Coming from a lower-middle income family residing in a small village in northwest part of Cambodia, Siem Reap, 25-year old Savong Chreub is now a sophomore attending a university in her hometown. She is one of the two members in the family who is pursuing higher education. Having the opportunity for higher education is not common among low-income families who struggle to make ends meet, where girls will be mostly to be pulled out from school to help the family earn a living.
Chreub is a bright and enthusiastic young woman. Not only is she dedicated to her studies, but she also volunteers passionately for the NGO. As the second child in her family to pursue higher education, Chreub is determined to break the barriers that hold back many in her community. Despite being one of five siblings, she is determined to pave her own path and achieve her dreams.
Her journey towards becoming an Education Champion, youth-led social media advocator, began at a Siem Reap Education Support Team (SEST) quarterly meeting where the discussion centered on education issues, particularly focusing on teaching methods. It was there that Chreub's eyes were opened to the concept of gender responsiveness in teaching. She couldn't help but reflect on the shortcomings she had observed in the education system. Gender responsiveness was lacking in the teaching methods and there clearly were inequalities within the classroom. "When I was in high school, a teacher mocked me for not performing well in the classroom. I acknowledge that I may not be the smartest learner. However, instead of making fun of me in front of the class, she should have given more support and attention to me in her lessons," she expressed. She emphasized that "teachers should try to understand the needs and support students without judgement regardless of gender, background, race, or capability." Additionally, she observed her classmates have been called mean names based on their sexual orientations or class performance.
Chreub joined the NGO Education Partnership (NEP) as an Education Champion, leveraging social media to advocate for gender responsiveness in teaching and learning. Despite facing initial difficulties due to her limited knowledge beyond personal experience, she dedicated hours to learning from education policies, strategic plans, research papers, and reports. She knew that to effectively advocate for change, she needed to have a strong understanding of the issues at hand.
For three months straight, Chreub actively created content on social media, raising awareness about the importance of gender-responsive teaching. Her passion and commitment led her to actively participate in discussions with SEST members during quarterly meetings and other educational events.
Chreub acknowledged that the issue might not be fully addressed yet, but her efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Teachers and friends began to pay attention. They engaged with her social media campaign, seeking to learn more about gender-responsive teaching. Additionally, Chreub finds joy in echoing the concerns surrounding this issue. She believes it has a profound impact on students, constraining their ability to unlock their full potential.
As part of its main objectives of building up education stakeholders’ capacity in advocacy efforts, the youth engagement activity that Chreub has enthusiastically led has incorporated more perspectives of gender related issues in education and how youth could start taking part in tackling challenges that affect them. NEP's implementation of "Promoting access to quality and inclusive education for all through public advocacy campaigns" encourages youth like Chreub to advocate for change in education, promoting equality and quality education for all. Chreub's journey exemplifies the power of a single voice in initiating conversations and driving positive change in the area of education.
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