The Creative Industries of Cambodia Association for Development and Advocacy (CICADA) has been making waves in the cultural and creative industries since its formation in 2022. The association’s mission is to represent and advocate for the sector, ensuring that it is at the heart of political, economic, and social decision-making. “CICADA has a vision to see Cambodian society thrive as the creative and cultural industries are valued and progress to their full potential,” said Onn Sokny, country director of Epic Arts and a vice-chair of CICADA. She said CICADA is registered with the Ministry of Interior and is working on…
Author: Raksmey Hong
The first-ever Cambodia Youth Climate Change Conference (CYCCC) marked a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to address climate change. The April 1 conference brought together 116 participants, including high school and college students, specialists from several organisations and journalists from approximately 33 institutions. The vision of the conference was to educate and expose youth to the biggest challenges of climate change through an interactive dialogue between experts and fellow youth. “I understand that many youths can relate to that feeling of helplessness, of wanting to act but not knowing what to do,” said Angely Rose, the founder of CYCCC.…
A rice bran oil factory in Battambang province has commenced refining six tonnes of oil daily and is primed to sell its products in local markets after the Khmer New Year celebrations. Its owner Chhen Chandara defied the the gloomy predictions of certain economists who asserted that the rice bran oil business required too significant of an investment in capital and was incapable of attracting the millions of dollars needed to establish such a factory. “As a young man aspiring to innovate something new for Cambodia, particularly in local production, I overcame challenges despite some economists saying it was impossible…
Despite a rare genetic disorder known as tetra-amelia, Tuy Sokdung, a 24-year-old fourth year university student, has dreams of becoming a web developer. Sokdung was born without fully formed limbs, and has no hands or feet. His limbs end just above the knee and elbow, so he requires assistance with many daily tasks. But none of this has stopped him from pursuing his dreams. “I’m currently in my fourth year of studying Information Technology (IT), and my goal is to become a web or mobile application developer. I have plans to establish a social media platform and learning centre for…
The Phnom Penh Photography Collective, a group of talented photographers based in Phnom Penh, has announced their first group exhibition, Humans of Phnom Penh. The exhibition promises to be a captivating display of Phnom Penh’s people and culture, captured through the lenses of around 40 talented photographers. “We are excited to finally have our first group exhibition. Phnom Penh has such a dynamic range of people from all over Cambodia and the world,” said Shunsuke Miyatake, the founder of the collective. “We hope to show the diversity of our city and capture the unique perspectives of its inhabitants. We’re thrilled…
XAVIER de Lauzanne worked in the hospitality industry for 10 years before deciding to pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker. He’s made several documentaries since he began his film career, including Les Pepites or Little Gems, a film about an NGO in Cambodia, as well as a second more recent Cambodian documentary called The Perfect Motion, which focuses on Cambodia’s Royal Ballet. The next project he is working on will be the third part of a trilogy that he shot on location in Syria and Iraq that focuses on the aftermath of the wars there. Currently, The Perfect Motion…
Several NGOs, in collaboration with the government, held “My Good Husband, My Smart Children” event last week to promote nurturing care from both male and female caregivers for children from before birth until age 5, to help them thrive and reach their full potential. This second targeted campaign was an Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) Activity, led by RTI International, Helen Keller International and Safe Haven, in collaboration with the government. It was supported by USAID. “The aim of the event is to promote equal participation from men and women in raising children, to help them meet their critical cognitive,…
Tattoos have become commonplace in Cambodia, especially among the younger generations. The sight of tattooed young men and women may still shock some conservative members of society, but it is important to note that today’s tattooing craze was preceded by a far more ancient version of the practice in Cambodia that still persists today. In contrast to modern tattooing studios that prioritise aesthetics and beauty on the body, ancient Khmer Sak Yant tattooing places greater emphasis on a system of rules for its style that relies on traditions, a moral code and magic. 73-year-old Roeung Sarem is a Khmer Sak…
Air Asia has launched direct flights between Jakarta and Phnom Penh, in a move that is expected to strengthen the tourism industry and bilateral relations between the two nations. The establishment of the direct flights followed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation signed at the Indonesian embassy in Phnom Penh on April 10. According to Thong Rathasak, secretary of state at the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia received over 837,000 international tourists in the first two months of this year, with Indonesians making up nearly 20,000 of them. “We expect to receive around 4.5 million international tourists this year,…
The UN Department of Global Communications – alongside the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect – are launching a New York exhibition that aims to remind viewers that no country is immune from the risks of genocide and related atrocities. Stories of Survival and Remembrance – A Call to Action for Genocide Prevention features the reflections of survivors of four major atrocities including the Holocaust; the genocide and related atrocities in Cambodia; the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda; and the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Where we see people facing systematic discrimination…