Graduation Day for Sisters of Code Clubs Students in Phnom Penh
- Sisters of Code
- Dec 13
- 6 min read
On December 7, 2025, Sisters of Code hosted a graduation ceremony for 128 female students who successfully completed the Sisters of Code Clubs program in Phnom Penh. The event was held in a breakout room at the Digital Government Forum 2025 in Koh Pich.
We sincerely thank the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) for generously providing the venue to host this special occasion. We also deeply appreciate the Liechtenstein Development Service (LED) for their ongoing support, which has made both the implementation of the Sisters of Code Clubs program and this graduation ceremony possible.
After 18 weeks of learning coding and digital skills, students gathered with their guardians to celebrate this important milestone. To make the ceremony even more memorable, students also participated in a Fireside Chat on “Women in Digital Leadership” at the Digital Government Forum, organized by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.
The session featured four accomplished female leaders in the tech field:
Mrs. Natalja Rodionova, Founder of Sisters of Code and Managing Director of IT Academy STEP Cambodia Institute
Mrs. Omouy Heang, CEO and Founder of Asia Digital Technology Innovation
Mrs. Nithijounie Dene Eang, Executive Director of a non-profit STEM organization
Ms. Pun Solita, Researcher at Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT)
The discussion was moderated by Ms. Chansocheata Poum, Founder and CEO of SNNOPEDU Education and Co-founder of WESTEAM Cambodia.
Through the Fireside Chat, students gained firsthand insights into the experiences of women working in the tech industry. As Mrs. Natalja Rodionova emphasized during the discussion, Sisters of Code hopes that students will continue their journey in technology—not just as digital consumers but as active creators—preparing them to play meaningful roles in Cambodia’s digital transformation.
Following a one-hour discussion, the graduation ceremony officially began with opening remarks from Mrs. Natalja Rodionova, Founder of Sisters of Code and Managing Director of IT Academy STEP Cambodia Institute. She congratulated all students for successfully completing the 18-week Sisters of Code Clubs program.
Acknowledging that the journey was not easy because students had to balance full-time school studies with the weekend learning program, Mrs. Natalja praised their commitment and dedication to expanding their knowledge in technology. She commended students for staying until the end of the course and delivering impressive final projects.
Mrs. Natalja wished the students all the very best in their future endeavors and reminded them that Sisters of Code will always be a safe and supportive space for them to grow their confidence and skills in technology.
After the conclusion of the program, Sisters of Code conducted an online survey with 125 students, including 81 from offline clubs and 44 from online clubs, and the results were very encouraging. Ms. Mab My, Sisters of Code's Project Manager, briefly shared the survey findings with the students and their parents.
Collectively, most students reported gaining confidence in using their digital skills in the future. 75% feel very confident or confident, while 23% feel somewhat confident, indicating a little uncertainty. Additionally, 97% expressed interest in joining other Sisters of Code programs, demonstrating high satisfaction with the program and the effective learning outcomes.
The survey also highlights the program’s impact on students’ future educational pathways. 77% of Sisters of Code Clubs students plan to pursue STEM subjects in higher education. 14% are still undecided, 6% are interested in Social Sciences, and 3% are leaning toward Finance or Banking.
Moreover, the program has effectively increased students’ interest in technology across both class formats. 94% of offline students and 93% of online students reported that the Sisters of Code Clubs program has sparked their curiosity and enthusiasm for studying technology, showing that both offline and online classes are effective in engaging learners. These results reaffirm that Sisters of Code continues to be a significant, relevant, and timely non-profit initiative in digital education for female students in Cambodia.
Sisters of Code Ambassadors 2025, Ms. Eng Sreynich and Ms. Sun Sreynea, who have been leading the 18-week coding clubs both offline and online, were given the stage to share their reflections as Club Leaders. They both expressed that this teaching opportunity allowed them to put their learning into meaningful practice by passing on their knowledge to other female students—something they never imagined they would have the confidence or ability to do before.
Sreynich shared that she was proud of all her students for completing the 18-week program. Similarly, Sreynea highlighted that she had so much fun and created many good memories while teaching coding and other digital skills to her students.
The Sisters of Code Clubs program would not have been possible without the strong dedication and participation of our Ambassadors. In Phnom Penh alone, a total of 12 Ambassadors led 12 clubs—4 online and 8 offline. To express our appreciation, Mrs. Natalja presented a flower bouquet to each Ambassador as a token of gratitude for their commitment and hard work.
Four students then volunteered to give a short presentation about what they learned and accomplished during the 18-week program.
First, Ms. HAP Sereysotheavy, a student from our offline club, shared that the program has significantly helped her strengthen both her technical and academic knowledge. She also gained real-world practice, improved her communication and teamwork skills, and developed better discipline and time management. After 18 weeks, she noticed meaningful progress in herself—becoming more confident, improving her academic abilities, strengthening her discipline, becoming more career-ready, and opening new opportunities for her future.
Second, Ms. Chhum Menea also noticed meaningful growth in herself after completing the 18-week program in coding and digital skills at Sisters of Code. She shared that she had improved her presentation skills, developed critical thinking, enhanced her communication and problem-solving abilities, expanded her technical knowledge, and gained confidence in group discussions.
Third, Ms. Ly Mengchou, a student from the online club, shared that she gained both hard and soft skills through the program. She learned digital design and tools like Wix to create visually appealing websites, and used Scratch to develop coding, creativity, and problem-solving skills. She also strengthened her programming fundamentals, learned about AI and HTML/CSS, and improved teamwork, communication, and presentation skills, which boosted her confidence in sharing ideas.
Finally, Ms. Keo Prakmonyrath, a student from the online club, learned HTML, CSS, and how to build a complete website from scratch through the Sisters of Code program. She gained confidence, improved her problem-solving skills, and acquired real web development experience. She discovered that coding is creative, fun, and something girls can definitely do. Through a supportive community and inspiring mentors, she developed a clear goal: to become a well-known software developer, explore new technologies, create impactful projects, and inspire other girls in tech.
Sisters of Code was proud of the students’ bravery and dedication, not only in learning about technology but also in sharing their knowledge and teaching other girls. To show appreciation, Mrs. Chin Dalin, Sisters of Code’s Project Leader, presented each of them with a Sisters of Code tote bag.
After all the presentations, the most exciting part of the event arrived—the certificate handover ceremony. Twelve students were selected as the top performers in their clubs based on their study results. The top students are DIN Sovaninchou, On Dane, Sakhon Meliza, Tri MouyEng, Keo Rany, Srorn Chansovanthyda, Noung Mouy, Chan Thyda, Vann Chankanha, Leang Hongdy, Noeun Linda, and Rin Saknika. Each of them received a certificate and tote bag gift in recognition of their outstanding achievements.
We are immensely proud of every student’s achievements. Mrs. Natalja, Sisters of Code Founder, along with the club leaders conferred certificates to the graduates, marking the successful completion of their learning journey These certificates symbolize not only their dedication to learning coding and digital skills but also their perseverance, curiosity, and the personal growth they achieved over the weeks.
Following the certificate distribution, Mrs. Chin Dalin, Sisters of Code’s Project Leader, delivered heartfelt closing remarks. She praised the students for their hard work, commitment, and courage in stepping out of their comfort zones to explore technology. Her words encouraged the students to continue their learning journey, apply their skills in meaningful ways, and embrace new challenges with confidence and curiosity.
The celebration continued with a cake-cutting ceremony, where students, Ambassadors, and organizers shared cupcakes and milk together. This joyful moment allowed everyone to connect, reflect on their achievements, and celebrate the friendships and memories made during the program, bringing the event to a warm and memorable conclusion.
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