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ROOTS & AMBITIONS
| I was born
in Takeo province the southern part of Cambodia
in 1981, two years after Pol Pot’s regime
collapsed. I was not lucky to be born in a
hospital like other people were, but under a tree
behind my grandparents’ small cottage. My
first ever journey to see the world was really
dangerous; it could take my mum’s and my
life away if we had bad luck. There were no
doctors or nurses to welcome my jouney but an old
lady, who had no medical ideas but the
traditional knowledge of getting babies out.
… I had a chance to go to school even though we were poor. … Lucky me, in 2001 I passed the entrance exam of the Department of Media and Communication (previously it was called the Department of Journalism). I am really committed to be a journalist for print media, newspaper after I graduate, but everything was changed, when in my third or fourth year, I felt that broadcast media is more useful than print. ... And that is the strength of the broadcast media since it doesn't need the reading capacity, which most Cambodians do not have. There are a lot of Cambodians in rural areas who are illiterate. I hope I can use my knowledge and experience of Media I have gained from the Department of Media and Communication to help myself and my community. |
Meas Bunly
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| Lim
Khy
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I was born in 1979 in Srey
Santhor district, Kompong Cham province. … I am interested in the Media Management course, which is new to Cambodia and I am taking the course. By doing so, I hope to assist in enhancing the country’s democratization process and upgrading social and economic growth. For the course on "How to start up a radio community instructed by Berry and Schmidt", I expected to learn both theoretical and practical aspects of starting up and how to sustain a community-based radio station that will be of help to the Cambodian community. At first we hoped to learn with the help from experts and then we hoped to work on our own when the mission of foreign donors and their priceless assistance end. And trhough the course, we sincerely hope that we would be able to achive the goal. |
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| I was born
in 1983 in Siem Reap town, Cambodia, to a middle-class
family. It was the time when Cambodia was not
recognized by the United Nations but I knew very
little then. I just remember a few restless
nights when adults were not sleeping but
gathering downstairs talking, and there were lots
of gon shots. Children were often waken up in the
middle of the night and brought downstairs to
hide in a big underground room at th back of my
house that all male adults in the family had dug.
… I am a Chinese descendent. … The experience with writing and reporting news has equipped me with broad understanding of how outsie and personal factors can influence my stories. I then would like to know how to identify those influences methodically. … These activities have given me an insight of how I want my future to be like. That is to be able to analyze media text and to involve in a research project. |
Chea Chou
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Pen Sophal
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I was born in Svay Rieng
province, Eastern part of the country. ... I have been selected to do practicum for three months at Deutsche Welle Radio, Bonn city, Germany. My aim to work in the field of radio has mainly contributed to the selection criteria of the school. I have visited Radio France International as well during my stay in Germany, which provided me broader view and experience in the field of radio. ... After this course, I would like to get more practical experience and have firm knowledge in the field of radio. I plan to design the whole programming for a station, which this course has contributed importantly to my plan. ... |
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| At first, I
did not feel interested in this course called
journalism, but then changed my mind after
hearing that it changed to media management. I
thought it would make me understand more about
the media in general rather than only journalism.
... Studying at DMC, I found many subjects interesting, but I don't think there is any focus at all on each subject, which could make me to specialize in any type of medium. It would be better if there could have had deeper study in each of those certain subjects from year one to year four, such as radio, TV, newspaper, advertising, or research. Anyway, after graduating I want to work in the field of communication/PR officer for any NGOs, or in advertising agency. |
Hay Pharrin
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Peou Chivoin
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When DMC was established in
2001, I was fortunate to be one of the first
people to receive university eduction in media.
… In 2001, I was selectd by the university to represent Cambodia and present a paper about my vision of future ASEAN at the ASEAN Young Speakers Forum, at ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, and I was awarded National Young Best Speaker. This was a small but inspiring step for me to build my confidence. … My future goal is to become an educator and researcher in media field. However, I am not satisfied with my present education, and I feel compelled to learn more about the field of media. Therefore, I plan to apply for a scholarship for master degree abroad once I graduate. |
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| My ever-dreamed
job is to work for either big or small
international organizations, which deal with
helping poor people by providing them education,
general knowledge on how to operate their own
businsses, proper living, productive health, and
technial support. When I get bored of working in the field I will find job in the permanent office such as communication or advocacy officer for either company or organization. If I have enough experience, I also want to work as press and public affairs officer in any embassy. |
Kim Molyda
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Men Uon Malis
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I was born in 1981 in Takeo
province, the Southern part of Cambodia. ... I am the fourth among five sisters and two more brothers. In 1986, I first attended a rural primary school called Ang Prei, after that Ang Prei Junior High School in 1991. Completing the junior high school there at that time was really challenging, for only two students passed entrance exam to high school. It was in 1994, that I started to understand the bit meaning of life because the High School was not available anymore in my region. So I was sent to live with the monks at Takeo town centre. ... I found out that English is my desired point of interest. ... In 1988, I passed an entrance exam to Phnom Penh Pedagogy Centre majored in English-Khmer... In 2000, I was employed by the ministry of education. In 2001, I passed the entrance exam to the very new founded Department of Media and Communication under the umbrella of the Royal University of Phnom Penh. ... I like this subject of the study because it is the new one in Cambodia and I hope to gain much more deeper knowledge on communication and media in this used-to-be war torn and developing country. |
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| To me, the knowledge and practical experience from DMC is priceless. The media course helps broaden my horizon and exposes me to good job opportunities. Actually, I have started my career since I am doing the media course. I have been a reporter for Radio Australia since late 2004. Then, in April 2005, I became a producer for youth call-in program called ‘Really!’ in FM 103 sponsored by BBC World Service Trust. Thus, I need to do my best in fulfilling my study as well as my jobs. Moreover, my ambition is to get a master degree in media field like Public Relation or Radio/TV production. Hopefully, my working experience will qualify me for a scholarship abroad. | Seng Bopha
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Chhim Sopheark
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I was born in 1978 as the
first child to a poor couple in Prey Veng
province Southeast of Cambodia, a bit later after
the brutal Pol Pot’s regime was toppled by
the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. … With its emergence from civil wars for decades, Cambodian people need information about their communities so that they can make informed decisions to better their social and economic lives as well as to build up a strong community. |
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| Born in the
year of the goat and after the regime of Pol Pot,
I was named That Bunheng. My name, in Khmer means
lucky, I was named after my uncle who was
brilliant but was killed during the darkest
regime. … The poor life has provided me lots of best experiences, which I had never expected, especially I have learned a lot from my parents who have tried hard to raise their children and make them become the good people for society. … In 2003, I became a teacher at Hunsen Teacher Training Centre in Kandal Province where I teach teaching methodology and psychology to teacher trainees for secondry school teachers. I liked it so much as since I was young I dreamed to be a teacher to provide education the following youth of Cambodia. However, my dream started to change since I joined the Department of Media and Communication in 2001. … But difficulty always stay with me. I have to work to support my living. I spend nearly half of my time working for money. But as my experience I think media work is like artistic work. Creativity is the principle. So one should not just study the theory but they should be most engaged in the practical experience. |
That Bunheng
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Mom Chantara Soleil
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I want to be the founder of an NGO that povides various types of media services, especially TV and Radio to the poor. I am not the fist person to love this area. Nevertheless, I will make the best of my knowledge to bring about professional designed programmes for these two tools of communication. I am positive about what I am pursuing for the fact that I have teamed up with my classmates (6 persons including me). We have been so far working on two projects of GTZ/FSNPSP (German Development Cooperation / Food Security and Nutrition Policy Support Project) and World Vision Cambodia. In so doing, we can save up some money together. Though it is just a small amount, this money is vital in that it will be a solid tie for every member after our graduation. To put it another way, the money is not enough to yet to live our dream. We six have to hunt for jobs after we graduate from the department. We will need at least 2 or 3 years to accumulate experiences as well as to save up more money. Small as it is, the first saved-up amount will bring us together after 2 or 3 years and by then we will be capable enough to step further towards our goal - we are experienced and somewhat well financed in order to assure self-sustainability for our dream NGO. ... |
| This
could be the driving force on the road to local
radio in Cambodia! Thank you! Klaus Juergen Schmidt |