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    • Our History

    Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA) was established by a group of Cambodian Indigenous Students in Phnom Penh in 2005 and was officially recognized by the Royal Government of Cambodia in 2008 with support from HBF. It is the first organization established for indigenous youth and the third indigenous organization established in Cambodia. The original purpose of the development of CIYA was to mobilize indigenous youth as a strong group in which the members could help support each other by acting as a social network in the city, as well as to build their capacity towards working as indigenous community development workers in the future. As the number of indigenous students in Phnom Penh increase, the members of CIYA also increase which also expands out to the provinces, particularly in North and Northeast Cambodia. CIYA has more than 100 members, approximately 30 of which are involved in all CIYA activities and the remainders are based and work in the provincial areas. From 2009, with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF), CIYA was granted an office work area and a strong operation unit to support to the association programs and its members. International and national consultants have been recruited to help this new organization develop its own strategies with full participation from its members and partner organization, such as the NGO Forum, CLEC, UNDP, ILO, ICSO, MVI, VFC, etc.

    The Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA) is the first indigenous youth establishment in Cambodia. CIYA was founded by a group of indigenous people’s students1 who came to continue their education in Phnom Penh in 2005 and in 2006 there are more founder 2 have joined to develop this newly association.

    The purpose of the stablemen is to help indigenous people’s youth to have a higher education for the human resources of indigenous people. In the same time, CIYA also working to encourage indigenous people students at the communities to keep continue their study and find the possibility to support the needs of the target communities. During the time of an establishment, Mr. Nun Sokunthea was a team representative and then Mr. Noun Kosal. CIYA is officially registered with Ministry of Interior (MOI) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with registration number 1169 Sor. Chor. Nor. on 23 September 2008. Since then, a few CIYA’s President have been change and come to manage CIYA like Mr. Nok Ven from 2008 to 20093, Mr. Pheap Sochea from 2010 to 2015, Mr. Choem Samut from 2015 to 2016 and Mr. Ngach Samin from 2017 to 2019. As elected in March 2019, Mr. Nun Sokunthea will take the role as a President of CIYA from July 2019 to March 2025. From April 2025 to April 2028 is under Mr. Romam Blen’s leadership as the president.

    CIYA is currently focusing on helping to improve indigenous youth’s access to education and abilities to gain further professional experience, whilst still upholding the importance of their custom and traditions. This includes schemes such as seeking university scholarship opportunities for CIYA members as well as program internship placements at other non-governmental organizations, helping to increase the level of participation and completion of primary and secondary school by indigenous youths in the provinces. Moreover, CIYA also working to advocate indigenous people’s rights to be fully recognized by the government and their policies, help indigenous people maintain their identities, native language, culture, beliefs and custom which will collectively contribute towards helping to improve their livelihoods.