I attend BarCamp Phnom Penh every year – not because I’m a geek or nerd. 🙂 I have had background in journalism, and I only blog for the fun of it. I always meant to write about BarCamp events and tell you how cool and important they are for young Cambodians. I will recommend exciting events in Phnom Penh or Cambodia from now on. :-“>
- Just come and connect.
It’s BarCamp Phnom Penh.
What is BarCamp?
It is a two-day tech meet-up where professionals, amateurs, novices and fans of technology meet and share knowledge in presentation formats. It was originally technology-related, but after years of evolvement, anybody can join. The entry is free. This is an important thing to tell. The best thing in the world is fee. 🙂
BarCamp is done at least once a year, but this year marks the 5th BarCamp Phnom Penh. We also had BarCamp Angkor in Siem Reap in this March.
The first BarCamp was initiated by Tharum Bun, Chantra Be, and several passionate individuals. Nowadays, Chantra, the main organizer of BarCamp, gathers a lot of young volunteers to organize the 2-day event. Kudos to them!
BarCamp itself has been held in: Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos and many countries in Southeast Asia and some parts of the world. At BarCamp, you will learn more just about technology. 🙂 The biggest BarCamp ever held in Southeast was BarCamp Yangon where nearly 5,000 people turned up.
In places such as Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, BarCamp is even conducted at least twice at different provinces or cities.
Read more about BarCamp here:Â Wikipedia article.
What’s special about BarCamp is that you learn something new all the time, be it technology or life lessons :). What’s more exciting is that not just locals but also people from other countries attend BarCamp.
I can introduce a few BarCamp nomads to you: Preetam Rai who was born in India and now is living between Singapore and Japan, Anh Minh Do who was raised in the US and is now living in Ho Chi Minh, and Thomas Wanhoff, a German national who has been living around Southeast Asia for years. There are more – but you will have to find them at BarCamp Phnom Penh :-). BarCamp nomads like attending BarCamp held in any country also because they use BarCamp as an excuse for travelling. 🙂 They like freedom and talking to girls. 😉 At least, that’s what makes it more fun.
BarCamp gives you an excuse to travel with a purpose. You will not only learn about tech, entrepreneurship or some inspiring life story, but you will meet and talk face to face with experts, network with some people who can become your good friends for the rest of your life. This is a good investment so far.
Now here is your chance to create connections as well as learn about new technology tips that other people in this country and abroad are using. Sometimes it’s more than just technology. From time to time, you can’t help but laugh at a topic like “How to date a Cambodian girl“.
When is the next BarCamp Phnom Penh?Â
It’s a two days event: 22nd & 23rd September 2012 from 8:00 am – 17:30pm.
Where will it be held?
At University of Puthisastra
No. 55, Croix Rouge Khmere (St. 180), 12211 Phnom Penh
Check out the map for more details.
Register to get a free T-shirt
Please take a few minutes to register here. If you want a T-shirt of BarCamp with a cool design and share knowledge through presentations at the event, go ahead registering first. This helps the organizers and the volunteer team know in advance how many people and how many presentations will be there.
What can you do there?
Are you a kind of shy person? Then, be a listener. But if you love talking, then prepare a short presentation. Get ready to post your topic(s) on the very big board at the event. If people see your topic on the board and feel interested, they’ll come to you.
Then you can lead a session. I’m quite a shy person when I attend events. So I prefer listening to others and reading what others say. However, I’ve started talking more since I’ve watched more people speaking. BarCamp is a school without grades. 🙂
What can you take along?
A laptop, name cards, and yourself. Don’t forget to bring your adapter. And the wifi will be free during the two days.
If I were to arrive in Cambodia from Jakarta before the event is done with, I’d present “How to use the Internet as a journalist to travel the world” at BarCamp Phnom Penh 2012. Or next year.
FYI
Email: [email protected]
Web:Â http://2012.barcampphnompenh.org/
Chantra Be: chantra.be[at]gmail.com