During the month of March, in recognition of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8, 2024), USAID is celebrating the contributions of women everywhere who work to build better lives for their families and communities. USAID is committed to advancing and investing in gender equality and women's empowerment globally.
Learn how USAID/Cambodia has inspired and encouraged women through the eyes of its locally employed staff:
Kunthea Yun
Voucher Examiner
What made you want to work at USAID?
USAID’s core values align with Kunthea’s own values, especially the kindness shown through helping others. While the voucher office at USAID/Cambodia does not work directly with the public, Kunthea knows that as long as she performs her work well, it means she is indirectly helping people. “This really makes me proud, coming to work at USAID every day.”
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment or contribution since starting work at USAID?
Kunthea’s job involves processing payment to USAID’s implementing partners. This is extremely important work to support the partners to smoothly implement projects and achieve the goals.
What advice do you have for young women or girls who aspire to work for a development agency like USAID?
The most important thing is not to be scared, but to be confident and apply for the position you want, she says.
“Actually, I was not confident when I applied for the job at USAID. Instead, I overcame my fear and became more confident after I started working here and observed other women who were very talented and confident. Recently, I just returned from a fellowship in Serbia. This might sound so simple for others; but for me—who is an introvert and shy—it was such a great experience and boosted my self-confidence to another level. This fellowship proved to me that we can do anything if we believe in ourselves."