Under the INSPIRE project, Oxfam brought together 24 garment workers for a two-day video training in collaboration with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. The training aimed to help workers use their smartphones to tell real stories about their lives, their experiences with NSSF, and their ideas for improving the system.

For most participants, this was their first time creating a video. Many were nervous at first doubting whether their stories mattered or whether they had the skills to share them. But once the training began, confidence grew. With guidance and practice, they learned to plan simple narratives, record short interviews and express what they wanted the public to understand about the use and benefits of NSSF services.
 

“I didn’t think I could make anything like this. But now I feel proud. I can finally explain clearly what workers go through when using NSSF services”

One participant said after editing her first clip

After the training, participants formed small groups to produce entries for the NSSF Video Competition, jointly organized by Oxfam and NSSF. For many, it was their first creative team project.  They spent evenings filming in their dorm rooms, factories, and community spaces, often repeating until they felt their message was right.

Their hard work finally paid off. Eight videos were produced, each one telling a different story of worker trying to access health care, someone sharing how NSSF helped them during an emergency, or honest suggestions to improve the service. These stories were unfiltered, personal, and authentic. They reflected the diversity of worker experiences, and the creativity within Cambodia’s garment workforce when given the right tools and encouragement.
 

“Joining the competition pushed me to speak up. I used to be shy, but now I know I can share my thoughts. It made me braver, even in my workplace”

Another participant shared

The winning video was announced on 28 November 2025 during the National Social Protection Forum. Yet beyond the competition, the true success was seeing how much the participants grew in just a few weeks. People who arrived shy and unsure left with new skills, new confidence, and a stronger sense that their voices matter.

This reminded us that sometimes small tools like a phone, a story, a bit of encouragement can open space for voices rarely heard but deeply needed. When workers share their experiences in their own words, their stories resonate in ways that reports, news articles, and meetings often cannot. And those stories remind us why improving social protection systems is essential for Cambodia’s workers.