New site aims to mentor youth
SINCE he was a university student, Ou Ritthy has been an advocate for qualities that Cambodian politics generally lack – in his own words, “dialogue, political debate, policy debate and tolerance”.
Seven years ago, Ritthy founded Politikoffee, a popular political discussion group that has established itself as the premier venue to discuss and debate Cambodia’s political situation.
Now he is hoping that his newest program, a professional mentorship platform called Sour Mouy that Ritthy launched last month, will enjoy similar success.
Sour Mouy, which roughly translates to “ask a question”, is a website that connects young people with mentors who can guide them through the process of choosing a university major, applying for a scholarship to study abroad or starting a new job.
“It is a platform where I can connect youth with people in the city, rural areas, and even abroad,” Ritthy said. “Anyone can register as a member.You go to the website and choose a mentor, and then you can ask questions.”
The site already has more than 100 members, and its mentors include professors, NGO officers and industry leaders.
It’s a change of focus for Ritthy, but he insists that political and professional development are really two sides of the same coin, with both necessary for Cambodia’s future.
“I am equally interested in youth in politics and youth in