Cambodia: The Story Behind the Website

Dosslarb

By: Phoeun Sreynith & Khim Sokunthy

Dossarb’s Facebook page (screenshot on December 23, 2024)

Sex education is frequently regarded as a sensitive subject of discussion. However, access to comprehensive sex education is vital for the well-being of young individuals. It equipped them with knowledge necessary to make informed decisions regarding sexual health and prevent unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. Furthermore, it fosters gender equality, freedom of expression, body positivity and development of healthy relationships. Dosslarb was established to promote and support sex education initiatives in Cambodia.

As Cambodia experiences rapid urbanization and a shift in social norms, the youth face an evolving landscape of relationship and sexuality. These changes highlight a critical gap in sexual health education. Dosslarb is at the forefront, empowering young Cambodians with accessible, reliable information to navigate these challenges.

Dosslarb addresses the pressing public health needs of a generation growing up in a dynamic and modernizing society, by combining innovative outreach strategies with culturally sensitive approaches.

Dosslarb began its journey in 2020, not as a conventional organization but as a passionate, independent collective of innovators. Founded by three visionaries, the team has since grown to include two talented student members, creating a dynamic group of five. They stove to push origins, the team’s collaborative spirit and drive have laid the foundation for remarkable accomplishments and a shared vision for the future.

Dosslarb operates as a fully remote team without a physical office, offering employees greater flexibility to effectively balance their professional responsibilities and personal commitments.

Bun Saosopheakneath, a co-founder of Dosslarb and an alumnus of DMC, shared the inspiring origin story of the organization. Dosslarb emerged from the passion and dedication sparked during her senior year thesis project.

She revealed that the collaboration began with the invaluable support of UNDP, which played a key role in connenting Dosslarb with WHO’s technical experts. This initial partnership laid a strong foundation for impactful work. After the UNDP funding phase concluded, Dosslarb continued to expand its reach by joining forces with Marie Stopes Cambodia, a renowned leader in sexual and reproductive health services. This strategic partnership has empowered Dosslarb to amplify its efforts in addressing critical health topics and driving meaning change.

Currently, Dosslab partners with Population Services International (PSI), leveraging their expertise to deliver impactful health insights.

Through this collaboration, PSI not only provides essential data but also champions modern healthcare approaches. These insights are transformed into engaging publications that are shared on the Dosslab platform, fostering awareness and inspiring positive change within communities.

Dossarb’s Instagram page (screenshot on December 23, 2024)

Dosslab connects with their audience through a vibrant presence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, ensuring their message reaches diverse communities. While TikTok remains a lesser focus, Facebook shines as the powerhouse platform, serving as the heart of Dosslab’s engagement. It has become the go-to space for building meaningful connections, sparking conversations, and creating a lasting impact within their community.

Dosslarb’s TikTok page (screenshot on December 23, 2024)

“The Dosslarb teams bring a wealth of talent as content creators, channeling their creativity into a platform dedicated to empowering youth. With a strong focus on multimedia content, they craft engaging and informative materials designs to promote sex education,” said Sopheakneath.

She noted that Cambodia’s youth does not get enough education about sexual health since it is considered a sensitive topic.

“Cambodia youth continue to face barriers when it comes to sex education, with many still hesitant to discuss the topic openly. The subject remains sensitive, making public conversations about sex education rare and challenging,” she explained.

“In Cambodia, traditional values and unmet education needs often stifle open conversations about sexual health. As a result, many young individuals remain uninformed about critical topics like contraception, safe sex, and reproductive rights. Dosslarb aims to bridge this gap, fostering awareness and breaking the silence around these essential issues.” She added.

Co-founders of Dosslarb (Dosslarb’s Instagram page)

To increase Dosslarb’s visibility and awareness, the team frequently engages in workshops and exhibitions with other organisations. To help young people learn how to create content for themselves, teams have a program that was sponsored for graphic design or content creation training.

Dosslarb developed a campaign called “Just the Two of Us.” With an emphasis on Cambodia, it seeks to close important gaps in urban youth education about sexual and reproductive health.

Promoting contemporary family planning techniques and fostering informed sexual health decision-making are among its primary goals.

The initiative targets sexually active, unmarried young adults, recognising a shift toward increased premarital sexual activity and the need for accurate information to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

The campaign emphasizes culturally sensitive approaches, aiming to reduce stigma while providing anonymous and youth-friendly access to resources. The content focus on family planning, future goals, and health service reflect the campaign holistic approach to empowering youth with knowledge and support.

The consequence that is often encountered is that it is difficult to communicate with the audience, as he/she is still shy to discuss in public. Another consequence is that a small number of people come to comment bad opinions in the Dosslarb’s Facebook page because they think Dosslab is a page that takes sex or talking pornography and opens it up to the public.

Overall, the Dosslarb initiative fills a crucial gap, promoting sexual health awareness to foster a healthier, better-information generation in Cambodia.