A leadership development program for youth to create effective and innovative community-based solutions
youth from Phnom Penh and Battambang
challenges to inspire social impact solutions
Matching youth leaders with women entrepreneurs
What happens when you bring together youth and entrepreneurs to solve a common issue? In Changemakers: Social Incubator, 48 youth from Phnom Penh and Battambang came together to design and implement project-based solutions to 3 challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Battambang.
Supported by dozens of hours of one-on-one mentoring, a field trip, learning workshops, and seed funding, the teams brought their ideas to fruition: creating an entrepreneurs club in Battambang, creating a promotional campaign for local handicrafts, and creating a practical booklet for food producers on getting products into local supermarkets.
Not only did the teams successfully implement inspiring projects, but the program built their leadership skills, fostered civic engagement, and demonstrated the power of youth to create effective, innovative solutions to local problems.
Impact Journey
1. Challenges Selection
We worked with 3 women entrepreneurs from Battambang to design 3 topic challenges they’ve been facing as an entrepreneur in their community/sector.
2. Hackathon
We brought together 48 youth to “hack” the challenge over three intensive, fun days that also included skill-building workshops and ideation activities. 3 solutions were chosen.
3. Immersion Field Trip
To get started on their projects, each awarded team went on an immersion field trip to connect with and understand the needs of the communities that their project is trying to serve.
4. Mentoring
Throughout the three-month project implementation journey, teams received mentoring support and peer-to-peer meeting activities.
5. Social Project Implementation
Ultimately, the three teams successfully implemented their projects, putting into action the skills they learned along the way.
6. Closing Showcase
Our changemakers got to present their projects and recommendations to local authorities and other stakeholders in Battambang.
“The program gave me a chance to speak and share my opinion and ideas with other people; it was a safe space for me. I’ve improved my public speaking skills and confidence. It was my first time receiving constructive feedback as most people before would never really give me comments. The mentors’ feedback showed me how to be a better person.”
Awardee of the Changemakers Social Incubator Program
Meet the inspiring changemakers
Rong Dambanh
Rong Dambanh
Rong Dambanh team led a successful online campaign to promote Cambodian handicrafts and connect local producers to share experiences. They also organized an in-person handicraft workshop and exhibition.
Gal-Incubator
Gal-Incubator
Gal-Incubator was a project to provide information (through a mini-booklet in Khmer language and a full-day workshop) for local food producers in Battambang to help them understand how to sell their products in a supermarket.
V-SHIP
V-SHIP
V-SHIP created a community club for young entrepreneurs in Battambang to get support and connect with like-minded people, providing a safe space and emotional support for members to share openly.
Behind-the-Scenes: The Hackathon
Linda's Story
Tony Linda joined the Changemaker Social Incubator as a university student and formed a team of 5 female youth. Their project’s mission: to help local food producers in Battambang access information and networks so they can get their products into supermarkets.
In 10 weeks, Linda and her team created a mini booklet in Khmer and ran a full-day event for 60+ local food producers to build connections with each other, learn from experts in the field, connect with relevant local authorities, and provide them a space to exhibit their product.
Says Linda, “I want to learn how to create entrepreneurship programs and share what I have learned about the topic to my community.”
Our Partners
