rotha

Chhy Rotha / Photo supplied

Producer of the “Don’t Be Shy”
segment of the “Smile Hopefully”
show on Radio FM100.3

Neang Sovathana

Neang Sovathana / Photo supplied

Radio personality for “The Love Show” on Radio FM 106.5

DISCUSSION

Is it possible to be a great student and be in a healthy romantic relationship?

Ek Monosen – There are two possible results to a romantic relationship between students. One is that they will encourage each other to study hard so they will have better results in their studies. However, they also might waste time doing other things to show their love for each other that will cause their grades to drop off. Students who fall in love can be still be good students, but I would say it is rare.

Chhy Rotha – Outstanding students can certainly get involved with a romantic partner. High-performing people need love just like anyone else. The results of falling in love depend on their ability to manage their time. Some people use love as motivation to study harder. I have seen great students who have won scholarships who are in a relationship. They must know what they want out of their relationship. Of course, if they let love control them they will risk falling apart and facing failure.
Heng Sokchannaroth – It depends on our partner. If our partner encourages us to study hard, it is good. But if our partner doesn’t like studying and instead likes going out, we will bump into failure. So, the weight is in our partner. If we have a good partner, we will be more likely to be good.

How do you know if you have met your true love?

Chhy Rotha – People usually have a set criteria for what type of person they want to be with. While you may not be able to find a person who meets all of those criteria, they at least need to fill enough of them to make you happy and allow you to get along well. The closer you get to someone, the more you will know if they might be a person who you can start a family with.

Ek Monosen – Although there is all kinds of new technology in the world, we have yet to develop a thermometer to gauge whether someone is good or bad. The chance that you will meet the love of your life in your youth is slim because when young people fall in love they focus too much on loyalty. There are other factors that must be considered such as age, knowledge, jobs, health, family and other factors that become more important as we grow up. Loyalty is important but it is does not guarantee that your love will last or lead to a happy family.

Heng Sokchannaroth – An honest partner is the one who takes care of us and thinks about us all of the time, but also motivates us to study and work hard. A caring lover would never ask us to go out with him or her if we didn’t want to or had unfinished work.

How can you deal with a broken heart after a tough break up?

Ek Monosen – You have to realise that while you may be in a dark place, you have not died and you will recover. Moreover, people must not think that falling out of love was a failure on their part, it can often be a success because you will no longer waste time with a person who did not treat you the way you deserved to be treated. We can compare dating to learning to walk as a baby. If we stopped trying the first time we fell down we would live our lives unable to walk. You must move on and learn to love yourself again and trust that you will find someone else.

Chhy Rotha – The best way to deal with a broken heart is to avoid being isolated. Try to share your problems with friends and relatives. People who you know will love you no matter what. You should also consider the benefits as well as the disadvantages of the breakup. Write this down on a piece of paper, focusing on how the change will impact upon your future goals academically and professionally. Although it will not take away 100 percent of the pain, staying busy is also an important way to prevent yourself from going into a post-breakup depression.

How do you know if your lover is being loyal and honest with you?

Neang Sovathana – Using me and my boyfriend as an example, we try to as open-minded as possible to each other. So he never tells me a lie. If my boyfriend is interested in someone else, and I have another man on my mind, we can just separate peacefully. We share our personal matters every day. We correct bad points of each other. If he sees that I am making a mistake, he corrects me, and if I see that he is messing up, I correct him too. Only time can tell if someone is loyal or not. Some people like to use sweet words and some don’t, but we should be hesitant to believe what people say until we see how they act.

Chhy Rotha – We can observe his or her actions, as compared with their words. To what level are their sweet words actually matched by sweet action? Loyalty doesn’t just mean you are there, it also means people are willing to share their personal problems with each other.

Ek Monosen – To judge if a person is loyal or not you need at least six months in a relationship. We need to see to what extent they take care of each other. Does your partner aim only to have sex with you or not? Do they keep promises or not? Have they ever told a lie? If you feel like it is time to get married you should make three requests of your potential spouse: have blood tests, spend time at his house and have your marriage officially registered. If your lover does all of these things they are probably honest, but it still doesn’t guarantee a happy life together.

Heng Sokchannaroth – It is difficult to tell whether someone you have fallen in love with is honest in the initial stages of a relationship. The best way to ensure that we are with someone who we can trust is to be patient and do not hurry to make a decision about whether your partner really loves you. What is important is that we take time to observe our partner and then after a while we can make a decision as to how faithful they really are.

By: Dara Saoyuth & LIFT Staffs

This article was published on Lift, Issue 26, July 7, 2010

Coming Back to Make an Impact

July 1, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Discussion, LIFT

Lift sent out questions to four Cambodian scholars who have returned from studying abroad to help in the development of their home country. Their answers shed light on the drastic differences between education systems overseas and in Cambodia, but also on the value of becoming part of a different culture and a different way of life. These answers are excerpted from their email responses and edited for length and clarity.

Sun Samnang:

Sun Samnang/ Photo supplied

Age: 31
Studied law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa through the Freeman Foundation Fellowship. This scholarship was privately funded and advertised, but students who want to study in the US can visit the US embassy website to browse a variety of scholarship opportunities. Sun Samnang is currently working as a lecturer of law at Pannasastra University and the University of Cambodia.

For more information about this scholarship programme visit:
cambodia.usembassy.gov/
educational_exchange2.html

Mol Vibol:

Mol Vibol/ Photo supplied

Age: 27
Studied educational science and school administration at the University of Moncton in Canada through the Canadian Francophone Scholarship Programme. Mol Vibol is currently working as a lecturer at the Cambodian Institute of Technology.

For more information about this scholarship programme visit:
www.boursesfrancophonie.ca/

Sang Sothun:

Sang Sothun/ Photo supplied

Age: 24
Studied in Lyon, France, through the Eiffel Excellence Scholarships Programme. He has been working in Cambodia’s government since returning to the country. He also works as a part-time lecturer and freelance translator to supplement his income.

For more information about this scholarship programme visit:
www.egide.asso.fr

Loa Narin:

Loa Narin/ Photo by: Koam Tivea

Age: 24
Studied at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia on the Peace Scholarship programme. This particular scholarship is no longer available, but there are various other scholarships being offered by the Australian government. Loa Narin worked for an NGO upon returning but is now working for the Institute of Foreign Languages as a full-time lecturer.

For more information about this scholarship programme visit:
www.cambodia.idp.com/

DISCUSSION
What was one thing you realised studying abroad that you couldn’t have learned here?

Mol Vibol: Teachers in Canada didn’t seem like teachers at all. They treated us as their friends, brothers or sisters, unlike Cambodian teachers who often have too much pride or do not teach their students well. In Cambodia we can see a gap between students and teachers, as students do not want to disturb their teachers and are afraid to ask questions to them.

Loa Narin: The independence in studying and living abroad was invaluable. The experiences have broadened my horizons and enabled me to be more confident and more mature as an individual.

What were the main differences between your education abroad and education here?

Sang Sothun: The quality of the studies in France can be seen on exam day. I don’t know what happens up there, maybe the rules are so strict or maybe students there never cheat on exams because of their conscience. The results are catastrophic if someone cheats. They would rather fail than cheat.

Loa Narin: The lecturer’s job is to facilitate the students’ studies and students have to be very independent in their studies. At the university I studied at, students met once or twice a week to sit with a sea of 200 or more students to listen to a lecture, which lasted from an hour to 90 minutes. The class then breaks down into “tutorial” groups where 25 or so students have discussions with tutors where they solve problems, ask questions and do presentations. The facilities were also state-of-the-art. For instance, the “i-lecture” is a system that records the lecturer’s words during their classes and posts them online for students who were absent or didn’t understand some points. They can listen to the lecture from anywhere, any time, through the internet.

Mol Vibol: Teachers in Cambodia explain the entire lesson on the whiteboard and the students just take notes on the information. In Canada, teachers give assignments to students and let students research by themselves. In Canada teachers have the obligation to guide and help their students when they need assistance, but they don’t have to help their students do everything.

How has your experience abroad improved your abilities and performance in your job?

Sun Samnang: One thing I know is that I would not be able to do what I am doing now if it weren’t for the education I received. I have a responsibility to channel correct information to students and assist them in conducting research and getting through their academic journey, and I wouldn’t be able to do that if I myself were not equipped with those skills and experiences.

Loa Narin: As a result of the experiences I had in Australia, my confidence has soared and I am a better communicator, not just in my English ability per se, but also in my ability to interact with people across different cultures.

Mol Vibol: I treat my students as brothers and sisters and try to help them learn in a relaxed way. I think this method works well because when students learn due to their own passions – rather than other people forcing them in one direction – they will make much better progress.

How will you use your experiences abroad to help develop Cambodia?

Mol Vibol: If I were a director of a university I would give more chances to other people who are qualified and capable of working, not someone I knew or a relative. Moreover, I like talking and helping people so I will use my experience to share with my students and I will encourage and advise my students to work harder for their future.

Sun Samnang: I believe that teaching is one of the most noble professions there is. I see the role of education as being tremendously important in building a strong generation of youth. Teaching isn’t just about giving students something that is in books, it is about giving them the ability to think and generate ideas.

Sang Sothun: Serving your country to help its develop should be promoted and established in the minds of Cambodian people. One person cannot change the world. I am just one part of Cambodia. What I can do is to try my best to serve this country and that’s why I choose to work in the public sector.

By: Dara Saoyuth & Koam Tivea

This article was published on Lift, Issue 25, June 30, 2010

Bophana Audiovisual Resource Centre

June 16, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Feature Story, LIFT

Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center / Photo source: Internet

As a documentary filmmaker in the 1990s, Rithy Panh realized the utter lack of audiovisual resources in Cambodia and decided to start an organization to collect as much of the Kingdom’s audiovisual heritage as possible.

Rithy Panh’s dream of gathering the resources convinced Ieu Pannakar, who was the head of the Department of Cinema within the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts at that time, to jump on board. The two men established the Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center in December 2006 with the support of the Ministry of Culture and many other institutions.

“Bophana was the name of a young woman detained in S-21 during the Pol Pot Regime,” said Chum Noi, public relations officer for Bophana.

“The center was given the name Bophana to bear witness to the dignity and courage of this woman.”

Aiming to preserve and present the remaining pictures, movies and songs from the last 150 years of Cambodia’s history, Bophana has around 30 staff members who have helped collect and protect more than 2,000 documents produced by Cambodians and foreigners.

The center improves the quality of the documents, digitizes them and adds them to its expansive computer database, which is growing bigger by the week.

The overriding purpose of the collection is to provide free access to Cambodians and foreigners who wish to explore the audiovisual memory of Cambodia and learn more about the country’s past glory and terror.

“All the documents can be viewed freely in three main languages: Khmer, English and French. Therefore, people can search for their desired document easily,” said Sim Sok Thida, a research analyst at the Center.

“Bophana has been working collaboratively with other audiovisual archive centers in America, Europe and Asia to gather the remaining Cambodian documents from those countries and get authorization from the owners to present and provide people access to those files,” said Gaetan Crespel, the archive manager at Bophana Center.

He added that the center has also been cooperating with the Cambodian Film Commission in training Cambodian people in film and audio-related technical work to ensure that they are capable of taking care of documents, as well as improving their own ability to produce photos, film and audio files that will ensure that people do not forget what is happening today.

“I often visit the center when I am free from my studies since I can find so many important documents that aren’t available anywhere else,” said Nem Lorn, a student from Human Resource University.

“I can gain priceless knowledge, especially in art, civilization and history. I hope more Cambodian youth spend time here to explore their past.

“I am sure that the center is going to be here for the next 10 or 20 years to serve the public,” said Crespel.

“We still have many more archives that haven’t been digitized and shown to the public yet.”

Written by: Dara Saoyuth and Lang Mesa

This article was published on Lift, Issue 23, June 16, 2010

You’ve Got to Sell Yourself

June 9, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Feature Story, LIFT

1 Comment

HR Inc. Consultant is interviewing job seeker/Photo by: Dara Saoyuth

Finding a job that matches your skills and desires is not an easy task, especially for undergraduate students or fresh graduates who do not have work experience and professional connections; however, by reaching out to an employment or recruitment agency you can set yourself on track for the future you are hoping for.

Ry Chansan, a 2006 graduate in accounting from Vanda Institute, is in the process of getting a job which she found through an employment agency. “I posted my CV on the HR Inc. website (http://www.hrinc.com.kh/) and they asked me to come to their office today for an interview,” she said. “I decided to ask for help from HR Inc. with the hopes that they could help me find my dream job,” she continued.

Recruitment agencies not only help you build up your skills and CV; they can also use their connections with employers to submit your application when jobs become available. There are around 10 employment agencies in Cambodia with the shared purpose of building a bridge between employee and employer ands providing consultation to job seekers.

In order to help graduates and young professionals connect with potential employers and prepare themselves for the workforce, a growing number of employment agencies have been established in Cambodiea over the past decade. Employment and recruitment agencies provide job seekers with information about job opportunities and strategies to secure those jobs, as well as suggesting ideal candidates to employers looking for a certain type of employee.

“After we interview candidates and find out that they fill the employers’ requirements, we’ll recommend them to employers,” said Touch Phea, a recruitment consultant at HR Inc. Cambodia, an independent employment agency established in 2002. “For those who don’t know exactly what job they want to do, we can also meet with them and guide them professionally,” he continued.

Though cooperating with an employment agency does not guarantee that you will find a job, tapping the knowledge and expertise offered by employment agencies certainly improves your chance to get a job that fits your skills. “Employers trust in us since we are performing in a professional way, so they believe that people we recommend to them are qualified to work for them,” said Virac Sisocheata, an acting manager at Great Alliances, another recruitment agency, established in 2007.

Chhun Sarorn, a 26-year-old Finance and Banking graduate from University of Cambodia (UC), has worked as accounting manager for Conical Hat Software Company for three years. He initially found the job through an employment agency. “HR Inc. recommended me to Conical Hat Software Company after interviewed me and I got a job,” he said.

Employment agencies do not only work with people seeking their first job, they also work with people who want to change the company or position they currently hold.

“Many people do not want to keep doing the same job, so we try to help them find another one,” said Virac Sisocheata. She said that some people don’t want to ask for help from employment agency because they are afraid their employer will find out. “Only the candidates and I will know that they are looking for a new job,” she said.

Most people think that they have to pay money to the employment agency if they use their service, but most agencies only charge the emplyers.

“Our goal is to provide job seekers with jobs that match to their desires, experience, and qualifications,” said Virac Sisocheata. “We think job seekers should come to employment agencies when they want to get a job or get information related to jobs… and all our service is totally free.”

Written by: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 22, June 9, 2010

A Life in Dance

June 9, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Feature Story, LIFT

Belle's performance at Chenla theatre/Photo by: Koam Tivea

Chumvann Sodhachivi, more commonly known as Belle, is not only one of Cambodia’s greatest cultural ambassadors for her dancing in performances around the world; she has also found a way to make a living through her passion for the arts. Between her travels to the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and France for cultural exchanges and dance workshops, she has established herself as a leader in the innovation of Cambodian contemporary dance, combining classical and modern styles to create a dance which expresses the globalization of the 25-year-old’s home country.

Creating a new style of dance in Cambodia, where older generations are hesitant to tamper with traditional culture, has not been easy. After her first performance in 2003, she received praise, criticism and confusion from her audience. “30 percent of the audience really didn’t like, the other 70 percent said it was difficult to understand,” she said. “People were saying to each other ‘What are they doing? What kind of dance she is dancing? It’s crazy!’”

Although the initial reaction to her and the other 4 women in her group was disheartening, Belle continued to pursue her passion for dance. “I promised to myself that I would continue dancing with the hope that someday my audience will love it and I will be a success,” she said.

A recent performance by Belle and her fellow dancers at Chenla theatre on May, 14, seven year after her first contemporary dance performance, shows that her resilience and hard work has indeed raised appreciation of contemporary dance in the Kingdom. The audience was an even mix of Cambodians and foreigners and Belle says that many of the Cambodians who used to complain about her modern adaptation of traditional dance have started to appreciate her vision and attend her performances.

Though many people may think that going to university to study dance will leave you with a degree and no job, Belle has shown that a passion for the arts can be profitable as well. Belle graduated from the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) in 2007 after 13 years of studying and has created various outlets for her talents. She organizes dance classes as well as private lessons to teach others to express themselves through dance and can also be seen on CTN and stages across the country performing her latest numbers. It has taken huge amounts of time and energy, but Belle is now one of the Kingdom’s great examples of artists creating a new, and commercially viable, expression of the changes in Cambodian society.

Written by: Dara Saoyuth and Vorn Makara

This article was published on Lift, Issue 22, June 9, 2010

កិច្ចពិភាក្សាក្រុមនិស្សិតស្ម័គ្រចិត្តលើមុខវិជ្ជាជំនាញ

June 9, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Feature Story, LIFT

Seven students who will be volunteering with Peace Corps/Photo by: Colin Meyn

ដោយមើលឃើញថាការបន្តការសិក្សាថ្នាក់ឧត្តមសិក្សានិងការជ្រើសរើសមុខជំនាញនៅតាម

មហាវិទ្យាល័យ គឺជាឧបសគ្គមួយដែលបានចោទឡើងចំពោះសិស្សទី១២ ទើបក្រុមនិស្សិតស្ម័គ្រចិត្តមកពីCambodian Peace Corp នឹងរៀបចំធ្វើពិពណ៌ការសិក្សា នៅក្រុងសួង ខេត្តកំពង់ចាម ដើម្បីណែនាំដល់សិស្សានុសិស្ស ឱ្យមានបទពិសោធន៏ ក៏ដូចជាចំនេះដឹងខ្លះក្នុងការជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជា។ ទស្សនាវដ្តីLiftបានចុះទៅធ្វើការពិភាក្សានិងសាកសួរក្រុមនិស្សិតស្ម័គ្រចិត្តទាំងអស់នោះ ដើម្បីចង់ដឹងពីបទពិសោធរបស់ពួកគេ និងថាតើពួកគេនឹងនាំយកបទពិសោធព្រមទាំងគំនិតល្អៗអ្វីខ្លះទៅចែករំលែកដល់សិស្សនៅក្រុងសួង ខេត្តកំពង់ចាម។

នៅពេលដែលជីវភាពគ្រួសារ សមត្ថភាពផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន និងការអនុញ្ញាតពីគ្រួសារលែងជាបញ្ហា មានន័យថាសិស្សានុសិស្សអាចមកបន្តការសិក្សានៅមហាវិទ្យាល័យបានហើយ តែទោះជាយ៉ាងនេះមែន ការសម្រេចចិត្តជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជានិងសាលាដើម្បីបន្តការសិក្សាថ្នាក់ឧត្តមសិក្សាគឺជាដំណាក់កាលលំបាកមួយសម្រាប់ពួកគេ។

នាក់ ភក្ដី សព្វថ្ងៃជានិស្សិតដែលកំពុងសិក្សាឆ្នាំទី៣ផ្នែកភាសាអង់គ្លេស នៅវិទ្យាស្ថានភាសាបរទេស បានលើកឡើងថាសិស្សភាគច្រើនមានការលំបាកក្នុងការជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជានិងសាលាដើម្បីរៀនបន្តដោយមូលហេតុថាពួកគេទទួលបានពត៌មានមិនគ្រប់គ្រាន់អំពីមុខវិជ្ជានីមួយៗ និងពត៌មានពីសាលាដែលបង្រៀនមុខវិជ្ជាទាំងនោះផងដែរ។

ដោយមានស្រុកកំណើតនៅ ឯក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ ភក្តីបានរម្លឹកឡើងវិញថាកាលពីខ្លួននៅរៀនថ្នាក់ទី១២ គេក៏មិនបានទទួលពត៌មានគ្រប់គ្រាន់ពីមុខវិជ្ជានិងសកលវិទ្យាល័យនៅទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញទេ បើទោះបីជាមានការចុះទៅផ្សព្វផ្សាយខ្លះៗក៏ដោយ។ តាមរយៈការនិយាយប្រាប់ពីមិត្តភក្តិ ភក្តីបានសម្រេចចិត្តរៀនផ្នែកសំណង់ស៊ីវិលនៅសកលវិទ្យាល័យន័រតុន ដោយពេលនោះគេនៅតែមិនទាន់ដឹងថាខ្លួនឯងស្រលាញ់មុខវិជ្ជាអ្វីច្បាស់លាស់នោះឡើយ។ ភក្តីបន្តថា “បន្ទាប់ពីការសិក្សាមួយឆ្នាំខ្ញុំក៏ស្វែងយល់ថាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលខ្លួនឯងចូលចិត្តគឺភាសាអង់គ្លេស ដូច្នេះខ្ញុំក៏សម្រេចចិត្តបោះបង់ចោលមុខវិជ្ជាសំណង់ស៊ីវិលចោល ហើយអ្វីដែលខ្ញុំខាតគឺពេលវេលាមួយឆ្នាំរៀនមុខវិជ្ជាដែលខ្លួនមិនពេញចិត្ត”។

រឿងរ៉ាវចំពោះ ឈឹមសុធារិទ្ធិ ក៏មិនខុសគ្នាពីភក្តីប៉ុន្មានដែរ។ បច្ចុប្បន្នសុធារិទ្ធកំពុងសិក្សាពីរមុខវិជ្ជាគឺមុខវិជ្ជាអក្សរសាស្រ្តអង់គ្លេសនៅIFL និងវិទ្យាសាស្រ្តកុំព្យូទ័រនៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យបៀលប្រាយ។ ថ្វីត្បិតតែសុធារិទ្ធជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជាទាំងពីរដោយការស្រលាញ់ពេញចិត្តពិតមែន តែនៅពេលដែលរើស គេក៏មិនបានដឹងថាតើមុខវិជ្ជាទាំងពីររៀនពីអ្វីខ្លះ ហើយឱកាសការងារយ៉ាងម៉េចនោះក៏មិនដឹងដែរ។

ដោយសារតែពត៌មានទាក់ទងនឹងការសិក្សាមិនត្រូវបានផ្សព្វផ្សាយទូលំទូលាយ សិស្សភាគច្រើនសម្រេចជ្រើសយកមុខវិជ្ជាសិក្សាទៅតាមការដែលពួកគេគិតថាតើមុខវិជ្ជានោះពេញនិយមឫក៏អត់។

មានមតិជាច្រើនយល់ខុសៗគ្នាអំពីមុខវិជ្ជាដែលកំពុងតែពេញនិយមនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា តួយ៉ាងភក្តីបានឱ្យដឹងថានៅក្នុងខេត្តរបស់គេផ្នែកវិទ្យាសាស្រ្តកុំព្យូរទ័រនិង ផ្នែកគ្រប់គ្រង ជាមុខវិជ្ជាពេញនិយមជាងគេព្រោះវានៅតែអាចឈរជើងបានខណៈពេលដែលមុខវិទ្យាមួយចំនួនទៀតត្រូវបានបិទដោយខ្វះសិស្សរៀន។

ចំណែកឯនៅទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ភក្តីយល់ថាមុខវិជ្ជាគណនេយ្យ ជាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលទទួលបានការពេញនិយមជាពិសេសពីសំណាក់សិស្សស្រីៗ ដោយមូលហេតុថាពួកគេសម្លឹងមើលឃើញមុខវិជ្ជានេះអាចផ្តល់ការងារឱ្យពួកគេបានស្រួលនៅពេលដែលពួកគេបញ្ចប់ការសិក្សា។

ចំនែកនិស្សិតម៉ាត់ សារី សព្វថ្ងៃជានិស្សិតឆ្នាំទី១ផ្នែកសេដ្ឋកិច្ចនៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យសេដ្ឋកិច្ចវិញយល់ថាផ្នែកសំណង់ ទទួលបានការនិយមច្រើនព្រោះសិស្សភាគច្រើនយល់ថាប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ជាប្រទេសកំពុងអភិវឌ្ឍ ដូច្នេះការសាងសង់នឹងត្រូវបានធ្វើឡើងជាបន្តបន្ទាប់ដូចជាផ្ទះធំៗ ផ្លូវថ្នល់ ស្ពានជាដើម។ តែបើតាមគំនិតរបស់សុធារិទ្ធិវិញ ផ្នែកធនាគារក៏ជាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលទទួលបានការពេញនិយមដែរ ព្រោះនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជាមានធនាគារជាច្រើនទាំងធនាគារជាតិនិងធនាគារអន្តរជាតិ ហេតុនេះហើយនិស្សិតភាគច្រើនគិតថានឹងងាយស្រួលមានការងារធ្វើនៅពេលដែលបញ្ចប់ការសិក្សាផ្នែកធនាគារ។

រីឯភោគ ផល្លីគុល សព្វថ្ងៃជានិស្សិតឆ្នាំទី៤ផ្នែកច្បាប់នៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យភូមិន្ទនីតិសាស្រ្តនិងវិទ្យាសាស្រ្តសេដ្ឋកិច្ច បែរជាយល់ថាផ្នែកអក្សរសាស្រ្តអង់គ្លេសជាមុខវិជ្ជាពេញនិយម ព្រោះនាងសង្កេតឃើញថានិស្សិតភាគច្រើនចាប់យកមុខវិជ្ជាអក្សរសាស្រ្តអង់គ្លេសទន្ទឹមគ្នានឹងមុខជំនាញមួយទៀត ដោយក្តីរំពឹងថាភាសាអង់គ្លេសជាស្ពានជួយឱ្យការសិក្សាមុខជំនាញមួយទៀតរបស់គេឆ្ពោះទៅមុខល្អ ព្រោះសម័យនេះឯកសារភាគច្រើនត្រូវបានគេសរសេរឡើងជាភាសាអង់គ្លេស។

តាមពិតទៅមុខវិជ្ជាអ្វីក៏ដោយ សុទ្ធតែល្អដូចៗគ្នាហើយអាចឱ្យមនុស្សរកប្រាក់ចំនូលបានច្រើនដូចគ្នាប្រសិនបើពួកគេចេះមុខវិជ្ជានោះច្បាស់លាស់ដូចពាក្យមួយឃ្លាពោលថា”មិនមែនមនុស្សខ្វះការងារធ្វើទេ គឺមានតែការងារទេដែលខ្វះមនុស្សទៅធ្វើ”។ ឈឹម សុធារិទ្ធ ប្រាប់ថាតាមបទពិសោធដែលគាត់ធ្លាប់ជួបជាមួយអ្នកជ្រើសរើសបុគ្គលិកនិងអ្នកស្វែងរកការងារធ្វើ គាត់សង្កេតឃើញភាពខុសប្លែកគ្នាដោយ អ្នកស្វែងរកការងារនិយាយថាពិបាកស្វែងរកការងារ តែអ្នកជ្រើសរើសបុគ្គលិកនិយាយថាពិបាកជ្រើសរើសបុគ្គលិកដែលមានសមត្ថភាពមកធ្វើការ។ សុធារិទ្ធបន្តថានេះគឺមកពីនិស្សិតមួយចំនួន ពួកគាត់រៀនដោយការមិនចូលចិត្តឫមិនដឹងថាតើពួកគេកំពុងតែរៀនអំពីអ្វីទាល់តែសោះ។

ការរើសមុខវិជ្ជាមួយឱ្យត្រឹមត្រូវ មានន័យថាបុគ្គលខ្លួនឯងយ៉ាងហោចណាស់ត្រូវតែមានការស្រលាញ់ពេញចិត្ត ចុះបើការរើសដោយខ្លួនឯងមិនពេញចិត្តនឹងមានអ្វីកើតឡើង?

នូវ គីមហៀក មកពីខេត្តកំពង់ចាម ជានិស្សិតឆ្នាំទីមួយផ្នែកធនាគារ នៅវិទ្យាស្ថាន សេដ្ឋកិច្ច និង ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ បានឱ្យដឹងថាផ្នែកសេដ្ឋកិច្ចមិនមែនជាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលនាងពេញចិត្តនោះទេ ហេតុនេះហើយទើបបណ្តាលឱ្យនាងចាប់យកមុខវិជ្ជាមួយទៀតគឺផ្នែកទំនាក់ទំនងអន្តរជាតិនៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យបញ្ញាសាស្រ្ត។ គីមហៀកថ្លែងថាសព្វថ្ងៃខ្ញុំរៀនពីរមុខ ដោយមុខវិជ្ជាសេដ្ឋកិច្ចជាមុខវិជ្ជា ដែលឪពុកម្តាយនិងបងប្អូនខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់ ឯមុខវិជ្ជាខាងទំនាក់ទំនងអន្តរជាតិទើបជាអ្វីដែលខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់។

ឈឹម សុធារិទ្ធបានលើកឡើងថាសិស្សមួយចំនួនមិនបានជ្រើសរើសរៀនមុខវិជ្ជាផ្នែកកសិកម្មឡើយ ដោយពួកគេមិនបានគិតដល់ថាសេដ្ឋកិច្ចនៃប្រទេសកម្ពុជា១ផ្នែកធំគឺពឹងផ្អែកលើវិស័យកសិកម្ម។

ឈឹម សុធារិទ្ធ បន្តទៀតថាអ្នកមួយចំនួនយល់ខុសថាការរៀនកសិកម្មពេលចប់គ្មានអាចធ្វើអ្វីបានក្រៅពីធ្វើស្រែ តែតាមពិតពួកគេអាចមានលទ្ធភាពច្រើនក្នុងការជួយដល់ខ្លួនគេនិងសហគមន៍៕

Written by: Dara Saoyuth and Koam Tivea

This article was published on Lift, Issue 22, June 9, 2010

Water and Energy for The Poor

June 2, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Feature Story, LIFT

Villagers are using thier new water pump/ Photo provided by: CRDT

Many Cambodians rely on the forest and fisheries of Cambodia for their livelihoods, but oftentimes their activities are harmful to the environment. The Cambodia Rural Development team (CRDT) is one of a number of organisations trying to halt deforestation and the destruction of natural resources. What makes CRDT different from other groups is that it was created by four university graduates from different provinces and backgrounds who share the same concerns about environmental problems.

CRDT was established in 2001 by Or Channy, Hean Pheap, Hang Vong and Sun Mao, who were seniors in the rural development department at Maharashi Vedic University. CRDT’s first project was launched in Kampong Cham province, where they built five water pumps and 15 biodigesters.

Hean Pheap said the idea of establishing this organisation came during a visit to Or Channy’s house in Kampong Cham when they saw that villagers were having problems finding firewood to cook and water to drink. “People in Channy’s village had to go 30 kilometers from their homes to find firewood for cooking and clean water to use in thier daily lives,” said Hean Pheap. “I knew how to make biogas cookers and water pumps. We talked together and decided to solve water and firewood shortage problem for the villagers,” he proudly explained.

CRDT’s vision is for “a Cambodia free of poverty and environmental degradation,” and to achieve this vision its mission is “to improve food security, incomes and living standards of subsistence rural communities while supporting environmental conservation throughout Cambodia.

Written by: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 21, June 2, 2010