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Over the years, Give a Day has proven to be a vital space for fostering connections, exchanging insights, and strengthening collaboration among ESOs, investors, NGOs, and other ecosystem actors. By 2024, Give a Day had engaged at least 1,397 participants from over 300 organizations across 31 events in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Battambang. With 95 percent of attendees expressing their willingness to participate again, the initiative continues to play an essential role in deepening trust-based relationships within the ecosystem. Give a Day 28 saw 47 participants engaging actively in the event sessions, including the panel discussion and collaborative group discussions on specific challenges.
The Give a Day 28 discussion focused on Cambodia’s young entrepreneurs and the transformative strategies required to build a robust foundation for youth-led innovation. With over 65 percent of the population under the age of 35, Cambodia holds untapped entrepreneurial potential. However, young people still face significant barriers, such as inadequate access to practical business education, limited funding channels, and a lack of structured support systems. Participants discussed these challenges and shared experiences on how ecosystem actors can work together to close the gap and create a more supportive environment.
The event featured a panel discussion on “Shaping the Future: Transformative Strategies for Cambodia’s Young Entrepreneurs,” moderated by Ms. Chy Socheata, Entrepreneurship Development Coordinator at Swisscontact. The panel discussion brought together diverse voices from across the entrepreneurial support landscape. The panelists included Mr. Pork PagnaPich, Senior Program Specialist for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Khmer Enterprise; Ms. Chem SreyOeun, Head of Corporate Affairs at Smart Axiata; and Mr. Be Chantra, Deputy Director General at the Institute of Digital Research and Innovation, Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT). Panelists emphasized the strategic importance of initiatives that support youth and aspiring entrepreneurs in cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset—one that cannot fully develop in the classroom but is most effectively shaped through real-world business exposure. Additionally, providing young entrepreneurs with opportunities to build and test their product in a low-risk environment allows them to learn, adapt, and gain confidence through practical experience. They highlighted corporate involvement and the role of academia in promoting university students' success. The panelists demonstrated how program interventions address skills gaps and empower young entrepreneurs for success.
As the second event in the 2025 series, Give a Day 28 reaffirmed the platform’s commitment to driving meaningful dialogue, fostering partnerships, and equipping Cambodia’s young entrepreneurs with the tools needed to succeed.
Give a Day is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and Khmer Enterprise (KE), and co-implemented by Khmer Enterprise (KE) and Swisscontact through the Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei) initiative.