Khmer Rouge history education by Documentation Center of Cambodia 2018-2019

The agreement with the cooperation partner DC-Cam came to an end on 31 August 2021. The final report was submitted to the embassy and the assessment of the results is based on the reports and exchange of communication with the cooperation partner at the last conclusion periods.  Throughout the project period, the achieved results both expected and unexpected are summarized as follows:  Achieved results - The History of Democratic Kampuchea textbooks was approved by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to be published and disseminated to their targeted high schools and universities in Phnom Penh and provinces.  - The knowledge amongst the target groups, particularly women and youth on the Democratic Kampuchea (the history of Khmer Rouge) and comparative genocide (the holocaust) has increased. Numbers of dialogue on healing processes, new permanent exhibition panels as well as theatre play performance, "Breaking the Silence" were conducted in various locations such as Phnom Penh, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kandal, Prey Veng, Uddor Meanchey, Siem Reap and Takeo.   -  The permanent exhibitions (18 panels vs plan of 10) related to the revised History of the Democratic Kampuchea have been installed at different regional training centers and high schools in Cambodia which could eventually reach to 22,500 visitors. This result achievement was additionally contributed by the publication of Heidi Fried's holocaust experiences, which was translated into Khmer by a young Cambodian woman and distributed to the targeted schools and groups.  - During the launch of the "Breaking the Silence" theater play performance in Phnom Penh in 2018, Swedish Ambassador Maria Sargren gave a speech acknowledging the Swedish support to DC-Cam's project which aimed at contributing the education of the young generation about the Khmer Rouge past history, healing and reconciliation process in Cambodia. This launch event was participated by the Under-Secretary of State of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, some diplomats, and hundreds of students at   the National Institute of Education, international audience, and general public from several The total audiences attended the "Breaking the Silence" performances in Phnom Penh and four other provinces are at least 2,500 audiences. - For gender equality, the project applied a gender ratio of 50% male and 50% female for the activity implementation and events. For example, the project targeted 50/50 split between men and women for "Breaking the Silence" performers and for the participants as well. The project also provided the chance for women and girls to demonstrate their capacity and express voices because DC-Cam believed it was essential that all activities considering of maximum diversity and empowerment to the marginalized groups. Unexpected Results - The publication of Heidi Fried's book, it was not actually planned in the original project document. However, during the activity period DC-Cam requested to have such publication with remaining fund to increase more knowledge of Cambodian young people about comparative genocide education from Heidi Fried's work, "Questions I am Asked about the Holocaust" by translating the original text into Khmer language. It was successful as many readers, especially Cambodian students, expressed their interest in the translated book in relation to the comparative genocide in Europe and in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime with a hope to end such atrocities from happening again.

The overall objective of this intervention is aimed to support education on the Khmer Rouge genocide and healing in Cambodia for a one-year period. The intervention has two main components: (1) a theatre play "Breaking the Silence" and (2) the publication of updated History on the Democratic Kampuchea textbooks.