Cambodia & Opinion : Millennials and Gen Z: United and Mobilized to Protect Their Country

Millennials and Generation Z make up nearly 60 percent of Cambodia’s population, meaning that the majority of Cambodians today are under the age of forty. This generation has never experienced war firsthand. Yet war has never been distant from their lives—it has lived on through stories passed down by parents and grandparents: stories of political instability, coups d’état, and a nation torn apart, where Khmer killed Khmer and more than two million people lost their lives.

These stories shaped how young Cambodians grew up. Many were raised by parents who never had the opportunity to process their own trauma, leaving silence to fill the space where healing should have been. The past, though often unspoken, profoundly influenced how this generation understands peace—its fragility, its value, and the privilege of having grown up without conflict.

For more than forty years, Millennials and Gen Z believed peace would endure. It felt permanent, protected by international law, by the United Nations, and by regional cooperation through ASEAN. Peace became Cambodia’s most treasured asset—so familiar that it was often taken for granted.

Then came July and December 2025.

Those moments proved that nothing is guaranteed. Cambodia faced a quiet injustice, largely overlooked by the international community, as if its suffering was not severe enough to merit global attention.

Yet this shock became a wake-up call. As fear resurfaced in the eyes of parents and grandparents, something unexpected emerged. Millennials and Gen Z mobilized—across the country and throughout the diaspora—to support soldiers and refugees, raise funds, and make their voices heard.

I witnessed a unity so powerful it reminded me why people often say that Khmer people are resilient. A generation that knew the cost of war only through memory refused to take peace for granted. They were ready to stand up to protect it.

As the border clashes of July and December displaced more than 500,000 people across provinces near the frontier, young Cambodians did what they could, with what they had. They organized cultural events, cooked in the streets after school hours, volunteered at collection points, packed relief supplies, and used social media in multiple languages to raise awareness. The youth of Cambodia mobilized with determination, driven by a shared belief that their country must never again be forgotten, as it was in the 1970s.

One of the most powerful initiatives was the decision to promote Khmer culture internationally as a way to show a new face of Cambodia—one defined by creativity, solidarity, and talent. Rise for Khmer, the first-ever Khmer artist concert in Paris held on December 1, 2025, brought together a full house and raised USD 80,000 to support refugees.

These events revealed a deeper truth. Cambodia is more than Angkor Wat, sandy beaches, and tranquil rivers. Cambodia’s most undervalued asset is its people—especially its Millennials and Gen Z, who understand the importance of peace because they inherited its cost through their parents and grandparents. Their collective action reminded us why Cambodia has always found a way to endure.

As this generation prepares to shape the future of the country, this piece is dedicated to them: the future of Cambodia is in your hands.

Nipoan CHAVIGNY CHHENG