SUCCESS & INNOVATION

Ratha, originally from Kampong Thom province, is a dedicated young woman with integrity and a deep passion for learning. Dreaming big in the tech field, she overcame numerous obstacles to become a full scholarship recipient supported by KAPE. Currently, she is a fourth-year student majoring in Information Technology Engineering at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). The financial support from The Asia Foundation (TAF) through KAPE has not only eased her family's burden but also opened doors of opportunity, allowing her to pursue her beloved major and use that knowledge to give back to society.

Beyond her university studies, in April 2025, Ratha took a significant new step by becoming a part-time instructor at the Electronic Technology Engineering Center (ETEC). There, she is responsible for teaching courses on both Front-end and Back-end web development. Her curriculum covers essential programming languages such as HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript, React, PHP, and Laravel. More than just transferring technical knowledge, Ratha creates a positive and enjoyable learning environment. She constantly encourages students to ask questions and build self-confidence, believing that each of them has the potential to achieve their goals.

For Ratha, teaching is not just a job for income; it is a life mission. This experience has taught her patience and strengthened her problem-solving skills. She upholds the philosophy that "Anyone can teach, but becoming a good teacher requires true understanding and heart." To sharpen her abilities, she actively participates in weekly teacher training sessions at ETEC, which helps her strengthen both her technical skills and the soft skills needed for effective teaching.

As a young instructor, Ratha never gives up, even when facing challenges such as repetitive questions from students or a lack of focus in class. Instead, she views these obstacles as learning opportunities. She actively seeks advice from experienced colleagues and researches new strategies to cultivate critical thinking and independence in her students' learning.

Her hard work has been recognized by management. Her supervisor praised her clear and engaging teaching methods, noting her unique ability to turn complex coding lessons into easy-to-understand and interesting sessions.

Looking ahead, Ratha has ambitions to become a university professor specializing in Full-Stack Development. She stated​ that "My long-term goal is to empower more Cambodian youth, especially young women, to have the courage to pursue technology skills and build strong careers."

Finally, Ratha expressed deep gratitude to the scholarship program under the Digital Workforce Development (DWD) project, supported by The Asia Foundation and implemented by Kampuchea Action to Promote Education (KAPE). She emphasized​ that "Without this scholarship, I might not have reached this point or achieved my dreams. Teaching is not just about sharing knowledge; it is about inspiring others to discover their own potential."