My model

Siv Cheng focuses on documentary style

Roth Meas

SIV Cheng, 31, one of the documentary-style photographers taking part in the ‘‘Bamboo Shoots’’ exhibition, profiles four poor families in Cambodia for the show. Two live on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, one in a suburb of Phnom Penh and the other in Kandal province.

“I spend a day with each family, researching, before I start shooting pictures. I introduce the family to myself and the project and make them understand my purpose, so they don’t doubt me anymore,” Siv Cheng said.

After she gains permission, Siv Cheng stays two days with each family observing their day-to-day activities.

“Even if they live in a ruined hut, I stay with them,” she said.
“I eat the same food as them, and sleep next to them.
While they are going about their activities, I take pictures, so they are more natural.”

One of the families taught Siv Cheng about the life of the poor people. She said the family was miserable because the mother suffered a stroke and was now paralysed. The father is also disabled, and their 10-year-old daughter must cross the border to beg for money to feed the whole family.

“The girl has a big burden,” Siv Cheng said. “She has to earn money for family on one hand, and on the other she also has to cook for her disabled parents. It stops her from getting an education, and her health is not great, either.”

Siv Cheng is a photography student at the French Cultural Centre, and a relatively new addition to the On Photography Cambodia family.

Another day for CYAF

Hi, everyone

Here are some photos that I took during the party for Cambodian Youth Arts festival co-chair, members, and volunteers. This party was held at Phnom Penh Anchor restaurant.

Kids at Sen Reak Reay Community

Have you ever painted something when you were young? Here are some photos i took during my visit to Sen Reak Reay Community:

I have got lots of fun with them, playing game and painting. They all are very friendly, cute and clever. You will see how good they are through their picture.

Cambodia Youth Arts Festival

Have you ever joined the Arts Festival? Have you been to the Chaktomuk conference hall in the last five days? Cambodia Youth Arts Festivalwas taken place at the Chaktomuck Conference hall for 5 days (7-11 August).

To me, it is the second time that i join the Arts festival, i am really love being a volunteer or participant in the arts festival. Seeing difference kind of arts, i am really appreciate to be a part of successful, marvelous, significant event that could attract hundreds of people to join, I have never see such a wonderful event like this.

Last night is the last day of the festival, the Chaktomuk hall was over crowded, you could not even find a place to stand, though you've got a ticket for a seat. How come that make this event become so interesting like that. Does it means that Cambodia now have prosperity of culture of art?

see also http://cambodianartsfestival.org

10 tatics to use for a force to change

People's action for Change (PAC) forum at Goldiana Hotel on thursday 29th July, 2010. There is a 5o minute video showing how to use technology for advocacy.

Here are the 10 tactics to use for a force to chang:

1. Bring information into action (mobilize the people)
2. Witness and report (someone is watching)
3. Visualize you message (picture it)
4. Amplify personal story (no one listen to it)
5. Just add humor (provoke a smile)
6. Manage your contact (understand your connection)
7. How to use complex data (make it simple)
8. Use collective intelligence (report it live)
9. People ask the questions
10. Investigate and expose (reveal the truth)

Duch verdict

This morning is the history day for Cambodian people. Almost 30 years that people are waiting to find the justices for their family or relative who was killed during the Khmer Rouge regime.
Please read this website to get more information about Duch's verdict:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/25/cambodia.khmer.rouge.verdict/#fbid=gKxGgh-bCxL

After watching Kang Kek Iew,known as Duch, I feel very happy and satisfied with the verdict. It gives the justices to all Cambodian people.

Even though, I was not in the Khmer Rouge regime, but I could feel how hard people living during that time, because I have watch many documentary films which are related to the Pol Pot regime such as "The killing field", "S-21", etc...

The Enemy of People

"Enemy of People" is the documentary film which is indicating the reason why million of Cambodia people were killed during the Khmer Rouge regime. The producer is Thet Sambath, Phnom Penh Post's reporter and ......... .

The film were screened last night at 6:30pm at the Meta house. It cost 5$ for foreigner and 2,5$ for Cambodian student including drinks. It is the best Khmer Rouge documentary film that I have ever seen before. I really admired bong Sambath, because he had tried his best to find the truth of the story, he doesn't care how dangerous it was. "It is not easy to spend ten years living with a communist man, Noun Chea, who was called brother number two during Pol Pot regime", Sambath said. Moreover, he also spend 5 years living with the killer who was order to kill the innocent Cambodia people at that time.

I cannot imagine how Cambodia people killed their own people, but it is the history the we cannot forget ever and ever. When the film show how those killers killed the people, I started to look another side of the screen to avoid seeing those crucial action.

The killer not only kill the people but also eat people's gallbladder that was very terrible.

Seeing this film you will find out more information that you have never heard or seen before about the Pol Pot regime. I recommend you to see this film if you are interesting in Khmer Rouge document film.

see also www.cambodialife.wordpress.com
www.saoyuth.wordpress.com