Ms. Thoeun Sophea is the street vendor who sell coffee and other drinks at Sunsky market nearby garment and textile factory at Sangkat Chomchao3, Khan Posenchey, PhnomPenh. As the widow, Sophea has two son one is 14 years old who live with Platin decorator and the other one is 2 years old who is currently stay with her at her rent room with 4mx3m at above location. As the 2nd daughter in her family with 4 brothers and sisters in which she was cheat by members of family through she trying to earn money for paying dept for her parent and buying a plot of land with her brothers and sisters. Sophea met many challenges in her life and become poor and at end her husband was left.
However, in August 2021 API, CPDD and Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA) partner in implementing the Voice and Action of Young Women Leaders and Entrepreneurs Funded by USAID through PACT Cambodia, organized “Policy Advocacy Training” to YWE street vendors via E-learning platform. The capacity building aimed to train to YWE street vendors in order to improve the knowledge and skills on policy advocacy so that they are enable to address the challenges and issues of informal economic and entrepreneurship in Cambodia. Additionally, they also able to identify the existing holders for solving the community issues and their networks, and increased skills development of advocacy message and one minute on issues.
As a result of policy advocacy training program, Sophea increased knowledges on socio-economic rights, facilitation skill, how to advocate for issues of herself and her community, and she became one of ToT member who responsible to facilitate the echo training to other street vendors. Since, Sophea had opportunity to join the above-mentioned activities, she become stronger and more warmly, so she feels more confident in dealing with current and future challenges.