Abu Dhabi – Cambodian youth with disabilities secured a remarkable victory, earning gold and bronze medals at the Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disability 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The competition’s results were announced on Friday, October 27, 2023, with John Pov Seerano, a Cambodian youth with disabilities, achieving a gold medal in the eLifeMap competition.
In addition to the individual gold, Cambodian Youth with Disabilities also collectively earned four bronze medals in the eContent category at the Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disability 2023. This impressive accomplishment came as a team effort by four participants.
The 2023 Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities saw a total of 536 participants, including 461 young individuals with disabilities who competed in both live and online categories. Young participants came from 18 countries, which included Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Pakistan, Egypt, Nepal, Mongolia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, and Indonesia.
From October 23 to 27, 2023, with the approval of H.E. Minister Chea Somethy, representatives from the Disability Action Council led a delegation of four youths with disabilities to participate in the 12th Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities.
The Cambodian delegation is scheduled to return to Cambodia on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 2:30 pm.
The Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC) is a project aimed at enhancing the information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities of young individuals with disabilities. It seeks to bridge the digital divide, promote social progress, and raise awareness about digital accessibility for young people with disabilities.
Originating in Korea in 1992 with the primary objective of reducing the digital divide among people with disabilities, GITC has expanded its reach since 2011 to include young individuals with disabilities worldwide. This extension of the program aims to bolster their engagement in higher education and employment opportunities and enhance their societal participation.
