In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, First Lady Dr Pich Chanmony officially launched the “10,000 Riel, 10,000 People” Campaign 2026 while meeting with members of the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation’s support committee and private sector donors who continue contributing to the foundation’s humanitarian mission. The campaign aims to encourage nationwide participation in supporting Kantha Bopha Hospitals, which provide free healthcare services to mothers and children across the country.

During the ceremony, Dr Chanmony, who serves as the Honorary President of the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation, conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Hun Manet to all guests and participants attending the event. She also expressed sincere gratitude to ministries, institutions, development partners, private companies, and Cambodian citizens for their ongoing support through both financial donations and volunteer contributions.

National Unity Through Charity

In her remarks, Dr Chanmony highlighted the strong spirit of solidarity among Cambodian people, noting that public participation in the campaign reflects a culture of compassion and mutual support. She stated that “regardless of time or place, Cambodians always care for and help one another.”

The campaign was launched in celebration of International Children’s Day and aims to inspire charitable activities across all sectors of society. Students, civil servants, private institutions, and Cambodian communities living both inside and outside the country are being encouraged to take part in supporting the foundation’s work.

Organisers believe the campaign represents more than fundraising alone. It also serves as a national movement promoting the spirit of “Khmer helping Khmer” while strengthening social responsibility throughout the country.

Supporting Cambodia’s Children and Families

This year’s campaign carries the theme: “No matter the circumstances, Cambodians continue to help Cambodians.”

Dr Chanmony expressed hope that the “10,000 Riel, 10,000 People” initiative would become one of Cambodia’s major annual national events. She said wider public participation would help ensure the long term sustainability of Kantha Bopha Hospitals, which continue providing high quality healthcare services free of charge and without discrimination.

The hospitals play a critical role in caring for mothers, infants, and children, especially those from poor and vulnerable families who rely heavily on accessible medical treatment. Through continued donations and public support, the foundation hopes to maintain and expand these essential healthcare services for future generations.

Growing Public and Private Sector Support

The launch event also highlighted the growing partnership between the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation and the private sector. Businesses and development partners continue to contribute resources and financial assistance to strengthen Cambodia’s healthcare system and support child welfare programs.

Many supporters view the campaign as a meaningful opportunity for individuals and organisations to contribute directly to improving healthcare access for children across the country. Organisers are optimistic that stronger public awareness and participation will help the campaign grow significantly in the coming years.

Conclusion

The launch of the “10,000 Riel, 10,000 People” Campaign 2026 reflects Cambodia’s continuing commitment to supporting vulnerable children and families through collective action and national solidarity. Led by First Lady Dr Pich Chanmony, the initiative encourages people from all walks of life to contribute toward the sustainability of Kantha Bopha Hospitals and ensure free healthcare remains available for future generations. As the campaign expands nationwide, it also reinforces the enduring spirit of compassion and unity among Cambodians.

Cambodia’s ‘National Reckoning’ Day Aims to Keep History Alive. The Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, widely known as Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, is preparing to hold a “National Reckoning” event at the National Olympic Stadium to encourage young Cambodians to better understand the country’s painful history and use those lessons to help shape a stronger future. The programme, led by Hun Many, focuses on remembering Cambodia’s past struggles while promoting peace, unity, patriotism, and social responsibility.

According to organisers, the event is designed to help younger generations reflect on the nation’s journey without encouraging hatred, division, or revenge.

What Is ‘National Reckoning’ Day?

The “National Reckoning” initiative is being organised under the theme of remembering the past to protect the future. The event seeks to honour the suffering, losses, and hardships endured by the Cambodian people throughout decades of war, conflict, and instability. Organisers say the goal is not to reopen old wounds, but to ensure history is remembered in a meaningful and constructive way.

The Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia explained that historical awareness can inspire young people to value peace and strengthen their commitment to protecting national unity. Cambodia experienced years of internal conflict and genocidal rule before achieving peace and political stability in the late 1990s. By preserving those memories, organisers hope future generations will better understand the importance of safeguarding peace and sovereignty.

Why Does It Matter for Cambodia’s Youth?

According to academic philosopher Chhort Bunthang from the Royal Academy of Cambodia, understanding history plays a major role in shaping national identity and helping young people develop morally, socially, and politically. He believes that educating youth about the country’s past can help prevent them from being influenced by extremism, hatred, or social division.

“When all Cambodians participate in promoting, guiding, educating and appreciating the spirit of patriotism, the patriotic consciousness of the youth will continue to grow,” he said.

Bunthang also encouraged broader participation from students and youth groups across different institutions so that discussions about history and social responsibility become more inclusive and impactful. He stressed that national awareness should not only celebrate Cambodia’s achievements but also acknowledge past mistakes and weaknesses.

Turning Historical Pain Into National Strength

Bunthang urged organisers to present Cambodia’s history honestly, including both positive and painful chapters from the pre colonial period to modern times. He said younger generations should learn which values deserve protection and which failures must never be repeated.

“Remembering the pain of the past caused by internal divisions, conflicts, corruption, disrespect for laws, or the ambitions of neighbouring countries to invade are lessons that must be transformed into struggle, effort, capacity building and determination,” he said.

He added that Cambodia’s commitment to peace should never lead to complacency. Instead, historical experiences should motivate citizens to continue protecting the nation’s independence and sovereignty. Bunthang also warned against the distortion of historical facts, saying that relying too heavily on outside interpretations of Cambodian history could weaken national pride and identity among younger generations.

Preserving Identity Through Historical Memory

The discussion surrounding “National Reckoning” Day reflects a larger effort to preserve Cambodia’s collective memory at a time when many young people are growing up far removed from the country’s most difficult periods. Organisers believe remembering the past is essential to ensuring future generations appreciate the value of peace, tolerance, and national unity.

The event also carries an important message that Cambodia’s painful history should never be used to fuel revenge or discrimination. Instead, it should encourage citizens to work together toward a more stable and united future while rejecting extremism in all forms.

Conclusion

Cambodia’s “National Reckoning” Day is more than a historical remembrance event. It is an effort to help young people understand where the country has come from and why peace and unity remain essential for the nation’s future. By encouraging open discussions about history, patriotism, and responsibility, organisers hope to transform painful memories into lessons that strengthen national identity and protect Cambodia from repeating past tragedies.

In Phnom Penh, the Cambodian government has announced a major restructuring plan aimed at modernising public administration, improving efficiency, and reducing unnecessary spending across state institutions. Prime Minister Hun Manet revealed that the government plans to eliminate three general departments and 30 departments from various ministries as part of a broader reform strategy designed to streamline administration and prepare the public sector for the digital era.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony of the General Department of Taxation headquarters in Phnom Penh, PM Hun Manet said the reforms are intended to reduce bureaucracy, improve public services, and strengthen institutional efficiency. The restructuring effort comes as Cambodia continues accelerating digital transformation and administrative modernization across government agencies.

Why the Government Is Restructuring State Institutions?

According to Mr Hun Manet, the reform process is focused on simplifying complicated administrative systems that often slow down decision making and public services. The Ministry of Civil Service has already reviewed 16 ministries and institutions to identify areas where departments can be merged, reduced, or reorganized to improve overall effectiveness.

The Prime Minister explained that the government wants to create a more responsive administration that can better serve citizens while lowering operational costs. By removing overlapping responsibilities between departments, ministries are expected to operate more efficiently and avoid unnecessary duplication of work.

He stressed that the reforms are not politically motivated or designed to target specific individuals. Instead, the restructuring is based on improving workflow, management systems, and institutional adaptation to modern governance standards.

“We have a clear mechanism,” PM Hun Manet said. “We create a department not because we favour a particular person, and we abolish a department not because we dislike someone or because officials are incompetent, but to improve work efficiency through adjusting procedures, responsibilities, work systems and adaptation.”

Digital Transformation Becomes a Key Priority

One of the government’s main goals is to prepare state institutions for the growing demands of digital governance. While some departments are being eliminated, other agencies are expanding specialised units focused on technology, digital systems, and artificial intelligence.

PM Hun Manet pointed to the General Department of Taxation as an example of how government institutions are adapting to new technological demands. The tax authority has introduced more specialised departments that focus on digital operations and modern administrative systems to improve public services and strengthen tax collection efficiency.

The government believes that modernising public administration through technology will help Cambodia remain competitive while improving transparency, speed, and accessibility for citizens and businesses.

Recruitment and Human Resource Reform Continue

Although the government plans to reduce the number of departments, recruitment for essential public positions will continue based on operational needs. Mr Hun Manet said clear and transparent recruitment mechanisms remain in place to ensure ministries can continue functioning effectively.

The government plans to organise examinations this year to recruit both framework and contract officials for several key institutions. These include 52 positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 45 positions at the Ministry of Justice, and 40 positions at the State Secretariat for Border Affairs.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is still reviewing its staffing requirements before finalising additional recruitment plans.

Public Administration Reform Remains Ongoing

PM Hun Manet emphasized that public administration reform has been an ongoing priority since the beginning of the current government mandate. The reform strategy follows the principle of “shrinking the head and expanding the body,” which focuses on reducing administrative layers while strengthening operational efficiency at the working level.

The Ministry of Civil Service has also been consulting directly with affected institutions before implementing structural changes to ensure transparency and minimise disruption during the transition process.

The government hopes these reforms will create a more modern, efficient, and citizen focused administration capable of responding more effectively to Cambodia’s economic and technological development goals.

Conclusion

Cambodia’s latest public sector reform reflects the government’s broader effort to modernise state institutions and improve the delivery of public services. By cutting unnecessary departments, reducing overlapping responsibilities, and investing in digital systems, the government aims to build a more efficient administration that can better serve citizens while controlling public spending. As Cambodia continues adapting to rapid technological and economic changes, these reforms are expected to play an important role in shaping the future of governance in the country.