Sisters of Code Meets H.E. Deputy Prime Minister to Expand Digital Education Opportunities for Girls
On 14 September 2026, the Sisters of Code team had the honor of paying a courtesy visit to H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport in Phnom Penh. During the successful meeting, Sisters of Code presented its results and plans for expansion.
The discussion focused on how free coding education, teacher development and wider access to digital learning can give more Cambodian girls the confidence and skills to participate in the country's digital economy. It also addressed opportunities to expand cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in public schools and the provinces.
Mrs. Rodionova Natalja, Director of Sisters of Code and Managing Partner of IT Academy STEP Cambodia Institute, led the delegation. Senior Ministry leaders and representatives of IT Academy STEP and Sisters of Code also participated.
Sisters of Code and IT Academy STEP Cambodia Institute Delegation H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and Senior Ministry Leaders
H.E. the Deputy Prime Minister welcomed the contribution made by IT Academy STEP and expressed interest in strengthening cooperation on digital education. The priorities discussed closely reflect the Ministry's strategy: stronger STEM education, practical digital transformation in schools, improved teacher capacity, critical thinking, innovation and closer cooperation between education and the private sector.
Seven Years of Expanding Access to Technology
Sisters of Code was founded in 2019 as Cambodia's first female coding club. The programme was created in response to a persistent problem: girls remain underrepresented in technology education and in the ICT workforce, especially outside Phnom Penh.
Since 2019, Sisters of Code has trained more than 1,600 girls and young women through its different programmes. Workshops, career events and public activities have also reached more than 3,980 participants. The programme now works across 19 provinces through physical, online and hybrid delivery.
In 2026, 28 Sisters of Code clubs were operating, including 19 in-person clubs and 9 online clubs. This reach matters because many students in provincial schools still face limited access to computers, technology courses and female role models in ICT.
Sisters of Code Clubs program at Hun Sen 1 Mithona High School Sisters of Code Clubs program at Hun Sen 1 Mithona High School Sisters of Code Clubs program at Bunrany Hun Sen Bati High School
What Girls Learn in the Sisters of Code Clubs
Sisters of Code programmes are free for participants thanks to the support from the donors and Lichtenstein Development Service (LED) for the past 3 years. It is designed for students who may have no previous experience with technology. Learning is practical and project-based. Girls create games, websites and digital projects while developing confidence, teamwork and presentation skills. Special programs are focused on employment skills to support women entry into tech careers.
The meeting highlighted the programme's core learning areas:
Visual programming. Students use Code.org and Scratch to understand algorithms and create interactive games, animations and stories.
Web development. Girls learn HTML and CSS and apply the fundamentals by developing their own websites.
Design and creativity. Students explore UX and UI design and learn to make digital products clearer and easier to use.
Artificial intelligence and online safety. Participants learn how to use AI tools critically and responsibly while understanding privacy, misinformation and overreliance on automated content.
A Model Designed for Public Schools and the Provinces
Sisters of Code has worked with public schools, Community Tech Centers, New Generation Schools, universities, and regional non-profit organisations. These partnerships allow girls to learn within trusted local environments and reduce the cost and travel barriers that prevent many students from joining technology programmes.
The Sisters of Code Ambassadors Programme strengthens this model by training young women and senior secondary students to support or lead clubs for younger girls. In the 2026 pilot program in Takeo, 30 female students from six public schools completed 15 weeks of online training. Seven became Club Leaders and nine became Club Assistants, supporting seven clubs that reached 108 younger students. This example shows that girls with no previous technical experience can succeed in developing both technical and leadership skills when getting right support.
Sisters of Code Clubs Leaders and Assistants in Takeo Province ICT Teachers support Sisters of Code Programs in Take Province
The model combines support from school ICT teachers, student leaders and a central programme supervisor. It responds directly to one of the main barriers to provincial expansion: the limited availability of trained instructors, particularly female instructors.
Supporting Teachers and Responsible AI Education
Sisters of Code also presented its experience training teachers and students to use artificial intelligence in education. Between December 2024 and January 2025, the programme reached 191 teachers and 308 students through practical AI workshops. Cambodia's first Day of AI in Education brought together more than 400 students and educators.
The training focused on practical classroom use as well as the risks teachers and students need to understand. These include inaccurate AI-generated information, privacy and security, ethical use, and the possibility that excessive dependence on AI could weaken critical thinking.
Sisters of Code organized the Generative AI training for teachers in Phnom Penh. Sisters of Code organized the Generative AI training for teachers in Battambang. Sisters of Code organized the Generative AI training for teachers in Siem Reap.
The meeting also reviewed work to make Sisters of Code learning materials available to more students through digital education platforms, including cooperation with Educational Broadcasting Cambodia.
The Next Stage of Cooperation
Sisters of Code expressed its interest in continuing and expanding cooperation with the Ministry in three practical areas:
More coding clubs in public schools. Expand free after-school learning opportunities, particularly in provinces where access to technology education remains limited.
Greater support for teachers. Provide practical methods and materials for teaching coding, STEM and responsible AI use.
Participation in national education discussions. Share programme data and experience from girls, teachers and provincial schools to support policies on digital skills, STEM and AI in education.
The meeting did not mark the end of a project. It clarified where proven programmes can support Cambodia's education priorities and government strategies. Sisters of Code will continue working with schools, teachers, government institutions and community partners to ensure that girls are not excluded from the country's digital future.
Technology should not be available only to students who live in the capital, can afford private courses or already see themselves as future programmers. Every Cambodian girl should have the opportunity to try, learn and decide for herself whether technology belongs in her future.
About Sisters of Code
Sisters of Code is Cambodia's first female coding club, initiated and implemented by IT Academy STEP Cambodia in 2019. The non-profit programme provides free coding, digital skills, leadership and employment-focused training for girls and young women through in-person and online programmes across Cambodia.
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