Hope; Citizen Journalist

Three years ago, I started a blog, titled “Curious and Determined.” The purpose of this blog was to share updates with friends and family on humanitarian projects, interviews and experiences. I conducted research on returned refugees in Cambodia for my Master’s degree. However, as I was deep into my research, I realized returned refugees, particularly women and girls, are suffering from many problems such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and discrimination in their village upon resettling back to their home country, Cambodia. Their stories echoed. I wanted to do something about it. I started to share their stories on my blog.

A few months ago, I fell upon PulseWire’s website. I started to read stories and profiles of women across the globe who are doing amazing things with limited resources! Then it hit me, these women inspired me and gave me hope again to do something about women and girls whom I left behind in Cambodia two years ago.

I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to use these amazing tools (Web 2.0) in order to make social change happen! I am most excited to learn new skills from other “Voices of Our Future” candidates and I would like to expand on my social networking community in the media. I look forward to share my experiences and meet new PulseWire friends. I hope to exchange ideas and receive feedback from my fellow PulseWire users.

Through using Web 2.0, I believe these tools will bring many solutions and opportunities for the women’s empowerment movement, globally. For example, up until a few months ago, I had no idea that there are women who have similar interest as me and are either already established into their projects/programs or just started to make a difference in their community and across the globe. The Web 2.0 brings women with similar interests and goals together in order to make social change not only locally but also globally. This tool is also giving women an opportunity to share their ideas and the confidence to ensure that those ideas will be put into action! Most importantly, through PulseWire providing a safe place for women to express themselves and to write their opinions and experiences, allows other like-minded people to learn and provide feedback. Through this social networking comes a strong community of women who are empowering each other, encouraging each other and working together for social change and social justice!

The Web 2.0 empowers me to believe in myself especially expressing myself through writing. Since I recently found my new passion for writing, I hope to excel as a writer and learn new skills as a journalist. Through these new skills, I hope to continue to help women and girls in Cambodia as well globally by being their voice and sharing their stories to the rest of the world.