In 1998, Arn Chorn-Pond began Cambodian Living Arts (CLA) as a simple but powerful project to find the few remaining master artists who had survived the Khmer Rouge genocide and support them to start teaching their skills to young people in their communities. Today CLA is one of Cambodia’s leading arts organisations and a key player in the arts ecosystem. Their work is based on the belief that the arts are at the heart of a vital society. They envision arts and cultural expression as essential to a thriving future for Cambodia, and their mission is to be a catalyst in a vibrant arts sector, inspiring new generations. Over the last 20 years, they have focused on helping talented people build and develop arts careers through scholarships, fellowships, and support to troupes and individuals. They aim to promote creativity and innovation in the arts sector alongside our new evolving role as a grant-maker to support the arts ecosystem further. They are also working to get more arts and culture education into Cambodian public schools and to increase performance opportunities for Cambodian artists. 

Phka Sla Akareach or The Independent of Phka Sla project, aims to encourage and empower women and girls to live on their self-independent concept and combat gender stereotypes and social norms that pressure single women who want to live independently. It indented to see women and society understand more about women’s rights in making decisions and be aware that being single or married is their choice. Change the mindset of the society that judges singleness, and the audience would know more about the tip to care about their mental health. They want society to see that judgment or stigma affects other people, especially their mental health. This is to encourage women not to be ashamed of being single. Also, women are more aware of well-being to make their mental health strong, so they are strong enough to make decisions. To achieve their main objective, they are using social media content creators and infographics to raise women’s awareness through 10 different contents; three podcasts’ episodes will be produced by joining by psychologists, influencers, and other special guests to stop bullying old-single ladies, understanding ”Decision making”, and get inspiration, tips, advice on how to take care of their mental health. 2 different physical events are planned to be organized in Battambang and Phnom Penh which will include a practical mental health workshop, song creation workshop, screening day, and art exhibition. This 12-month project is targeted to be conducted in Battambang province and Phnom Penh city.  

Main objective: Encourage women to be independent in decision-making, raise awareness about mental health, and eliminate the stigma of women’s singleness. 

Specific objective 1: Develop media content about marriage that is optional, not obligatory, mental health awareness, and event promotion. 

Specific objective 2: Physical event in Battambang and Phnom Penh: To promote mental health, awareness about women’s rights, and marriage is an optional mental health awareness and promotion of the event. 

Specific objective 3: Visibility and amplification of project results.