Villathina “Thina” Ly is attending Occidental College. She grew up in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and is the only child in her family. Thina graduated as one of the top students in her class and passed the National Examination, receiving an A, the highest grade. Along with her strong academic performance, Thina was actively involved in various speech contests. Starting in the 6th grade, Thina began participating in public speaking competitions and went on to become the champion of the NTC Public Speaking Competition in 2018, out of 82 contestants. As a reward, she flew for the first time to the United Kingdom, where she attended a one-week course in General English at East Sussex College Hastings. Moreover, in 2020, she was chosen to represent all of the Sovannaphumi schools in Phnom Penh to compete in the 9th National ASEAN Quiz Cambodia. In grade 12, she joined Global Online Collaboration with Japanese students, an exchange program that provided insights into both Cambodian and Japanese cultures and included discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals, a topic Thina has been passionate about ever since.
Thina enjoys volunteering her time to help improve her community. She previously served as a Speaker Assistant and Facilitator at Genius Tables Cambodia, a workshop aimed at preparing high school students for the national exam and their future career paths. For her Take the Lead project, “Litter Away – Leave it Clean,” Thina and her volunteers collaborated with a waste management company to organize weekly trash pick-up activities and raise awareness about proper waste disposal and the harms of littering. In 2022, she taught English to children in the suburbs as a volunteer at Global Peace Alliance Cambodia. She co-founded REAN Buddies, an online study club providing free tutoring and study tips for low-income students preparing for the national exam, where she also served as a math tutor. Additionally, she participated as a delegate at the American University of Phnom Penh’s 2nd Model United Nations meeting and was a member of the Paragon International University Model United Nations club. Currently, Thina volunteers as an article writer and a public relations officer at The SEED Cambodia, a nonprofit digital platform fostering a reading culture in Cambodian society and encouraging youth to discuss global social, economic, and developmental issues.
At Occidental College, Thina majors in Diplomacy & World Affairs (DWA) and has made the Dean’s List for three consecutive semesters. She has contributed to multiple initiatives within the DWA department, including planning a panel discussion for the United Nations Week program, serving on the E-Board of DWAMA (Diplomacy & World Affairs Majors Association), and volunteering for the Parke Young Initiative on the Global Political Economy. Thina is also committed to fostering student diversity at Occidental College through international student engagement. She serves on the E-Board of the International Students Club (INTOXY), where she contributes to international programming on campus. Additionally, she works as an office assistant for the International Programs Office, assisting with matters related to international students and study abroad programs.
Thina also shares a passion for environmental sustainability. She actively participates in Occidental’s annual olive harvest festivals and the Los Angeles River Clean-up initiative. In the Spring 2024 semester, she worked as a research assistant for her economics professor on the Flume Smart Home Water Monitors project, promoting campus water conservation by installing Flume water monitors on residential properties owned by the college.
Last summer, encouraged by SHE-CAN’s Make A Change program, Thina returned to Cambodia to launch a community service project, “Straw Mushroom for Better Livelihood,” focusing on the economic empowerment of women in Battambang Province. She trained 22 women in straw mushroom farming to promote financial independence and financed the top three participants to launch their own mushroom farming projects. Alongside this initiative, Thina interned at Edenbridge Asia, contributing to the process of repatriating looted Cambodian artifacts. She researched private collectors and museums affiliated with these artifacts and wrote biographical reports about them.
Thina believes that her Occidental education, combined with her experiences, will serve as stepping stones toward her goal of becoming a future diplomat for Cambodia’s foreign relations. Her passion for international relations stems from her country’s tumultuous history during the Cold War. She is committed to using diplomacy to navigate Cambodia through the complexities of an interconnected world.
Thina remains dedicated to volunteering whenever possible. She has served as a Speaker Assistant and Facilitator at Genius Tables Cambodia, initiated the “Litter Away – Leave it Clean” project, taught English as a volunteer, co-founded REAN Buddies, participated in Model United Nations, and contributed to The SEED Cambodia.
Her experiences, coupled with her academic background, have solidified her passion for international relations. Thina’s ultimate career goal is to become a respected diplomat representing Cambodia in negotiations, peacekeeping, and conflict resolution. She is devoted to fostering diplomatic relations between culturally diverse nations, as these relationships can significantly impact her home country. She is eager to continue her education in the United States and believes that learning is a lifelong journey. She hopes to leverage her knowledge and experiences from Occidental College to contribute to Cambodia’s diplomatic field and improve the standards of living for Cambodians.