Ya Dane Phoung (Dane) is an 18-year-old university student in Phnom Penh, living with her parents and younger sister. Today, she is in her second year at the American University of Phnom Penh, studying Cyber Security, a path shaped not only by ambition, but by purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before joining AusCam, Dane was like many high-achieving students, focused on her studies, committed to good grades, and largely disconnected from life beyond the classroom. Volunteering and community work were not part of her world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That began to change in Grade 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She noticed something different about her friend Mearodey, an AusCam scholarship student and Safe Sister. She saw confidence, leadership, and a deep commitment to helping others, qualities that made her curious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI asked her where she volunteered, and she told me about AusCam,\u201d Dane shared. \u201cI asked many questions, and then I decided to join Glow Club.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through Glow Club, Dane discovered more than new skills, she discovered a sense of purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the first time, she began to understand how she could contribute to her community, and how those experiences could shape who she was becoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel so happy to be part of this work because it makes me feel like I can create an impact on society,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After completing the program, Dane continued her journey by becoming a Safe Sister. Through digital training and community engagement, she developed practical skills alongside growing confidence, learning not just to participate, but to lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Grade 12, Dane set her sights high, hoping to achieve top results in her national exams. When she received a B grade instead, the disappointment was overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI cried\u2026 my tears were full of sadness, disappointment, and anger,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But instead of allowing this moment to define her, Dane chose to see it differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She began applying for scholarships, pushing forward despite her doubts. Her determination paid off. She was accepted into multiple programs and ultimately received a 100% scholarship to the American University of Phnom Penh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through career counselling, she also gained clarity about her future direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While she had once imagined studying International Relations, she began to see the growing importance of technology, and the risks many people face without understanding how to protect themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople live with technology, but most don\u2019t know how to protect themselves from its harm,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s one reason I chose Cyber Security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This experience also reshaped how she viewed success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI realised that grades are only one part of life,\u201d she reflected. \u201cWhen I applied for scholarships, they wanted to know about my experiences, especially my community work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since then, Dane has become deeply involved in leadership and community initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through AusCam\u2019s Glow Club, she joined the Girl Ambassador Committee, where she helped establish a child protection committee at her school, creating a safe pathway for children to report abuse and access support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her leadership continued to grow beyond AusCam. While still early in her university journey, she has taken on multiple roles, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through each of these roles, Dane is building confidence, expanding her voice, and strengthening her ability to lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yane\u2019s passion for creating impact also extends into innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together with her team, she won first place in a technology challenge for developing \u201cKon App\u201d, a digital platform designed to support users, particularly pregnant women, with essential health information and access to medical services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a powerful example of how her skills and values are coming together, using technology not just as a career path, but as a tool for social good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking back, Dane sees AusCam as the beginning of a much bigger journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI want to thank AusCam because it was my first step into a bigger world,\u201d she said. \u201cIt changed me into an active young person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her story is a reflection of what happens when a young woman is given the opportunity not only to learn, but to lead, contribute, and create change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ya Dane Phoung (Dane) is an 18-year-old university student in Phnom Penh, living with her parents and younger sister. Today, she is in her second year at the American University of Phnom Penh, studying Cyber Security, a path shaped not only by ambition, but by purpose. Before joining AusCam, Dane was like many high-achieving students, […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1962,"featured_media":8121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,25,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-girls-empowerment","category-our-stories","category-youth-leadership"],"yoast_head":"\n