grew up in cambodia, Panha LGBTQI+ people are rarely seen reflected in the world around them – not on television, not in public conversation, and not in ways that feel honest.
“When LGBTQI+ people were represented, it often didn’t feel like who we were,” she said.
That silence stayed with him.
Today, Panha is helping create the kind of visibility she was once seeking. As co-founder of Sampi TV, a digital platform dedicated to LGBTQI+ storytelling and advocacy, she is using podcasts, documentaries and online tools to start conversations many young Cambodians are still afraid to have.
“I wanted to be a part of the change,” she said.
For Panha, storytelling is more than content creation. It’s about dignity, belonging and letting young people know they are not alone.
“Storytelling is a very powerful tool,” he said. “Social media shapes how people understand the world. I believe we can use storytelling to advocate for what is right and support youth whose voices are not heard.”
Some of Sampi TV’s strongest stories are also its quietest stories. In a documentary project, LGBTQI+ youth sat down with their parents – many for the first time – to talk openly about identity, fear and acceptance. The response online was overwhelming.
“People said they felt relieved,” Panha recalled. “He hoped that maybe one day his own parents would understand him.”
The platform has also created an anonymous Khmer-language chatbot where young people can safely ask questions about relationships, HIV prevention and sexual health – topics that are deeply stigmatized in many communities.
“Some young people are afraid to ask these questions in public,” he said. “They’re worried about judgment. They’re worried about being thrown out.”
What started as a small grassroots initiative quickly grew into something huge. Their initial episodes spread quickly online, sparking debate, curiosity and conversation on social media.
people are finally talking
“Some people liked it. Some people didn’t,” Panha said. “But finally people were talking.”
Today, Sampi TV works with youth groups, volunteers and civil society organizations across Southeast Asia, including Laos and Myanmar, creating spaces where LGBTQI+ young people can feel seen, heard and supported.
In 2025, Panha was selected as one of the Young Leaders for SDGsA United Nations initiative that recognizes young changemakers who lead the way sustainable development goals. But this recognition is not personal for him.
“It’s about community,” she said. “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 ensure that storytelling and inclusion are not just words in speeches, but part of everyday life.”
