Panha grew up in Cambodia rarely seeing LGBTQI+ people represented in ways that felt authentic, leaving her with a sense of silence and invisibility. Today, she is working to change that as co‑founder of Sampi TV, a digital platform dedicated to LGBTQI+ storytelling and advocacy. Through podcasts, documentaries, and online tools, she is opening conversations that many young Cambodians still feel afraid to have.
For Panha, storytelling is more than content creation; it is about dignity, belonging, and letting young people know they are not alone. One of Sampi TV’s most impactful projects involved LGBTQI+ youth speaking openly with their parents for the first time about identity and acceptance, sparking overwhelming responses of hope and relief online. The platform also developed an anonymous Khmer‑language chatbot where young people can safely ask questions about relationships, HIV prevention, and sexual health, addressing subjects that remain deeply stigmatized.
What began as a grassroots initiative quickly grew, with early episodes spreading rapidly across social media and sparking debate. Panha noted that while reactions were mixed, people were finally talking — a breakthrough in itself. Today, Sampi TV collaborates with youth groups, volunteers, and civil society organizations across Southeast Asia, including Laos and Myanmar, to build spaces where LGBTQI+ youth can feel seen and supported.
In 2025, Panha was recognized as one of the Young Leaders for the SDGs, an honor she views not as personal but as a reflection of her community’s resilience and dreams. Her goal is to serve as a messenger for young people whose voices are often unheard, ensuring that inclusion and visibility become part of everyday life rather than just words in speeches.
Looking ahead, Panha hopes to expand Sampi TV’s reach across the region, continuing to advocate for dignity, representation, and the transformative power of storytelling in advancing social change.
