Phare Ponleu Selpak:

From a refugee camp initiative to a multi-angled sustainability-through-arts project.

Phare Ponleu Selpak started back in 1986 in Site 2, a Refugee Camp located on the Thai border. From simple drawing workshops for children in the camps, the idea of an artistic association emerged: an association that would use art and expression to help young refugees overcome the trauma of war.

The experiment continued after the young refugees left the camp to return to their homeland in Battambang. In 1994, Phare Ponleu Selpak was founded by former Site 2 camp children, now young adults. The newly born association found a home at Anh Chanh village, near Battambang. The association quickly diversified its activities. Along with drawing, came music, circus, a library and lots of other activities such as an animation centre, a school and a literacy support programme ... Within a comprehensive project, educative, social and cultural actions extended in the village. In 2002, collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and UNICEF allowed the association to welcome young victims of human trafficking, AIDS’ orphans, and children living in extreme social situations. Finally, in 2003, thanks to a partnership with the Ministry of Education, a public school with a capacity of 830 students settled inside PPS. Three hundred village children who had never been to school before started attending classes as soon as the school opened.