“If I See It, I Can Be It”: Using storytelling to engage the next generation of Cambodians

At first, I thought my voice didn’t matter, but after watching the show and learning from the Klahan9 SPACE team, I realised I had to try.”

— Sopun Sorn, 29, Ponley commune, Kampong Chhnang province, Cambodia

Despite Cambodia’s youthful population, many young people have historically lacked the knowledge, confidence, and opportunities to participate in civic life. Our Klahan9 SPACE project (2021–2025) addressed this gap through a multimedia initiative designed to stimulate youth participation and shift societal attitudes.

Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency Sida and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the project combined drama series (Sok San Family), digital content (Ban Der Ban Deng), social media, and community outreach to engage over 2.5 million Cambodians aged 15–55, including 1.1 million youth. It partnered with local youth organisations and the Ministry of Education to deliver content and training that resonated with young audiences.

A multi-method evaluation, including a nationally representative survey and a randomised controlled trial, found that exposure to Klahan9 SPACE increased civic knowledge and discussion of civic challenges. Highly exposed youth were more likely to attend community meetings, express views online, and engage in decision-making. The project also shifted intergenerational attitudes, with 88% of highly exposed elders supporting youth participation, compared to 55% of unexposed peers.

Importantly, Klahan9 SPACE promoted inclusion, empowering young women, non-binary individuals, and marginalised groups to take active roles in their communities. The project demonstrated that combining media storytelling with grassroots outreach can create lasting civic change at scale.