Innovative Civic Engagement Mechanisms Addressing Youth Needs with The Government at The Sub-National Level
Based on USAID’s WE Act’s geographic landscape assessment, there is a demand for youth engagement in Kampong Cham. However, there are three main issues including 1) Limited participation of youth in local development planning, 2) Youth’s limited knowledge of sub-national planning and sub-national democratic development, and 3) Currently no constructive dialogue platform that enables youth to participate in civic engagement.
With support from USAID through Pact’s WE Act project, Action for Development (AFD) has implemented the project “Youth Leadership to Promote Responsive Governance and Entrepreneurship” to continue to strengthen youth engagement with local authorities, government line departments, and networks for following up on issues related to social protection (IDs poor) through engagement youth efforts work closely with Sangkats, joint and share the youth and the communities needs in difference constructive dialogue, volunteer support with authorities in any event as well Kampong Cham festival ceremony, and implemented initiative idea that all common issue get positive responded from all four Sangkats of Kampong Cham municipality, Kampong Cham province.
I’m delighted to join as a volunteer youth. I dare to speak publicly with the authorities and stakeholders about the needs of youth and bring the community issues found to a positive response from decision markers at the sub-national level. In fact, we worked as a team to exercise our rights by obtaining the names of the poor families found in the Sangkat. Now all Sangkats have visited and issued responsible responses to the poor families. Especially, Sangkats have made those names a priority in the process of giving poor cards as instructed by the Ministry. From this good practice, I strongly commit to continue to share and work with other youth and my community for promoting a better society” said Miss. Heng Pichivichara is a 16-year-old youth leader from Sangkat Kampong Cham .
AFD successfully organized a handover ceremony to officially transfer the youth group to work along the side with the communes to improve civic engagement in the development of the Sangkats in Kampong Cham province.
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