top of page

Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS Association) which translates as “brightness of the arts” in English is an Artistic and Social Center.

 

PPS Association is a Cambodian non-profit, non-governmental association founded in 1994 by ex -refugees young Cambodians in the area of Anchanh Village, Ochar commune, Battambang town, Battambang Province, Kingdom of Cambodia.

 

It is a semi-rural area populated by a majority of former refugees, farmers without land, and families in serious post-traumatic situations, the organization gradually gathered an increasing number of children. They were streets kids, trafficked children, and orphans, and the opportunity that gave them to have access to a free education and artistic practice helped them to be reintegrated into society and stand on their feet.

Awareness theatre troup educating Rurual Cambodian population about social health and issues.

PPS’s purpose is to improve the development of local communities by providing education as well as the practice of art. PPS also uses the arts to respond to the psychosocial needs of children and local residents, many of which are troubled by lack of education, poverty, and poor health.

The association gradually gathered more and more children who were living in difficult situations such as streets kids, trafficked children, and orphans, and helped them to reintegrate into society through the medium of culture and arts. 

From the practice of artistic activities emerge a real social dimension that help the children to make a first step in socialization process, through the simple fact to live together. Nevertheless, the process had to be combined with the reintegration of the children in the educational system, for it is the first medium of integration into society.

By education, we mean several educations: formal, non formal, scholar, artistic….

 

 

PHARE PONLEU SELPAK

PPS is working mainly with disadvantaged young people and emphasizing self-development and sustainability. PPS teaches circus skills, theater performance, music and a range of visual arts. It combines local traditions with new creative and innovative genres. Daring athleticism is combined with stories that speak powerfully to our not-too-distant history; for example, escape from tyranny is depicted through tightrope walking. The dark subject of Sokha, a young girl trying to deal with memories of atrocities with the goal to transmit its skills to the next generation, is relieved by breathtaking acrobatics in whichseemingly impossible goals are achieved. Other productions includes Hélène Cixous’ play on the Terrible but Unfinished story of Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia, written and played by the Theatre du Soleil in France in the 80′s before being translated in Khmer and played by PPS in 2011.

 

Over 18 years, PPS has become a professional art school and effective social center with far-reaching impact. The Rommet, its art gallery in Phnom Penh and public performances inspire people in a country devastated by war.  Students graduated with skills that help them earn a living:  They teach, perform, and have set up independent cultural initiatives. The circus theater group performs nationally, regionally and internationally, and recent tours to Bangladesh and Thailand included circus workshops for disadvantaged teenagers. PPS also organised the important annual Tini Tinou International Circus Festival, which facilitates cross-cultural exchange and collaboration.

 

PPS is also bringing classic education to young of the Anh Chan district thanks to a publicschool built in 2000 and welcoming now 1400 children from Primary to High school. It is working with the open and public library based in the campus open to everyone. In PPS, the approach is global in the sens that to have the best development possible, these children need to have a formal and informal education.

PPS is a Cambodian non-profit association steers underprivileged children and youth towards a better quality of life through cultural, artistic, educational and social skills. We envision the arts as an instrument for human development and social change; a way of securing a brighter future for our community, gaining national and international recognition for Cambodian arts.

bottom of page