Cambodian youth with disabilities won gold at the 2023 Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on October 27. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Four Cambodian young people won medals at the 2023 Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC) held in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 24-28.
Seerano Johnpov received a gold medal in the eLifeMap category, a competition which measures a contestant’s skill in searching for and applying online information to help overcome daily problems.
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The team also collectively secured four bronze medals in the eContent group competition, a test of the ability to creatively produce and edit video dealing with specific topics.
The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation expressed their pride in an October 27 social media post, celebrating the accolades received by the Cambodian participants in the competition.
According to the ministry’s statement, the event saw the participation of 536 contenders from 18 nations: Cambodia, the UAE, South Korea, Pakistan, Egypt, Nepal, Mongolia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, and Indonesia.
Em Chan Makara, spokesperson for the ministry, told The Post that they welcomed the victorious youth home on the evening of October 29 at Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH).
“In the group competition, our youth achieved four bronze medals, and one among them also secured gold,” he stated.
Mak Monika, executive director of the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO), lauded the winners for elevating Cambodia’s stature on the global stage.
She expressed her congratulations, emphasising that such accomplishments illustrate Cambodia’s potential in nurturing talented youth with disabilities.
“Their victories have prominently hoisted the Cambodian flag, showcasing our capabilities to the world,” she stated.
She also voiced her hopes for broader representation in future iterations of the competition.
“I applaud our youth for their monumental achievements, but I also look forward to seeing increased participation, especially from women, in subsequent events,” she said.
She asserted that involving more women would underline the country’s commitment to both disability inclusion and gender equity.
She further expressed hope that future competitions would accommodate all forms of impairments, urging potential host countries to be considerate.
The GITC aims to amplify the information and communications technology (ICT) skills of individuals with special needs and to foster inclusive societies that are aware of their digital potential. Initiated in South Korea in 1992, GITC’s objective is to bridge the digital divide for the community. Since 2011, it has expanded its reach, encouraging disabled youths globally to pursue higher education and employment opportunities in diverse sectors, according to the ministry’s post.
