Download Cambodia is scheduled to hold commune elections this June and national elections next year.
Some nine million people are registered to vote, with young people accounting for more than half of that figure.
But a 2010 survey showed that young Cambodians rarely participate in civic life, with less than 10 percent voicing their opinions publicly.
A new interactive mass media program is working to flip the situation around.
It’s called Loy9 – a slang term for ‘praise’– and is about encouraging youngsters to get out and vote.
Borin Noun meets Loy9’s high-spirited young producers in Phnom Penh.
This TV drama shows a group of young Cambodians helping the locals build roads in a rural area.
It’s a segment from the Loy9 program, which was first broadcast last month.
It’s a national mass media campaign aimed at encouraging young Cambodians to take an interest in civic life.
The first goal is to encourage young, eligible voters to have their say in this year’s election -- expected to the see the biggest turn-out of first-time voters since 1993.
The Loy9 program is broadcast twice a week on the country’s most popular commercial and cable TV channels.
Ros Marie is the chief producer of the program.
“Loy9 program has a goal to rise awareness of the young people to know their rights and duties in the society. But we cannot force them to take actions for their future. Instead we explain to them that they will have bright future if they are involved in changing the society.”
The show is also available in newspapers, online and on local radio stations.
Ani and Sokh Pheap are broadcasters from the commercial radio station FM 103.
They’re running a Loy9 phone-in program where listeners can call and express their views.
Today they’re discussing job opportunities after the completion of studies.
Cambodia has the youngest population in South East Asia, with one out of every three people aged between 15 and 30 years old.
The most popular TV show from the program is Bright Spots, a series of films about young Cambodians who have made a difference.
This film tells the story of Hout Khem.
She used to cut trees to make charcoal with her family but after seeing the trees die she decided to stop. Hout is now an environmental tour guide, setting an example for others to preserve the thick forest.
22-year old university student Chhun Ly is a big fan of the show.
“We are the core of society. We must give up negative point of view and join to change it into a positive future.”
It’s Sunday night and Srey Poa is watching the Loy9 TV program with her teenage boys.
She wants her children to be able to make good decision for themselves in the future.
“I want my sons to be good citizens of society. If they have the capacity to change the world with their knowledge, I hope that their futures will be bright. This program is really good for my sons. If they made decisions without deep thinking, that can destroy their future.”
23-year old university student Khun Thearith says the program has already broadened his perspective.
It’s not his first time to vote, but he’s ready to do it again this year.
“Young people have to put themselves as the core of family. We have to know who we are at present time and that we’re leading ourselves to the future by making social and political decisions. We have to make good decisions to reach a brighter future.”
