Mr Phann Sopheap : The Owner of a Printing Shop in Battambang

Mr Phan Sopheap lives in the Battambang province and has lived with a physical impairment from an early age. He experienced discrimination when he was studying at primary and secondary school. His peers imitated his mobility and made fun of his impairment. However, this negative stigmatisation did not stop him from being independent and focused on achieving a great future. He continued attending school and obtained a bachelor’s degree in information technology which led to him owning a printing shop today.

Sopheap is optimistic and has a high regard for education. He has completed vocational training courses in Graphic Design, Public Speaking, and Advocacy. He is also working part-time with the Organisation of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, learn more about their challenges, and coordinate vocational training referral for persons with disabilities. He started his printing shop with one computer and a printer, and has since scaled-up his services with several printing machines and more computers in order to provide a wide variety of services. Mr. Sopheap’s advice to other persons with disabilities is:

“If you want to succeed in something, you need to stay focused, keep pushing the boundary, keep learning new skills and importantly do not give up.”