Despite her young age, 24-year-old Likhedy is inspiring youths to participate in social work which enables them to begin from a foundation level as there is a lot of competition for opportunities these days. She said young people should pay attention to knowledge and experience first before salary, so that they have a good and balanced life.

“Everyone has the opportunity and everything is possible … for us to take up and show that it is possible. The young generation would see that and say that it is good to take action rather than miss the chance to strengthen themselves,” Likhedy shared.

Likhedy, born in Phnom Penh, obtained two bachelor degrees in 2020. She has an English-language based Bachelor of Law from Royal University of Law and Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Institute of Foreign Languages.

Likhedy has been involved with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Cambodia (KAS) since she was in year four. KAS created a programme called KAS Female Legal Network (KFLN) which selected females who studied law to participate and connect with experts, at the same time she also got an opportunity to intern as a Junior Research Associate from May to July 2020, which was the first time she joined with KAS.

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After completing that programme, she applied for another opportunity which was recommended by those who worked with her. She was accepted and took up a full-time position as a research officer at KAS. Following the retirement of one of the programme officers, Likhedy was promoted to that position which she held from December 2020 to April 2022.

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She worked hard to excel in that post as she believed that anyone would reach their goal if they were passionate about their work. At that time, KAS offered her a scholarship to do her Master’s degree in Germany. The timing was apt as she wanted to learn more about German culture and its history.

Touch Likhedy said young people should pay attention to knowledge and experience first before salary, so that they have a good and balanced life. Kiripost/supplied

“Life is all about learning. I've been in Germany since April 2022 and enrolled in my Master’s degree programme in August last year. It is a one-and-half-year programme and I’ll finish this September,” she said.

While she was there, the team at KAS headquarters needed someone who could fill in the position of policy adviser in Southeast Asia for two months.

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After she finished her mission as a policy adviser, she returned to her studies and is completing her LL.M in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at European Viadrina University. Likhedy is also a part-time student trainee, a role she would be holding from May to September 2023.

As a woman, she is pleased with her achievement in terms of her work, experience and education.

Rising above challenges

Likhedy noticed that while she was the program manager at KAS, she faced several challenges, particularly when she went to rural areas for her projects. “Many people looked at me as just a young woman, so I may not have enough experience.”

Another challenge is the balance between personal and professional communication. She had to make sure she respected people while operating at the level her position dictates when representing her organisation in a professional capacity. “I’m young and I should respect my seniors,” she reminded herself.

What about challenges at the headquarters? “I won’t say it is a challenge. It is something I have to learn along the way. I gained lots of interpersonal skills by knowing more about the outside world and exploring what is good and not good. This is called culture exchange.”

In that, Likhedy found some difference between her job with KAS in Cambodia and Germany. When she worked in Cambodia, she only focused on issues in Cambodia but at the headquarters, the work was more regional, enabling her to learn more.

Being a woman, she said her family worried about her. They care about how stressed she is and if she could deal with it. They were also concerned about the weather, given the huge difference in climate in both countries, though she allayed their fear by explaining that she was prepared for it before she went there.

In the future, she pledges to return to Cambodia because “she loves her nation”. “But the Kingdom is a developing country, and development needs skilled human resources to support [growth], which is known as a key pillar as well.”

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