Responsible tourism is a conscious choice to make a positive impact on the places you visit. Being an aware traveller means protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and preserving the cultural soul of a place. In Cambodia, this philosophy is taking...
Nestled along the peaceful Sangker River, Battambang is a charming town that often goes unnoticed by travelers but offers a unique experience for those who visit. Known for its relaxed atmosphere, stunning architecture, and lively arts scene, this small yet...
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...
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...
Every year in mid-April, Cambodians celebrate the traditional holiday known as Khmer New Year – or Songkran – over the course of three festive days. The holiday is rooted in Buddhist traditions and is an important time for Cambodians to get back together with their...
Arts are at the center of everything we do at Phare Ponleu Selpak. Phare’s mission, vision, values – and even its name – are all based on the idea that creativity and artistic expression are inherently valuable. We also believe that the visual and performing arts...
When you think of Cambodia, it’s easy to think about its amazing temples and ancient ruins – especially Angkor Wat – along with its rich cultural heritage. Khmer traditional dance is a key part of Cambodian arts and culture. In fact, the beauty and softness of...
Pchum Ben Festival is a fifteen-day Khmer festival that honors the memory and legacy of the seven generations of ancestors for many people in Cambodia. About 60 members of the Phare Ponleu Selpak community, mostly including Phare Kindergarten, practiced and...
It’s time to celebrate art, culture, and development in Battambang! Phare Ponleu Selpak and AFD – Agence Française de Développement – have joined forces to bring a new art festival to Battambang Province, Cambodia entitled: បាត់ដំបងក្នុងក្តីស្រមៃ / Battambang...
What is cultural heritage? And what does it mean (or not mean) to share it with other overlapping ethnicities and cultures in the region? If you didn’t attend the S’Art Urban Arts Festival in June 2023 held here in Battambang, you might have missed out on the panel...
« I am a Cambodian national living in the U.S. since 1979, when I moved to Washington DC and joined the World Bank to work on development globally and more specifically to contribute to the socio-economic development of my homeland. Since I retired in 2013, I have...
COVID-19 brought the world to a temporary halt with many communities around the globe in lockdown, and millions of children being confined at home. This new situation presented novel challenges for their parents and guardians not yet familiar with home schooling....
We did it: On January 18, 2020, about fifty people laced up their running shoes and set off on the 16 km Angkor Ultra Trail Run! The race was located in the cultural jewel of Cambodia: the temples of Angkor. The trail weaved its way around several ancient temples,...
The lights dim and the room falls silent. A soft light issues from behind a white screen as the drums begin to play. Suddenly, shapes appear dancing across the screen. A narrator’s voice emerges telling a tale of a monkey, Hanuman, trying to rescue his wife, Sita. If...
![UNESCO: Understanding Shared Cultural Heritage in the Mekong Region [Video]](https://phareps.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/unesco-sart-festival-panel-mekong-shared-cultural-heritage.jpg)
