FNF Sponsors Workshops on Self-Development for Cambodia Students

By FNF Cambodia Programme Manager Khim Sophanna

“Even though we have reached our goal, we can still lose it in one day if we have no morality and commitment to continue or maintain it,” said a successful medical professional and guest speaker at the workshop “Self-Development for Changes” sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

“There are no failures, only learning experiences,” said Ly Srey Vyna, a 40-year-old medical doctor and an elected MP from the Sam Rainsy Party. Born to a poor family, she was a diligent student and won a scholarship to study medicine in Poland for eight years. Returning to Cambodia, she opened three clinics and shared her life experiences with fellow Cambodians.

As a mother of five and a full-time career professional, she has to juggle between roles. Attributing her success to being optimistic, open-minded and responsible, she said only through education could people be changed. Of the three sources of education--parents, society and oneself—she believed self-education is the most important and effective way to succeed in life.

A total of 58 people attended the workshop on 6 June 2009 at Cambodiana Hotel in Phnom Penh. The workshop was the result of the cooperation between the FNF and the Citizen Action Net for Social Development (CAN). Participants included teachers and students from several educational institutions and universities. The event was one among a number of liberal programmes that the FNF conducted with the aim of promoting self-reliance, which is a basic ingredient of liberal democracy.

CAN Secretary Kok Tha served as the facilitator for the one-day workshop. He began the day with a round of self-introduction by asking each participant to write down on a piece of paper a reflection of his or her personality, future goals and relevant experiences. After that the participants took turns reading out what they wrote and got to know each other.

Mrs. Ly Srey Vyna gave a speech about her achievement and how she worked to earn it.
After that, FNF Cambodia Programme Assistant Neang Sovathana asked the participants to team up in groups and list reasons for their personal successes and failures. The idea behind this group assignment and later presentation is that everyone has personal lessons to share and everyone can learn from the others’ real-life experiences.

Dr. Yang Saing Koma, CAN chairman, led a discussion on the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. “We need to change our habit in order to become a different person with a different level of development,” he said. Dr. Yang gave many examples of famous people who dared to change themselves, practiced theses habits and became successful in the chosen fields.

Towards the end of the programme, the participants were asked to draft a list of things that they are willing and committed to do for personal development after leaving this workshop.
They also wrote down their impression of the workshop, including what they learned today. These papers would be used as feedback materials for improving future self-development workshops.

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