Phnom Penh – Cambodia has sent a team of four youth with disabilities to participate in the Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disability 2023, hosted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The event is set to unfold from October 23 to 29, 2023.

Notably, under the commendable and skilled leadership of H.E. Chea Somethy, Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation, who also chairs the Disability Action Council, Cambodia’s disability sector has made substantial progress and garnered significant attention.

A press release issued on October 23, 2023, by the Disability Action Council highlighted that the competition comprises both in-person and online segments and draws the participation of 18 countries. These nations include Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Pakistan, Egypt, Nepal, Mongolia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, and Indonesia.

In addition to their involvement in the in-person contests hosted in the United Arab Emirates, 19 Cambodian youth with disabilities will engage in online competitions from October 25 to 27, 2023.

DAC, in its request, urged the public to unite in supporting Cambodia’s youth with disabilities, enabling their success for the nation.

Moreover, the Cambodian delegation will partake in the Inclusive and Innovation Forum (InI), where discussions and approvals will revolve around the Abu Dhabi Agreement concerning the future development of digital information technology for individuals with disabilities.

The Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities 2023 boasts a total of 536 participants, among whom 461 are young people with disabilities. These participants are distributed between the in-person competitions (95) and online competitions (366).

The competition encompasses six categories: 1-eTool (Powerpoint), 2-eTool (Excel), 3-eLifeMap, 4-eContents, 5-eCreative_Smart Car, and 6-eCreative_loT.