To mark the 30th anniversary of Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang, Véronique Decrop, co-founder of the organization, reflects on an adventure that has changed lives. She has dedicated nearly 40 years of her talent and commitment to the Khmer community, from refugee camps on the Thai border to the artistic center in Battambang. This article looks back on her journey and the lasting impact of Phare.
“PHARE” was born from the meeting between Véronique Decrop, a young graduate of the Fine Arts School of Paris, and 90 Cambodian refugee children in Site 2, a camp on the Thai border. This camp, created in the early 1980s, sheltered thousands of Cambodians fleeing the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, the civil war, and the aftermath of the 1979 Vietnamese invasion. At its peak, Site 2 housed up to 200,000 refugees, making it the largest refugee camp in the world at that time.
In 1985, driven by the desire to reconnect with Father Ceyrac, a Jesuit missionary she had met ten years earlier in India, Véronique joined the NGO Handicap International in the refugee camps. There, she witnessed the aftermath of war: traumatized, uprooted children deprived of their cultural and educational foundations. Her friendship with Father Ceyrac led her to commit to the cause. Starting in 1986, he encouraged her to join the educational team of the NGO COERR, where she began teaching drawing to the children at the Site 2 orphanage.
Initially reluctant, not convinced by the idea of teaching “children’s drawings,” Véronique quickly discovered an unexpected artistic sensitivity in these children, then around ten years old. She saw their ability to grasp creative tools and techniques. Artistic expression became a way to break the language barrier: why use words when you have images?
Over the years, through illustrated stories, these children learned to erase the terror from their lives, imagining wonderful worlds and a Cambodia they had never known. How could they have hope after spending most of their lives in fear, despair, and poverty? By dreaming. And they drew those dreams.
Through her classes, the children were able to reclaim art, not only as a creative outlet but also as a way to restore dignity and a sense of future. This form of expression allowed Véronique to forge strong bonds with the children and their stories. Her work was no longer just humanitarian aid; she had become an integral part of the family she had helped create and to which she had fully committed herself.
II) Art as a Development Driver : The Birth of Phare Ponleu Selpak
In 1993, after the closure of the refugee camps, Cambodia faced an extremely difficult task of reintegrating its people. Deeply affected by these realities, Véronique Decrop decided to travel across the country to witness the situation. She could not bear the sight of men and women with their heads down, destitute, with no home or means of subsistence. Even worse, the thought that her former students might end up in such a situation was unbearable. It was then that she conceived an ambitious project: to transform art into a means of social support. Instead of remaining dependent, her students could use their artistic skills to bring education and art to underprivileged communities.
With the support of the Phare France association, Véronique and nine of her young students who grew up in the refugee camp bought a rice field in Battambang in 1994 and founded an artistic center. It was not rice, but laughter, art, and a vision of the future that were cultivated there. This place became a hub of creativity, where drawing, dance, music, and a children’s library flourished. In 2001, the center registered officially as Phare Ponleu Selpak (“The brightness of Art”), a local association that continues to carry on this vision.
The name of the association, “Phare,” is deeply meaningful: it symbolizes light— the light of art and culture that guides those who are lost. By providing artistic education, Phare illuminates the path for thousands of Cambodians, restoring color and hope to lives that had been shattered. Phare also pays homage to the origin, the art classes taught by Veronique in Site 2 refugee camp.
Phare stands out with a unique model: in Siem Reap, for example, the performances offered by Phare are not just artistic shows but also economic drivers. The revenue directly supports the association’s educational and social programs, enabling free access to these services for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. As Véronique sums it up: “Art finances social work.”
Today, Véronique is proud and grateful to see that “Phare is the beating heart of Battambang,” rhythmically shaping the artistic and cultural life of the city, a symbol of resilience and innovation. The association continues to grow, embodying Véronique’s belief that to “push the branches of development,” you need solid roots.
III) Preserving Cultural Heritage: A Vital Mission
Heritage is a cornerstone for any society, especially in a country like Cambodia, where the Khmer Rouge regime erased much of its traditions, arts, and history. The mission of preserving this heritage is essential for rebuilding the country’s future.
From the refugee camps, Véronique initiated drawing classes that led to powerful works, true testimonies of the children’s struggles and dreams. These works were exhibited in Europe and published in Voyage dans les rêves des enfants de la frontière (1988). Today, this mission continues through an educational program that blends tradition and modernity.
In May 2024, the works created in the camps were repatriated to Cambodia and will be part of a museum at Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang, planned for 2026. This museum, supported by partners such as the art collector Jean Marc Decrop, will be a place of memory, resilience, and hope. It will honor Cambodian culture while passing on this heritage to future generations. This project still needs funding for its completion.
For Véronique, preserving Cambodia’s cultural heritage is not just about remembering; it’s a promise for the future. Art becomes a bridge between the past and the future, a way to transmit resilience and hope.
IV) A Commitment That Transcends the Individual
Véronique Decrop embodies the belief that art has the power to change lives and rebuild communities. The story of Phare Ponleu Selpak reflects a collective struggle, a hope nourished by solidarity and creativity. Today, as the association continues to grow, the call for engagement is as important as it was at the beginning of the adventure.
To sustain this journey, the association still needs the support of donors, volunteers, and partners. As Véronique emphasizes: “You must dream a lot to make it happen.” It’s this dream of social transformation and cultural preservation that we must all support, so that Phare can continue to light the lives of Cambodia’s younger generations and inspire the future of the country.