AUPP Liger Grade 10 Students Lead Saharka Cyber Safety Summit 2026, Bringing Schools and Cambodia’s Digital Community Together
Cambodia News
The Saharka Cyber Safety Summit 2026 was initiated and organized by AUPP Liger Leadership Academy’s Grade 10 students through the Saharka Initiative. Held on Saturday, 31 October, at AUPP Liger Leadership Academy, the summit brought together a confirmed attendance of over 350 participants, including students from different schools, technology professionals, exhibitors, and organizations, to discuss online safety, cyber threats, and Cambodia’s growing digital economy.
Under the theme “To Stop Is to Start Together,” the summit featured a bilingual programme with separate Khmer-language morning and English-language afternoon sessions, each covering different topics related to cyber safety and digital awareness. Through workshops, panel discussions, and interactive activities, participants explored digital risks, exchanged ideas, and considered practical ways to make online spaces safer.
A student-led initiative from planning to execution Saharka was built on the idea that young people should be part of conversations about their own digital safety. The student organizers wanted to make cyber safety more relevant to their peers by addressing the online risks and challenges they encounter in their everyday lives.
Our Grade 10 students worked together to develop the program, coordinate speakers, secure sponsors and exhibitors, promote the event, and connect with organizations across different industries. During the summit, they also served as hosts and presenters, facilitated discussions, and coordinated activities.
Through this experience, students put leadership into practice by managing responsibilities, working with others, and turning an idea into an initiative addressing an issue that matters to their generation.
Turning online safety into practical learning The summit’s program was designed to help participants recognize digital threats and consider how to respond to them in real-life situations. Some of the early discussions explored the risks of online harassment and exploitation, including how seemingly personal interactions can develop into situations involving threats and financial coercion.
The summit featured a workshop titled “Behind the Hack: Understanding Cyber Threats and Staying Safe,” led by Ork Senghout, Defensive Security Analyst, and Sok Sovannara, Offensive Security Lead, from Komnot. Through demonstrations and practical examples, participants learned how cyberattacks happen, the risks of compromised accounts, and ways to protect their personal information online.
One of the expert panels moderated by AUPP Liger student Mit Puty explored “Growing Cambodia’s Digital Economy Without Leaving People Behind.” The discussion brought together Sok Kosal, Chief Information Officer at AMK Bank; Sam Amarin, Chief Executive Officer of Meksys; and Ban Sothea, Backend Engineer at Morakot Technology. The panelists discussed barriers to accessing digital services and the importance of helping people navigate online spaces safely, including recognizing and preventing potential online threats.
Another panel discussion, “Staying Safe Online in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” was moderated by AUPP Liger student Por Chusan, with Ork Senghout and Chan Ekmongkol as panelists.The panel explored how AI is changing online safety and the new challenges it brings.
Participants put their learning into practice through the Cyber Safety Scenario Challenge, where they worked in groups to discuss real-life situations involving suspicious links, compromised accounts, and potential scams, sharing their reasoning and safer responses. The Youth Action Challenge also encouraged them to develop ideas for building safer digital communities.
Together, these sessions and activities highlighted the importance of digital awareness, informed decision-making, and collective responsibility in creating safer online spaces.
Bringing Cambodia’s technology community into the conversation The summit also brought together organizations, startups, student projects, and enterprises working across cybersecurity, technology, education, and digital services. The exhibition gave participants an opportunity to explore more about their work and learn about solutions to real-world digital challenges.
Exhibitors included Karpia, Komnot, SongKet, CABS Consulting, and Vendora, alongside Domner, Jobify, KHsint., DELIGHTECH, MOVIA, Daun Penh Cloud, and AUPP Technology Center. Their exhibitions introduced participants to a range of services, including cybersecurity solutions, online safety tools, digital financial services, job-matching platforms, and cloud technology.
The summit also received support from organizations across different sectors. Khmer Enterprise joined as a partner; AMK Bank, Forte Insurance, Wing Bank, and SME Bank Cambodia as sponsors; Tech for Kids Academy as an outreach partner; MUNiverse and RULErs Community as media partners; and Khmer Coders Community as a community partner.
Learning leadership by putting it into practice
For AUPP Liger Leadership Academy, Saharka Cyber Safety Summit 2026 was more than an opportunity to raise awareness about online safety. It showed what can happen when young people are given the space to take initiative, bring people together, and contribute to issues that affect their communities.
The summit also gave students the opportunity to be part of a conversation they are directly affected by, not simply as participants, but as the people who initiated the idea and created a platform for others to learn and share their perspectives.
The message behind Saharka, “To Stop Is to Start Together,” reflects the purpose of the initiative. For our AUPP Liger student, Korngbormey, the summit’s project manager, working together means “sharing what we learn and helping one another know where to turn when something goes wrong.”
Creating safer digital spaces requires more than awareness; it requires people to recognize their responsibilities and take action together. Our Grade 10 students brought this message to life, showing that young people can play an active role in shaping the change they want to see.
