Turning silence into stories: Cambodian activist amplifies LGBTQI+ youth voices

Growing up in Cambodia, Panha rarely saw LGBTQI+ people reflected in the world around her - not in television, not in public conversations, and not in ways that felt honest.

"When LGBTQI+ people were represented, it often did not feel truthful to who we are," she said.

That silence stayed with her.

Today, Panha is helping create the kind of visibility she once searched for. As co-founder of Sampi TV, a digital platform dedicated to LGBTQI+ storytelling and advocacy, she is using podcasts, documentaries and online tools to open conversations many young Cambodians still feel afraid to have.

"I wanted to be part of the change," she said.

For Panha, storytelling is more than content creation. It is about dignity, belonging and letting young people know they are not alone.

"Storytelling is a very powerful tool," she said. "Social media shapes how people understand the world. I believe we can use storytelling to advocate for what is right and support young people whose voices are not heard."

Some of Sampi TV's most powerful stories are also its quietest. In one documentary project, LGBTQI+ young people sat down with their parents - many for the first time - to speak openly about identity, fear and acceptance. The response online was overwhelming.

"People said they felt relief," Panha recalled. "They felt hopeful that maybe one day their own parents could understand them too."

The platform also created an anonymous Khmer-language chatbot where young people can safely ask questions about relationships, HIV prevention and sexual health - subjects that remain deeply stigmatized in many communities.

"Some young people are too afraid to ask these questions publicly," she said. "They worry about judgement. They worry about being outed."

What began as a small grassroots initiative quickly grew into something much bigger. Their early episodes spread rapidly online, sparking debate, curiosity and conversation across social media.

People finally talking

"Some people liked it. Some people did not," Panha said. "But people were finally talking."

Today, Sampi TV works with youth groups, volunteers and civil society organizations across Southeast Asia, including Laos and Myanmar, building spaces where LGBTQI+ young people can feel seen, heard and supported.

In 2025, Panha was selected as one of the Young Leaders for the SDGs, a United Nations initiative recognizing young changemakers advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. But for her, the recognition is not personal.

"It is about the community," she said. "The young people who have big dreams, but whose voices are often unheard. I hope I can be a messenger for them."

Over the next two years, Panha hopes to expand Sampi TV's reach across the region while continuing to advocate for inclusion, dignity and visibility.

"My goal," she said, "is to make sure storytelling and inclusion are not just words in speeches, but part of everyday life."