UNICEF Cambodia and Impact Hub Phnom Penh hosted the Generation Future 2025 Demo Day and Exhibition on 29 November, celebrating the achievements of over 100 young Cambodian changemakers from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Over the past six months, these young leaders developed entrepreneurship skills to design and implement social community solutions aimed at creating a more inclusive and innovative Cambodia. The event showcased 15 social innovation solutions, with three standout projects receiving an additional US$1,000 in seed funding to further develop and scale their initiatives. The selected projects include Empower Girls, which encourages young girls to pursue STEM through a guidebook and tech box; Super Mom, which supports the mental well-being of pregnant women through a tracking calendar with nutrition tips; and Hyper Healer, which uses motivational flashcards to reduce mental load and facilitate peer-to-peer reflection.
Generation Future aims to address the limited opportunities for Cambodian youth to develop their potential and exercise their right to participation. The programme equips participants with entrepreneurship skills and mindsets that foster personal growth and future livelihoods, particularly focusing on youth with the least access to learning and participation opportunities. By empowering young people to lead and innovate, the initiative helps them recognize their potential and take active roles in their communities. Dr. Will Parks, UNICEF Cambodia Representative, highlighted the courage and creativity of the cohort in driving inclusive and sustainable change across the country.
Throughout the programme, participants experienced hands-on learning, co-creation, and teamwork. Thon Rithysochen, Innovation and Education Programme Manager at Impact Hub Phnom Penh, emphasized how the journey transformed participants from strangers into a united team, allowing them to navigate challenges, celebrate achievements, and uncover new strengths. The immersive process demonstrated the power of youth leadership and social innovation when young people are given space to experiment and implement ideas.
After a two-year hiatus, Generation Future resumed in 2025 with UNICEF partnering with Impact Hub Phnom Penh. The programme began with two intensive social hackathons attended by over 150 youth, from which 105 participants were selected and organized into 15 teams. These teams received bootcamps, field visits, online courses, masterclasses, coaching, mentoring, and seed funding to implement projects across diverse topics, including menstrual hygiene, climate action, mental health, domestic violence, sexual and reproductive health, life skills, STEM and digital education, and youth civic engagement. The programme aims to cultivate a generation of young Cambodian changemakers driving meaningful social impact.
