Bophana Audiovisual Resource Centre

Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center / Photo source: Internet

As a documentary filmmaker in the 1990s, Rithy Panh realized the utter lack of audiovisual resources in Cambodia and decided to start an organization to collect as much of the Kingdom’s audiovisual heritage as possible.

Rithy Panh’s dream of gathering the resources convinced Ieu Pannakar, who was the head of the Department of Cinema within the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts at that time, to jump on board. The two men established the Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center in December 2006 with the support of the Ministry of Culture and many other institutions.

“Bophana was the name of a young woman detained in S-21 during the Pol Pot Regime,” said Chum Noi, public relations officer for Bophana.

“The center was given the name Bophana to bear witness to the dignity and courage of this woman.”

Aiming to preserve and present the remaining pictures, movies and songs from the last 150 years of Cambodia’s history, Bophana has around 30 staff members who have helped collect and protect more than 2,000 documents produced by Cambodians and foreigners.

The center improves the quality of the documents, digitizes them and adds them to its expansive computer database, which is growing bigger by the week.

The overriding purpose of the collection is to provide free access to Cambodians and foreigners who wish to explore the audiovisual memory of Cambodia and learn more about the country’s past glory and terror.

“All the documents can be viewed freely in three main languages: Khmer, English and French. Therefore, people can search for their desired document easily,” said Sim Sok Thida, a research analyst at the Center.

“Bophana has been working collaboratively with other audiovisual archive centers in America, Europe and Asia to gather the remaining Cambodian documents from those countries and get authorization from the owners to present and provide people access to those files,” said Gaetan Crespel, the archive manager at Bophana Center.

He added that the center has also been cooperating with the Cambodian Film Commission in training Cambodian people in film and audio-related technical work to ensure that they are capable of taking care of documents, as well as improving their own ability to produce photos, film and audio files that will ensure that people do not forget what is happening today.

“I often visit the center when I am free from my studies since I can find so many important documents that aren’t available anywhere else,” said Nem Lorn, a student from Human Resource University.

“I can gain priceless knowledge, especially in art, civilization and history. I hope more Cambodian youth spend time here to explore their past.

“I am sure that the center is going to be here for the next 10 or 20 years to serve the public,” said Crespel.

“We still have many more archives that haven’t been digitized and shown to the public yet.”

Written by: Dara Saoyuth and Lang Mesa

This article was published on Lift, Issue 23, June 16, 2010

You’ve Got to Sell Yourself

HR Inc. Consultant is interviewing job seeker/Photo by: Dara Saoyuth

Finding a job that matches your skills and desires is not an easy task, especially for undergraduate students or fresh graduates who do not have work experience and professional connections; however, by reaching out to an employment or recruitment agency you can set yourself on track for the future you are hoping for.

Ry Chansan, a 2006 graduate in accounting from Vanda Institute, is in the process of getting a job which she found through an employment agency. “I posted my CV on the HR Inc. website (http://www.hrinc.com.kh/) and they asked me to come to their office today for an interview,” she said. “I decided to ask for help from HR Inc. with the hopes that they could help me find my dream job,” she continued.

Recruitment agencies not only help you build up your skills and CV; they can also use their connections with employers to submit your application when jobs become available. There are around 10 employment agencies in Cambodia with the shared purpose of building a bridge between employee and employer ands providing consultation to job seekers.

In order to help graduates and young professionals connect with potential employers and prepare themselves for the workforce, a growing number of employment agencies have been established in Cambodiea over the past decade. Employment and recruitment agencies provide job seekers with information about job opportunities and strategies to secure those jobs, as well as suggesting ideal candidates to employers looking for a certain type of employee.

“After we interview candidates and find out that they fill the employers’ requirements, we’ll recommend them to employers,” said Touch Phea, a recruitment consultant at HR Inc. Cambodia, an independent employment agency established in 2002. “For those who don’t know exactly what job they want to do, we can also meet with them and guide them professionally,” he continued.

Though cooperating with an employment agency does not guarantee that you will find a job, tapping the knowledge and expertise offered by employment agencies certainly improves your chance to get a job that fits your skills. “Employers trust in us since we are performing in a professional way, so they believe that people we recommend to them are qualified to work for them,” said Virac Sisocheata, an acting manager at Great Alliances, another recruitment agency, established in 2007.

Chhun Sarorn, a 26-year-old Finance and Banking graduate from University of Cambodia (UC), has worked as accounting manager for Conical Hat Software Company for three years. He initially found the job through an employment agency. “HR Inc. recommended me to Conical Hat Software Company after interviewed me and I got a job,” he said.

Employment agencies do not only work with people seeking their first job, they also work with people who want to change the company or position they currently hold.

“Many people do not want to keep doing the same job, so we try to help them find another one,” said Virac Sisocheata. She said that some people don’t want to ask for help from employment agency because they are afraid their employer will find out. “Only the candidates and I will know that they are looking for a new job,” she said.

Most people think that they have to pay money to the employment agency if they use their service, but most agencies only charge the emplyers.

“Our goal is to provide job seekers with jobs that match to their desires, experience, and qualifications,” said Virac Sisocheata. “We think job seekers should come to employment agencies when they want to get a job or get information related to jobs… and all our service is totally free.”

Written by: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 22, June 9, 2010

A Life in Dance

Belle's performance at Chenla theatre/Photo by: Koam Tivea

Chumvann Sodhachivi, more commonly known as Belle, is not only one of Cambodia’s greatest cultural ambassadors for her dancing in performances around the world; she has also found a way to make a living through her passion for the arts. Between her travels to the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and France for cultural exchanges and dance workshops, she has established herself as a leader in the innovation of Cambodian contemporary dance, combining classical and modern styles to create a dance which expresses the globalization of the 25-year-old’s home country.

Creating a new style of dance in Cambodia, where older generations are hesitant to tamper with traditional culture, has not been easy. After her first performance in 2003, she received praise, criticism and confusion from her audience. “30 percent of the audience really didn’t like, the other 70 percent said it was difficult to understand,” she said. “People were saying to each other ‘What are they doing? What kind of dance she is dancing? It’s crazy!’”

Although the initial reaction to her and the other 4 women in her group was disheartening, Belle continued to pursue her passion for dance. “I promised to myself that I would continue dancing with the hope that someday my audience will love it and I will be a success,” she said.

A recent performance by Belle and her fellow dancers at Chenla theatre on May, 14, seven year after her first contemporary dance performance, shows that her resilience and hard work has indeed raised appreciation of contemporary dance in the Kingdom. The audience was an even mix of Cambodians and foreigners and Belle says that many of the Cambodians who used to complain about her modern adaptation of traditional dance have started to appreciate her vision and attend her performances.

Though many people may think that going to university to study dance will leave you with a degree and no job, Belle has shown that a passion for the arts can be profitable as well. Belle graduated from the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) in 2007 after 13 years of studying and has created various outlets for her talents. She organizes dance classes as well as private lessons to teach others to express themselves through dance and can also be seen on CTN and stages across the country performing her latest numbers. It has taken huge amounts of time and energy, but Belle is now one of the Kingdom’s great examples of artists creating a new, and commercially viable, expression of the changes in Cambodian society.

Written by: Dara Saoyuth and Vorn Makara

This article was published on Lift, Issue 22, June 9, 2010

កិច្ចពិភាក្សាក្រុមនិស្សិតស្ម័គ្រចិត្តលើមុខវិជ្ជាជំនាញ

Seven students who will be volunteering with Peace Corps/Photo by: Colin Meyn

ដោយមើលឃើញថាការបន្តការសិក្សាថ្នាក់ឧត្តមសិក្សានិងការជ្រើសរើសមុខជំនាញនៅ​តាម

មហាវិទ្យាល័យ គឺជាឧបសគ្គមួយដែលបានចោទឡើងចំពោះសិស្សទី១២​ ទើប​ក្រុមនិស្សិតស្ម័គ្រចិត្តមកពីCambodian Peace Corp នឹងរៀបចំធ្វើពិពណ៌ការសិក្សា នៅក្រុងសួង ខេត្តកំពង់ចាម ដើម្បីណែនាំដល់សិស្សានុសិស្ស ឱ្យមានបទពិសោធន៏ ក៏ដូចជាចំនេះដឹងខ្លះ​ក្នុងការជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជា។ ទស្សនាវដ្តីLiftបានចុះទៅធ្វើការពិភាក្សានិងសាកសួរ​ក្រុមនិស្សិត​ស្ម័គ្រចិត្តទាំងអស់នោះ ដើម្បីចង់ដឹងពីបទពិសោធរបស់ពួកគេ និងថាតើពួកគេនឹងនាំ​យកបទ​ពិសោធ​ព្រមទាំងគំនិតល្អៗអ្វីខ្លះទៅចែករំលែកដល់សិស្សនៅក្រុងសួង ខេត្តកំពង់ចាម។

នៅពេលដែលជីវភាពគ្រួសារ សមត្ថភាពផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន និងការអនុញ្ញាតពីគ្រួសារលែងជាបញ្ហា មានន័យថាសិស្សានុសិស្សអាចមកបន្តការសិក្សានៅមហាវិទ្យាល័យបានហើយ តែទោះជា​យ៉ាងនេះមែន ការសម្រេចចិត្តជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជានិងសាលាដើម្បីបន្តការសិក្សាថ្នាក់​ឧត្តមសិក្សា​គឺជាដំណាក់កាលលំបាកមួយសម្រាប់ពួកគេ។

នាក់ ភក្ដី សព្វថ្ងៃជានិស្សិតដែលកំពុងសិក្សាឆ្នាំទី៣ផ្នែកភាសាអង់គ្លេស នៅវិទ្យាស្ថានភាសា​បរទេស បានលើកឡើងថាសិស្សភាគច្រើនមានការលំបាកក្នុងការជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជា​និងសាលា​ដើម្បីរៀនបន្តដោយមូលហេតុថាពួកគេទទួលបានពត៌មានមិនគ្រប់គ្រាន់អំពីមុខវិជ្ជានីមួយៗ និងពត៌មានពីសាលាដែលបង្រៀនមុខវិជ្ជាទាំងនោះផងដែរ។

ដោយមានស្រុកកំណើតនៅ​ ឯក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ ភក្តីបានរម្លឹកឡើងវិញថាកាលពីខ្លួន​នៅរៀនថ្នាក់​ទី១២ គេក៏មិនបានទទួលពត៌មានគ្រប់គ្រាន់ពីមុខវិជ្ជានិងសកលវិទ្យាល័យនៅទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញទេ បើទោះបីជាមានការចុះទៅផ្សព្វផ្សាយខ្លះៗក៏ដោយ។ តាមរយៈការនិយាយប្រាប់ពីមិត្តភក្តិ ភក្តីបានសម្រេចចិត្តរៀនផ្នែកសំណង់ស៊ីវិលនៅសកលវិទ្យាល័យន័រតុន ដោយពេលនោះគេ​នៅតែ​មិនទាន់ដឹងថាខ្លួនឯងស្រលាញ់មុខវិជ្ជាអ្វីច្បាស់លាស់នោះឡើយ។ ភក្តីបន្តថា “បន្ទាប់ពី​ការ​សិក្សាមួយឆ្នាំខ្ញុំក៏ស្វែងយល់ថាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលខ្លួនឯងចូលចិត្តគឺភាសាអង់គ្លេស ដូច្នេះខ្ញុំក៏​សម្រេចចិត្តបោះបង់ចោលមុខវិជ្ជាសំណង់ស៊ីវិលចោល ហើយអ្វីដែលខ្ញុំខាតគឺពេលវេលា​មួយ​ឆ្នាំរៀនមុខវិជ្ជាដែលខ្លួនមិនពេញចិត្ត”។

រឿងរ៉ាវចំពោះ ឈឹមសុធារិទ្ធិ ក៏មិនខុសគ្នាពីភក្តីប៉ុន្មានដែរ។ បច្ចុប្បន្នសុធារិទ្ធកំពុង​សិក្សាពីរ​មុខវិជ្ជាគឺមុខវិជ្ជាអក្សរសាស្រ្តអង់គ្លេសនៅIFL និងវិទ្យាសាស្រ្តកុំព្យូទ័រនៅសាកល​វិទ្យាល័យ​បៀលប្រាយ។ ថ្វីត្បិតតែសុធារិទ្ធជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជាទាំងពីរដោយការស្រលាញ់ពេញចិត្តពិតមែន តែនៅពេលដែលរើស គេក៏មិនបានដឹងថាតើមុខវិជ្ជាទាំងពីររៀនពីអ្វីខ្លះ ហើយឱកាសការងារ​យ៉ាងម៉េចនោះក៏មិនដឹងដែរ។

ដោយសារតែពត៌មានទាក់ទងនឹងការសិក្សាមិនត្រូវបានផ្សព្វផ្សាយទូលំទូលាយ សិស្សភាគច្រើន​សម្រេចជ្រើសយកមុខវិជ្ជាសិក្សាទៅតាមការដែលពួកគេគិតថាតើមុខវិជ្ជានោះពេញនិយមឫក៏អត់។

មានមតិជាច្រើនយល់ខុសៗគ្នាអំពីមុខវិជ្ជាដែលកំពុងតែពេញនិយមនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា តួយ៉ាង​ភក្តីបានឱ្យដឹងថានៅក្នុងខេត្តរបស់គេផ្នែកវិទ្យាសាស្រ្តកុំព្យូរទ័រនិង ផ្នែកគ្រប់គ្រង ជាមុខវិជ្ជាពេញនិយមជាងគេព្រោះវានៅតែអាចឈរជើងបានខណៈពេលដែលមុខវិទ្យាមួយ​ចំនួនទៀតត្រូវបានបិទដោយខ្វះសិស្សរៀន។

ចំណែកឯនៅទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ភក្តី​យល់ថាមុខវិជ្ជាគណនេយ្យ ជាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលទទួលបាន​ការពេញនិយមជាពិសេសពីសំណាក់សិស្សស្រីៗ ដោយមូលហេតុថាពួកគេសម្លឹង​មើលឃើញមុខវិជ្ជានេះអាចផ្តល់ការងារឱ្យពួកគេបានស្រួលនៅពេលដែលពួកគេបញ្ចប់ការសិក្សា។

ចំនែកនិស្សិតម៉ាត់ សារី សព្វថ្ងៃជានិស្សិតឆ្នាំទី១ផ្នែកសេដ្ឋកិច្ចនៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ចវិញយល់ថាផ្នែកសំណង់​ ទទួលបានការនិយមច្រើនព្រោះសិស្សភាគច្រើន​យល់ថាប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ជាប្រទេសកំពុងអភិវឌ្ឍ ដូច្នេះការសាងសង់នឹងត្រូវបាន​ធ្វើឡើងជាបន្តបន្ទាប់ដូចជាផ្ទះធំៗ ផ្លូវថ្នល់ ស្ពានជាដើម។ តែបើតាមគំនិតរបស់សុធារិទ្ធិវិញ ផ្នែកធនាគារក៏ជាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលទទួលបានការពេញនិយមដែរ ព្រោះនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា​មានធនាគារជាច្រើនទាំងធនាគារជាតិនិងធនាគារអន្តរជាតិ ហេតុនេះហើយនិស្សិតភាគច្រើនគិត​ថានឹងងាយស្រួលមានការងារធ្វើនៅពេលដែលបញ្ចប់ការសិក្សាផ្នែកធនាគារ។

រីឯភោគ ផល្លីគុល សព្វថ្ងៃជានិស្សិតឆ្នាំទី៤ផ្នែកច្បាប់នៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យ​ភូមិន្ទនីតិសាស្រ្ត​និងវិទ្យាសាស្រ្តសេដ្ឋកិច្ច បែរជាយល់ថាផ្នែកអក្សរសាស្រ្តអង់គ្លេសជាមុខវិជ្ជាពេញនិយម ព្រោះនាងសង្កេតឃើញថានិស្សិតភាគច្រើនចាប់យកមុខវិជ្ជាអក្សរសាស្រ្តអង់គ្លេសទន្ទឹមគ្នានឹងមុខជំនាញមួយទៀត ដោយក្តីរំពឹងថាភាសាអង់គ្លេសជាស្ពានជួយឱ្យការសិក្សាមុខជំនាញមួយទៀតរបស់គេឆ្ពោះទៅមុខល្អ ព្រោះសម័យនេះឯកសារភាគច្រើនត្រូវបានគេសរសេរឡើងជាភាសាអង់គ្លេស។

តាមពិតទៅមុខវិជ្ជាអ្វីក៏ដោយ សុទ្ធតែល្អដូចៗគ្នាហើយអាចឱ្យមនុស្សរកប្រាក់ចំនូលបានច្រើន​ដូចគ្នាប្រសិនបើពួកគេចេះមុខវិជ្ជានោះច្បាស់លាស់ដូចពាក្យមួយឃ្លាពោលថា”មិនមែនមនុស្សខ្វះការងារធ្វើទេ គឺមានតែការងារទេដែលខ្វះមនុស្សទៅធ្វើ”។ ឈឹម សុធារិទ្ធ ប្រាប់ថាតាមបទពិសោធដែលគាត់ធ្លាប់ជួបជាមួយអ្នកជ្រើសរើសបុគ្គលិកនិងអ្នកស្វែងរកការងារធ្វើ គាត់សង្កេតឃើញភាពខុសប្លែកគ្នាដោយ អ្នកស្វែងរកការងារនិយាយថាពិបាកស្វែងរកការងារ តែអ្នកជ្រើសរើសបុគ្គលិកនិយាយថាពិបាកជ្រើសរើសបុគ្គលិកដែលមានសមត្ថភាពមកធ្វើការ។ សុធារិទ្ធបន្តថានេះគឺមកពីនិស្សិតមួយចំនួន ពួកគាត់រៀនដោយការមិនចូលចិត្តឫមិនដឹងថាតើពួកគេកំពុងតែរៀនអំពីអ្វីទាល់តែសោះ។

ការរើសមុខវិជ្ជាមួយឱ្យត្រឹមត្រូវ មានន័យថាបុគ្គលខ្លួនឯងយ៉ាងហោចណាស់ត្រូវតែមានការស្រលាញ់ពេញចិត្ត ចុះបើការរើសដោយខ្លួនឯងមិនពេញចិត្តនឹងមានអ្វីកើតឡើង?

នូវ គីមហៀក មកពីខេត្តកំពង់ចាម ជានិស្សិតឆ្នាំទីមួយផ្នែកធនាគារ នៅវិទ្យាស្ថាន សេដ្ឋកិច្ច និង ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ បានឱ្យដឹងថាផ្នែកសេដ្ឋកិច្ចមិនមែនជាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលនាងពេញចិត្តនោះទេ ហេតុនេះហើយទើបបណ្តាលឱ្យនាងចាប់យកមុខវិជ្ជាមួយទៀតគឺផ្នែកទំនាក់ទំនងអន្តរជាតិនៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យ​បញ្ញាសាស្រ្ត។ គីមហៀកថ្លែងថាសព្វថ្ងៃខ្ញុំរៀនពីរមុខ ដោយមុខវិជ្ជាសេដ្ឋកិច្ចជាមុខវិជ្ជា ដែលឪពុកម្តាយនិងបងប្អូនខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់ ឯមុខវិជ្ជាខាងទំនាក់ទំនងអន្តរជាតិទើបជាអ្វីដែលខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់។

ឈឹម សុធារិទ្ធបានលើកឡើងថាសិស្សមួយចំនួនមិនបានជ្រើសរើសរៀន​មុខវិជ្ជាផ្នែកកសិកម្មឡើយ ដោយពួកគេមិនបានគិតដល់ថាសេដ្ឋកិច្ចនៃប្រទេសកម្ពុជា១ផ្នែកធំគឺពឹងផ្អែកលើវិស័យកសិកម្ម។

ឈឹម សុធារិទ្ធ​ បន្តទៀតថាអ្នកមួយចំនួនយល់ខុសថាការរៀនកសិកម្មពេលចប់គ្មានអាច​ធ្វើអ្វីបានក្រៅពីធ្វើស្រែ តែតាមពិតពួកគេអាចមានលទ្ធភាពច្រើនក្នុងការជួយដល់ខ្លួនគេនិងសហគមន៍៕

Written by: Dara Saoyuth and Koam Tivea

This article was published on Lift, Issue 22, June 9, 2010

Water and Energy for The Poor

Villagers are using thier new water pump/ Photo provided by: CRDT

Many Cambodians rely on the forest and fisheries of Cambodia for their livelihoods, but oftentimes their activities are harmful to the environment. The Cambodia Rural Development team (CRDT) is one of a number of organisations trying to halt deforestation and the destruction of natural resources. What makes CRDT different from other groups is that it was created by four university graduates from different provinces and backgrounds who share the same concerns about environmental problems.

CRDT was established in 2001 by Or Channy, Hean Pheap, Hang Vong and Sun Mao, who were seniors in the rural development department at Maharashi Vedic University. CRDT’s first project was launched in Kampong Cham province, where they built five water pumps and 15 biodigesters.

Hean Pheap said the idea of establishing this organisation came during a visit to Or Channy’s house in Kampong Cham when they saw that villagers were having problems finding firewood to cook and water to drink. “People in Channy’s village had to go 30 kilometers from their homes to find firewood for cooking and clean water to use in thier daily lives,” said Hean Pheap. “I knew how to make biogas cookers and water pumps. We talked together and decided to solve water and firewood shortage problem for the villagers,” he proudly explained.

CRDT’s vision is for “a Cambodia free of poverty and environmental degradation,” and to achieve this vision its mission is “to improve food security, incomes and living standards of subsistence rural communities while supporting environmental conservation throughout Cambodia.

Written by: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 21, June 2, 2010