Sovanita’s Story: How Phare Kindergarten Cultivated an Early Love of the Arts

Sinat, a mother from an impoverished situation, is delighted to witness her 5-year-old daughter Sovanita thrive in the supportive environment at Phare Kindergarten. Sovanita’s passion for art reflects her dreams, making her a favorite among teachers. Phare Ponleu...

Empowering Futures: How Phare’s Lunch Support Program Makes a Difference

At Phare Ponleu Selpak, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to transform their life through education and the arts. To make this possible, we’ve developed several sponsorship programs that support children from vulnerable backgrounds.   The safety and...

Celebrating Pchum Ben at Phare: When the Living Honour Their Ancestors

If your mornings were gently filled with the sound of prayers and sacred chants, you were likely in Cambodia, near a pagoda, during the sacred period of Pchum Ben. This essential festival for honoring ancestors attracts thousands of people to temples between September...

The Water Festival in Battambang: Phare Ponleu Selpak’s role in cultural revitalization

At the heart of Khmer mythology there is a fascinating legend: the union between the Indian prince Kaundinya and the Naga princess Soma. Thousands of years ago, Cambodia was an island occupied by the Naga, half-human, half-serpent creatures, venerated as the...

Dancing Toward a Fairer Future: A New Path for Young Female Dancers at Phare Ponleu Selpak

This year, Phare Ponleu Selpak has taken a meaningful step toward creating new opportunities for young female dancers. In February, thanks to funding from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) we launched a new project aimed at improving the learning...

From Battambang to Cirque du Soleil: SOK Dina’s Journey to Becoming Cirque’s First Cambodian Performer

If you haven’t already heard of SOK Dina, then prepare to be amazed. Dina is the first performer from Cambodia to join Cirque du Soliel in Montreal, Canada. Dina is also a circus alumnus from Phare Performing Arts School. From 2005 to 2011, Dina – and his friend and...

Pride Month Interview: How Trans Student Sarann Found Her Place as a Khmer Dancer at Phare Ponleu Selpak [Video]

As a trans woman who is a Khmer traditional dancer, YOU Sarann faces endless discrimination. The 23-year-old Battambang native has dreamed of becoming a dancer since childhood, but many times, she’s wanted to give up. Fortunately, Phare Ponleu Selpak provides Sarann...

Meet the Volunteers of Phare Ponleu Selpak: Soree KIM, Communications & Marketing Intern [Video]

This past academic year, Phare Ponleu Selpak received two student volunteers from the United States. They have spent around 7 months at Phare and will be leaving soon to start their first year of university. As a farewell, we asked a few questions about their...

Phare Alumni Success Story: Meet LY Vanthan, the Music Pop Star of Cambodia

It is always a joy to get to interview Vanthan, the music alumni from the Performing Arts School of Phare Ponleu Selpak Vanthan is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. The well-known singer of “Khmer Gentleman” at Baramey...

Meet the Volunteers of Phare Ponleu Selpak: Eliot WITHERSPOON, Communications & Marketing Intern [Video]

This past year, Phare Ponleu Selpak received two student volunteers from the United States. They have spent around seven months at Phare and will be leaving soon to start their first year of university. As a farewell, we asked a few questions about their internship...

Sovanita’s Story: How Phare Kindergarten Cultivated an Early Love of the Arts

Sinat, a mother from an impoverished situation, is delighted to witness her 5-year-old daughter Sovanita thrive in the supportive environment at Phare Kindergarten. Sovanita’s passion for art reflects her dreams, making her a favorite among teachers. Phare Ponleu...

Empowering Futures: How Phare’s Lunch Support Program Makes a Difference

At Phare Ponleu Selpak, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to transform their life through education and the arts. To make this possible, we’ve developed several sponsorship programs that support children from vulnerable backgrounds.   The safety and...

Celebrating Pchum Ben at Phare: When the Living Honour Their Ancestors

If your mornings were gently filled with the sound of prayers and sacred chants, you were likely in Cambodia, near a pagoda, during the sacred period of Pchum Ben. This essential festival for honoring ancestors attracts thousands of people to temples between September...

The Water Festival in Battambang: Phare Ponleu Selpak’s role in cultural revitalization

At the heart of Khmer mythology there is a fascinating legend: the union between the Indian prince Kaundinya and the Naga princess Soma. Thousands of years ago, Cambodia was an island occupied by the Naga, half-human, half-serpent creatures, venerated as the...

Dancing Toward a Fairer Future: A New Path for Young Female Dancers at Phare Ponleu Selpak

This year, Phare Ponleu Selpak has taken a meaningful step toward creating new opportunities for young female dancers. In February, thanks to funding from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) we launched a new project aimed at improving the learning...

From Battambang to Cirque du Soleil: SOK Dina’s Journey to Becoming Cirque’s First Cambodian Performer

If you haven’t already heard of SOK Dina, then prepare to be amazed. Dina is the first performer from Cambodia to join Cirque du Soliel in Montreal, Canada. Dina is also a circus alumnus from Phare Performing Arts School. From 2005 to 2011, Dina – and his friend and...

Pride Month Interview: How Trans Student Sarann Found Her Place as a Khmer Dancer at Phare Ponleu Selpak [Video]

As a trans woman who is a Khmer traditional dancer, YOU Sarann faces endless discrimination. The 23-year-old Battambang native has dreamed of becoming a dancer since childhood, but many times, she’s wanted to give up. Fortunately, Phare Ponleu Selpak provides Sarann...

Meet the Volunteers of Phare Ponleu Selpak: Soree KIM, Communications & Marketing Intern [Video]

This past academic year, Phare Ponleu Selpak received two student volunteers from the United States. They have spent around 7 months at Phare and will be leaving soon to start their first year of university. As a farewell, we asked a few questions about their...

Phare Alumni Success Story: Meet LY Vanthan, the Music Pop Star of Cambodia

It is always a joy to get to interview Vanthan, the music alumni from the Performing Arts School of Phare Ponleu Selpak Vanthan is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. The well-known singer of “Khmer Gentleman” at Baramey...

Meet the Volunteers of Phare Ponleu Selpak: Eliot WITHERSPOON, Communications & Marketing Intern [Video]

This past year, Phare Ponleu Selpak received two student volunteers from the United States. They have spent around seven months at Phare and will be leaving soon to start their first year of university. As a farewell, we asked a few questions about their internship...

Catch up on everything that’s happening at Phare Ponleu Selpak we work to change lives through the arts in Battambang, Cambodia.

Podcast: Hope of Lokru Srey Bandaul, the Smiling Hero

Podcast: Hope of Lokru Srey Bandaul, the Smiling Hero

Earlier this month, on 4 August 2023, was the commemoration of two years since the passing of Lokru Srey Bandaul, one of the beloved teachers and co-founders of Phare Ponleu Selpak. We remember the great meaning, purpose, and vision he gave to the Phare Ponleu Selpak...

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How Does My Circus Show Ticket Support Phare Ponleu Selpak?

How Does My Circus Show Ticket Support Phare Ponleu Selpak?

When you purchase a ticket to the Phare Battambang Circus, did you know you’re supporting an entire community? It’s true. The funds from your ticket impact a wide variety of people and programs throughout Battambang Cambodia. But First… Before we dive into specifics,...

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Join Us at the S’Art Urban Arts Festival 2023!

Join Us at the S’Art Urban Arts Festival 2023!

The S’Art Urban Arts Festival is back! Join us on the streets of Battambang from 12 to 17 June 2023 for this biennial festival that introduces the public to urban art forms like hip-hop music and dance, as well as graffiti and mural painting. After cancelling the 2021...

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A Year Gone by: Highlights from 2022 at Phare Ponleu Selpak

A Year Gone by: Highlights from 2022 at Phare Ponleu Selpak

2022 has come to a close, and it is with both pride and gratitude that we look back on all the things we have achieved in this first full post-lockdown year. The highlights are too many to count, but here – in words and in pictures – is our attempt.  Guinness World...

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A Recap of the “Love Does Not Hurt” Mini Arts Festival

A Recap of the “Love Does Not Hurt” Mini Arts Festival

Celebrating 3 Years of the Love Does Not Hurt Campaign On Friday 14 October, we held a Mini Arts Festival on our campus called "Today’s Tomorrow," wrapping up all the lessons learned during the past three years of implementing the LDNH project. Love Does Not Hurt was...

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Social Support Workshop: Be Like Bamboo, Bend But Don’t Break

Social Support Workshop: Be Like Bamboo, Bend But Don’t Break

As societies evolve, the difficulties that young people face – and the social support they need – change accordingly. For example, today's youth in Cambodia have to deal with a number of challenges, including: Scholastic and peer pressure Family breakdowns or abuse...

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Promoting School Nutrition & Gardening at Phare Ponleu Selpak

Promoting School Nutrition & Gardening at Phare Ponleu Selpak

Current situation Malnutrition still impacts many children in Cambodia. Rice, some meat and vegetables is in their diet but seldom fruit and dairy products, because they are not affordable by vulnerable households. Moreover, Cambodians consume excessive amount of...

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Phare Ponleu Selpak Creates a Mobile Community Library

Phare Ponleu Selpak Creates a Mobile Community Library

Out of the Tini Tinou International Circus Festival spotlight, which took everyone’s attention during the months of May and June, our education team was busy launching the community mobile library. Books have always played a significant role at Phare, engaging many...

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Phare Ponleu Selpak Hosts Roundtable on Positive Discipline

Phare Ponleu Selpak Hosts Roundtable on Positive Discipline

On 23 March 2022 Phare Ponleu Selpak hosted a roundtable discussion on child protection and the promotion of positive discipline for children under the topic, “How to Apply Positive Discipline at School”, with seven guest speakers, including Mr. Chhun Ramy, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) and Mr. Teng Visal the Deputy Director of the Provincial Office of Education (PoE) in Battambang and representative of a few public schools. Student representatives participated in the audience as well.

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Check out our visual artists works created during the pandemic

Check out our visual artists works created during the pandemic

It’s been more than a year our visual arts students have been on and off school following the Government’s protocol as the pandemic spread over the Country. We had shown you back then how the first home confinement had provided Phare artists with time to reflect on this huge wave affecting us all. While Cambodia is facing a new outbreak, they have been expressing their insights and their appeal to pay closer attention to protect ourselves and others. Have a look at their latest works!

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Tribute to Lokru Bandaul wrote by Kunthary, a supporter of Cambodian Arts

Tribute to Lokru Bandaul wrote by Kunthary, a supporter of Cambodian Arts

“My family’s connection to Phare, as I came to learn, dates back to the 1980’s when my father, as a Member of the Executive Committee of one of the resistance groups at the Thai-Cambodian border, had an oversight responsibility of the civilian affairs of all the refugee camps the group was overseeing, of which Site 2 – where Phare founders grew up and started drawing classes – was part of.”

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