talking about Cambodia which a country that have a nice, beautiful culture as its heritage, like Angkor wat, Vearak Jun and many other in Cambodia. Cambodian-American Heritage, Inc. (CAHI) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1980. The mission of the organization is the preservation of Cambodian arts and culture here in the United States.The centerpiece of the organization's cultural activities is its dance troupe and music ensemble. For almost 20 years, the troupe has performed selections from the repertoire of Cambodian classical and folk dances.
In recent years, the dance troupe and music ensemble have performed in a variety of settings including the 150th anniversary of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the Freer Gallery of Art, the American Red Cross, presidential inaugural events, various folk art and heritage festivals and our annual observance of Cambodian New Year during the month of April.
Music and dance have played an important role in Cambodian culture, as part of religious and court ceremonies dating back to the 7th Century. This dance and music tradition, passed down from one generation to the next, is an indelible part of Cambodian culture...the lifeblood of Cambodian history, myth and legend, both in the classical dance and the rich and varied folk dances.
The state of this highly ornate and stylized art form was seriously threatened in modern times during the rule of the notorious Khmer Rouge regime. From 1975 to 1979, the Khmer Rouge brutalized the Cambodians perished during the period of Khmer Rouge ascendancy. Among the artistic community, it is estimated that 90 percent of the dancers and teachers of the Royal Ballet and students and faculty at the University of Fine Arts perished during this dark period of Cambodian history.
This national tragedy galvanized a group of Cambodian-Americans to form Cambodian-American Heritage and begin what has become a journey of love and renewal to preserve Cambodian arts and culture here in the United States.
In 1998, Madam Sam-Oeun Tes, the troupe's dance director, was honored by the presentation of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship award for her work in the preservation and performance of Cambodian dance in what has now become an adopted part of America's folk heritage.
Cambodian Heritage Camp is a family camp where campers from age 3 to 18, plus their parents participate in classes, workshops and family-oriented special events presented by Cambodian Americans, adult adoptees, professionals in the field of adoption, and the campers themselves, all of whom enthusiastically share their perspectives and expertise with adoptive families. More than 30 Cambodian American young adults serve as counselors, acting as warm and caring role models and mentors to the children as they participate with them in cultural classes. Adult family members attend cultural and adoption-related workshops ranging from Cambodian cooking to the blessings and challenges inherent in our adoptive families. Founded and run by adoptive parent volunteers, CamHC is one of ten camps facilitated by the highly respected Colorado Heritage Camps organization, which has been running heritage camps for adoptive families for 15 years.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Cambodian Heritage Professionals Database Project:
This UNESCO project, which commenced in September 2002, is aimed at directly assisting the Government of Cambodia, and more specifically APSARA Authority, in the effective and sustainable management of the Angkor World Heritage Site.
The general objectives of this project are to create tools to assist in the effective operational management of the Angkor World Heritage Site; strengthen the institutional capacity of APSARA Authority; and contribute to the development of a National Training Strategy for the field of heritage conservation.
The specific tasks are to create a database containing relevant information on Cambodian cultural heritage professionals working for both national authorities and international teams at Angkor World Heritage Site. Work is being carried out with APSARA Authority staff members to gather information for the database, its design and use, and to prepare a series of recommendations related to skills development and capacity building in conservation and historic site management, aimed at assisting the development of a National Training Strategy for the field of heritage conservation. At the time of the drafting of this report, seventy-four curriculum vitae have been received so far from the various international teams working at Angkor World Heritage Site, but it is expected that more will be received in due course. A preliminary design for the database, which is to be run in Microsoft Access, has been completed, and data input has commenced. The database is due to be completed in the first half of 2003, and will be handed over to APSARA Authority for management.
Cambodian Heritage Camp
July 17-20, 2008 at Snow Mountain Ranch, Fraser, CO
2008 Co-Directors: Lori Hofferbert and Tracy McBrayer
Click here to view the family book
“My child and I both make tremendous friends at camp. She shares a bond with other adopted Cambodian kids that is unlike anything else.” – Cambodian Heritage Camp Parent, 2007
Having completed a highly successful sixth year, the Cambodian Heritage Camp (CamHC) is reaping benefits generated by its firm foundation of committed families, the active participation of U.S.-based Cambodian communities, and the creative energy brought by all camp participants. CamHC provides a rich and meaningful experience for all family members through the exploration and celebration of adoption-related issues, the establishment of friendships among individuals and networks of families, and the instruction of Cambodian culture and history. We are continuing our growth in 2008 and hope that you can join us!
Cambodian Heritage Camp is a family camp where campers from age 3 to 18, plus their parents participate in classes, workshops and family-oriented special events presented by Cambodian Americans, adult adopters, professionals in the field of adoption, and the campers themselves, all of whom enthusiastically share their perspectives and expertise with adoptive families. More than 40 Cambodian American young adults serve as counselors, acting as warm and caring role models and mentors to the children as they participate with them in cultural classes. Adult family members attend cultural and adoption-related workshops ranging from Cambodian cooking to the blessings and challenges inherent in our adoptive families. Founded and run by adoptive parent volunteers, CamHC is one of ten camps facilitated by the highly respected Colorado Heritage Camps organization, which has been running heritage camps for adoptive families for 15 years.
This year's camp will be our third in the beautiful Colorado Rockies at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch facility near Winter Park, CO www.ymcarockies.org - a family vacation destination in itself. We look forward to meeting new friends and old in July 2008 and encourage you to register early. Registration forms and information for Cambodian Heritage Camp 2008 will be mailed early in 2008. NOW is the time to request registration information, if you'd like to be on our mailing list.
What's Happening in 2008?
The theme for 2008 Cambodian Heritage Camp is “Building our Future”. We will join together in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado as we explore “building” in the internal & external sense. We will learn about traditional Cambodian buildings, from Angkor Wat, temples & palaces to village homes and schools. In addition to the actual buildings, we will learn about their significance in Cambodian culture. We will also explore “building” self-esteem, cultural respect & confidence in our children, as well as how we as parents can promote this and how the children can help themselves. Lastly, we will explore ways to build connections for advocacy and action. This will cover assistance agencies that help build Cambodia’s future and adoptive family networks to support and keep in touch with each other.
Parent workshop sessions will include cultural and adoption topics and will provide time for discussion and support as we “Build our Future” together as a community. We will have interactive cultural workshops specifically “built” for each age group of kids, including our ever growing adolescent group. The preschool and elementary kids will also have one HeART Talks session, which focuses on adoption related issues in an age appropriate manner. Our adolescents will again participate in the More than Me program, which is a way for them to give back to Cambodia.
We are returning for our third year to Snow Mountain Ranch. The optional Family Day activities will be offered again this year. The optional day will give families a chance to meet with old friends and make new ones, while engaging in various activities offered at Snow Mountain Ranch. Families will have an opportunity to participate in horseback riding, roller skating and swimming, or just come together informally.
Most of our Cambodian American friends from across the United States will be returning to camp this year. They play an integral part in camp, serving as positive role models, counselors and workshop/class facilitators. In addition, they travel at their own expense to camp, often taking time off from work to participate. We continue to be very thankful of their contributions to making camp successful and to sharing Cambodian culture with our families.
The Cambodian Market offers families a chance to purchase beautiful Cambodian items. This is also the main fundraiser for Cambodian Heritage Camp. You will find beautiful Cambodian jewelry, clothing, music, books, baskets, silk, silver and traditional crafts, as well as adoption related items.
0 comments:
Post a Comment