This year, International Women’s Day was particularly special for some of our students in Phnom Penh as the Rise Women Music Festival took place for the very first time. Organized as a charity concert to raise funds for the frontline soldiers and families still affected by the recent Thai border conflict, this event was brought to life by a group of powerful women determined to make a difference.
Eight of Cambodia’s most popular female singers joined forces to put on an equally entertaining and inspiring show, thereby creating an unforgettable atmosphere, touching hundreds of Cambodian’s hearts with their messages of resilience, emancipation, and hope.
The concert opened with a performance by the Medha Women Drummer group, whose powerful rhythms honored traditional Khmer music and celebrated the country’s rich cultural heritage. The evening then featured an impressive lineup of performers, including one of our students’ favorite singers, Princess Jenna, arguably the most notable face from Cambodia’s Royal Family among Khmer Youth, as well as Aok Sokunkanha, who is considered one of the country’s most legendary songbirds.
Much to our students’ excitement, CYS decided to support this charity event with the purchase of several concert tickets, thereby simultaneously helping the organizers reach their donation goals while also treating a group of our students, who were available that day, to a memorable night.
Our students grew up in rural areas in Cambodia, often without access to basic necessities like water or electricity for large portions of their childhood. For them, the rapidly-evolving capital Phnom Penh offers countless new impressions – from modern shopping malls with elevators and escalators, that they had never seen before in their lives, to vibrant cultural events that draw large crowds. Concerts like this are still a very new experience for our students. Yet they offer a wonderful opportunity to see their favorite artists perform live and to connect with Cambodian art and culture in an exciting way. Events like the Rise Women Music Festival showcase how creativity can inspire communities, celebrate culture, and empower the Khmer spirit.
There truly could not have been a better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than by celebrating strong female artists, being moved by their creativity and lyrics, and at the same time helping raise funds for displaced families along the border.
Photo Credit: Concert pictures taken by the event’s official Facebook Page