Lakhon Komnit Organization is a newly established organization that registered with the ministry of interior on 9th September 2019 as a local organization working to promote Cambodian spoken theatre to be known and valued as a meaningful artistic practice that fosters critical thinking and improves the lives of Cambodian communities.    Lakhon Komnit Organization’s mission is dedicated to providing opportunities for Cambodian  people to participate in, create, perform and watch Lakhon Niyeay. These intellectually and  emotionally stimulating experiences can be a catalyst for reflection and self-development.   Dignity – we respect and value the worth of all people; we listen to their stories with empathy and amplify silenced voices   Inspiration – we work with creativity to produce unique, high quality, thought-provoking theatre   Connection – we nurture collaboration, creating spaces and experiences which connect people, feelings and ideas   Reflection – we review and reconsider, challenge limiting beliefs and develop new ways of seeing.  

“Breaking barrier through theater” project aims to empower rightsholders group by increasing their confidence and self-awareness to share their challenges and voices through innovative forum theatre. It’s expected to accomplish change for women facing exploitation and abuse, LGBTQI, and people with disability as individuals and in groups, social and organization development.  Moreover, this project intends to establish three self-sustaining support groups (key actors support group) of women facing violence, LGBTQI and people with disability to replace the isolation, promote positive interpersonal relationships within the groups, feel safe to share and willing to listen, provide mutual support and encouragement.     LKO has proposed a 20-month project duration with intervention approaches as below:    Goal: To create opportunity, promote inclusion and raise voices and visibility for positive behavior change towards women facing violence, LGBTQI and people with disability using community theatre workshop and performance in Battambang.    Expected result 1: Theatre for all, Using theatre workshops to build relationships, confidence, knowledge and theatre performance skills for women, LGBTQI and people with disability groups. They can create a show based on their stories to express their life experiences, discrimination and challenges with their performance in the community and other public spaces.   Expected result 2: Key Actor Focus-Led Support group, to create their own safe space, building trust and relationship and be able to express their needs and issues with strong voices through art and theatre performance. Each group will receive more capacity strengthening and working together using art and theatre performance activities to raise their common voices, building trust and confidence within the group. The empowerment process of each group will be captured and documented for future learning and reflection.    Expected result 3: Seeding Support Groups_ 3 Key actor support groups (Women, LGBTQI, PwDs) have inspired and engaged more members to join their support groups using art and theatre to express their issues to make their voices heard. LKO to provide backstopping support to each group to define their own goals and design their continuation plan to tackle discrimination and social exclusion in the long-term outcome.