Cultural and artistic development

Reviving traditions

Krousar Thmey sees
culture as part of
a child's blossoming

Permanent exhibitions

- The exhibition "Cambodia: one people, one culture" allows children to discover their country through numerous displays and workshops traditional stories, construction sets, folk music and costumes, etc.). On tour during 1994 and 1995, it was visited by more than 125,000 children. It's now based in Battambang. New displays have been put in place in March 2004 to complete the exhibition.

- The exhibition "Tonle Sap, source of lives" has been open in Siem Reap since January 2001, on the road leading to the Angkor temples. It allows Cambodians and tourists alike to discover other aspects of Khmer culture. A travelling version of the exhibition visited villages around the lake in 2001-2002 to reach a large rural audience.

Through shadow theatre,
children spread Khmer values

Traditional dance and music troupes

In each of our protection centers, children have created their own dance and music troupes. Thanks to their unflagging efforts, they perform shows of exceptional quality. As recognized young artists, they are very much in demand for official performances and galas. This helps them recover their dignity.

School of Khmer Arts and Culture

Opened in Sisophon in 1996, in the province where Khmer culture is in the most peril, this school is a model for arts in the country.

The school works with two secondary schools in town which reserve one hour a week for each class to learn an artistic activity. This allows 1500 students a year to learn drawing, sculture, dance, music or shadow theater.

Shadow theater used to be a popular form of expression, and today Krousar Thmey is making it available to more children. Using new characters in traditional Khmer tales, the children spread civic messages like solidarity, respect for elders, protection of children and Aids prevention.

Meet Thai Riya !

For more information, see our 2003 semestrial report on the School of Khmer Arts and Culture in PDF format (641 KB)*

More information:
- Detailed programs
in PDF format (19 KB)*

Neakna Deung board game

In 2001, noting Cambodian children's poor general knowledge and their ignorance about Khmer history and culture, Krousar Thmey worked out a question-answer game centered around 6 themes: science, culture, Khmer literature, history, geography and Khmer traditions. Donated or sold for $10 (at cost), the game is now used in all Krousar Thmey centers, as well as many other Cambodian NGOs.

Other activities

- Education and schooling support

- Child welfare

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* PDF: If you do not have Acrobat Reader yet, you can download it at this address.