TEDxPhnomPenh

Ronjon Bhattacharya is a management consultant in Bain & Company’s Melbourne office, where he does his best to avoid acting like a consultant in his everyday life. His previous career experience includes service in the US Navy, where he served as an intelligence liason and as an engineer. He has also been a professional singer/songwriter, and he used to run the largest Frisbee league in Korea.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

Kosal Khiev is a poet, tattoo artist, and survivor of the US prison system. Born in a Thai refugee camp, Kosal’s family fled to the U.S in 1981. At the age of 16, Kosal was arrested in a gang fight and charged with attempted murder. Kosal was tried as an adult and sentenced to 16 years in a state penitentiary. Spoken word became his creative channel to tell his own story and transform his anger, regrets, and experiences into a poetic art form. Kosal was deported to Cambodia upon his release. Here, has been selected as the first artist-in-residence with Studio Revolt, where he is collaborating on “Spoken Kosal: Verses in Exile,” a series of short films featuring his poetry. Kosal lives as an exiled American in Phnom Penh where he continues to share his story and art.

For more information please visit: www.spokenkosal.com

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

A freelance photojournalist and teacher, Soluy believes that to create real change, you have to teach people ‘how to fish’. She uses photography as a medium for teaching people about self-sustainability and to help them identify their own talents and interests.

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.” The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

Lisa (aka ‘Lil Dots’) is the first official female street artist in Cambodia. Her work can currently be seen in galleries, cultural centers, on billboards and on the sides of buildings all over Phnom Penh. Lisa wants Khmer graffiti and street art to be seen all around the world. She believes this will put urban Khmer art on the map and inspire Khmer Youth around the world to take pride in their culture.

Peap (Pee-Ap) is one passionate cat. When he’s not painting masterpieces, he can be found collaborating with hip-hop acts or launching a clothing label. Working almost exclusively in black and white, Peap’s tribalistic patterns take as much influence from his New Zealand home as they do from his Cambodian heritage. Peap is a member of Army Of Snipers, an international art collective created by Peap’s close friend Angry Woebots, and Klap Ya Handz, Cambodia’s first hip hop label.

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.” The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

Join the TEDxPhnomPenh Simulcast Event (register here) to watch streaming video of the live event and participate in great LIVE workshops, including:

Livina Tep, The Power of Self Confidence (10.55-11.20)

Five years ago, Livina Tep was a gangster and an alcoholic without any purpose in life. He ended up getting shot in the leg during a street fight. This event changed his life forever. Through the power of self-confidence, he became a university honor student and a successful entrepreneur. Come join Livina’s workshop and learn how to develop your own confidence that will help you reach any goal you set for yourselves.

Joshua Jones, Coffee Tasting Workshop (10:55-11:20)

Joshua Jones is a coffee aficionado and works full-time in Cambodia for Three Corner Coffee Roaster: a company that is helping to develop international quality standards in the Kingdom’s local coffee industry. Joshua is eager to spread his love of good Khmer coffee, and will offer a couple of varieties of coffee for TEDx Simulcast attendees to try out.

Horm Somnang, Success Management Workshop (13:05-13:30)

Horm Somnang, Executive Director at Action Learning for Development has over 4 years experience as an educator and consultant, as well as a long career as a university lecturer. In this workshop, participants will gain a basic concept of leadership skills to improve their way of setting goals. By building motivational and leadership skills amongst the new generation, Mr. Somnang hopes to develop Cambodian society.

TONG SOPRACH, Critical thinking Workshop (13:05-13:30)

Tong Soprach is a columnist for the Phnom Penh Post and a public health consultant. He graduated with a Masters degree in Public Health and has over 10 years experience working with local and international organizations related to the health sector. Soprach is convinced that if more Cambodians learn the art of critical thinking they will improve their chances of becoming successful in whatever field they are involved with. During his workshop you’ll learn the basics of critical thinking first hand.

The TEDxPhnomPenh Simulcast Event will also feature two live performances:

Peap Tarr & Lisa Mam, Live , Live Urban Art (12:25-13:40)

Peap Tarr and Lisa Mam are at the forefront of the development of a distinctively Cambodian urban art movement, fusing Western and Khmer culture and introducing a new generation of Cambodians to a global art movement based on spontaneity and creativity. Peap and Lisa will draw a unique and ephemeral piece of art live in front of TEDx Simulcast attendees. Don’t be afraid to approach – they’re eager to discuss their art!

Andy Hawkings, Drum Workshop (14:50-15:20)

Andy is an educator, a composer, a singer and classically trained guitarist.  He currently teaches music at iCAN British International School and is the Director of Music at the recently-opened NGO, Music Arts School.  Andy will bring his idiosyncratic style of teaching to involve the audience in a collective rhythmic and melodic experience like no other.  With Andy’s guidance, participants will learn the power of collaboration by using their voices and other instruments to create a unique musical composition that will leave an indelible impression on heart and mind.”

Click here to reserve your ticket!
 

Theary Seng – Title of Talk:  “Reconciling Peace with Justice in Cambodia”

កញ្ញាសេង ធារី ជាអ្នកនិពន្ធនិងជាសកម្មជនសិទ្ធមនុស្ស ហើយនិងជាស្ថាបនិកនៃ មជ្ឈមណ្ធលកម្ពុជាដើម្បីយុត្តិធម៌ ហើយនិងការផ្សៈផ្សា, មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលកម្ពុជាសំរាប់អប់រំ ស៊ីវីលហើយនិងសមាគមន៍ជនរងគ្រោះកម្ពុជាពីរបបខ្មែរក្រ ហម ។

បន្ទាប់ពីខ្មែរក្រហបានសំរាប់របស់គាត់ រូបគាត់និងក្រុមគ្រួសារដែលនៅរស់រានមាន ជីវិតបានធ្វើដំណើរ ឆ្លងកាត់ព្រំដែនចូលទៅកាន់ប្រទេសថៃនៅក្នុងខែ វិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ ១៩៧៩ហើយបានសន្តោប្រវេសទៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិច មួយឆ្នាំបន្ទាប់ពីនោះ ។ គាត់បាននិពន្ធសៀវភៅមួយក្បាលដែលមានចំណងជើងថា កូនស្រីក្នុងសម័យវាលពិឃាត នៅក្នុងទីក្រុងឡុងក្នុងឆ្នាំ ២០០៥ដែលក្រោយមកបានកែសំរួលនៅថ្មីនៅអាមេរេក ខាងជើងហើយដាក់ លក់នៅ(Seven Stories Press NYC, 2011) ។

គាត់ពេលនេះកំពុងតែនិពន្ធសៀវភៅទីពីរ ស្តីអំពី យុត្តិធម៌ហើយនិងការផ្សៈផ្សា ក្នុងពន្លឺទៅកាន់សាលាក្តីខ្មែរក្រហម ហើយនៅក្នុងនាមគាត់ជាជនរ ងគ្រោះដំបូងបំផុត ដែលត្រូវប្រឈមមុខនិងមេដឹកនាំកំពូលខ្មែរក្រហមក្នុងច្បាប់អន្តរជាតិ ។ គាត់មានតួនាទីជាសមាជិកក្រុមរបឹក្សា ភិបាលនៃអង្គការមួយចំនួនរួមមាន បណ្តាញបង្រួបបង្រួមដើម្បីតម្លាភាពសង្គមនៅតំបន់អាស៊ីបាស៊ីភិចដែលប្រតិបត្តិការដោយ Ateneo School of Government ហើយឥឡូវនេះវាក្លាយទៅជាមូលនិធិឯករាជ្យ ជាផ្លូវការនៅក្នុង ប្រទេសហ្វីលីពីន មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលធនធានសិទ្ធិមនុស្សសំរាប់តំបន់អាស៊ាន ជាមូលនិធិផ្លូវ ការនៅក្នុងប្រទេសឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី។

Theary Seng is an author, a human rights activist, and the founder of the Cambodian Center for Justice & Reconciliation (CJR), Civicus: Center for Cambodian Civic Education (CIVICUS), and the Association of Khmer Rouge Victims in Cambodia (AKRVC). After the Khmer Rouge killed both her parents, she and her surviving family trekked across the border for Thailand in November 1979 and emigrated to the U.S. one year later.  She wrote Daughter of the Killing Fields (London, 2005), which will be updated and available in North America (Seven Stories Press NYC, 2011).  She is working on a second book on justice and reconciliation in light of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal and her role as the first recognized victim civil party to confront the senior Khmer Rouge leaders in international law. Theary sits on the Governing Board of various organizations, including the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in the East Asia & Pacific (ANSA-EAP) operated by the Ateneo School of Government, now an independent Foundation registered in the Philippines; and the Human Rights Resource Center for ASEAN (HRRCA), a Foundation registered in Indonesia.

Now through August 12th: TEDxPhnomPenh is accepting speaker applications for the October 15th event.

The ideal TEDxPhnomPenh speaker is…

1. Engaging (Will the idea engage the audience? Would our audience be excited about hearing this talk?)

2. Original (Is the idea presented in a new way? Will it open people’s eyes to a new point of view?)

3. Relevant (Is the idea relevant to our theme of ‘work/play’? Is it relevant to Cambodia? Can our audience relate to the idea?)

4. Logical (Did the speaker give a clear overview of their talk? Is this structure clear and logical?)

5. Experienced (Will the speaker’s background appeal to the audience? Are they qualified to give this talk? Is their presentation style enthusiastic and entertaining?)

Thanks in advance for your application. Good luck!

Join our evening TEDTalk Wednesday, June 29th.

Cambodia’s first TEDx event has come and gone, and all of the members of the first planning committee are breathing a sigh of relief.  We have been delighted to read so many comments agreeing that the day was indeed a success.  This had to do with so many factors, and we wanted to highlight a few of them for others who are planning similar events, for ourselves to remember for the future, and for all of you to be able to add your voice.

This event was a success because:

1) We had amazing speakers and performers.  Some speakers, have done lots of presenting, and they brought a calm yet passionate presence to the stage.  Others were speaking to a global audience for the first time, or presenting on a topic new to them, and each put many hours into practicing and perfecting their talks.

2) Practice. Practice. Practice. We think that one of the reasons this event was so successful was that the speakers really took the time to practice their talks. In addition to the two run-thrus the TEDx team planned over the last two weeks, many speakers presented their talks at Khmer Young Entrepreneurs (KYE) meetings,  We were all so impressed with the improvements and changes we saw in so many of the presentations over the course of the last few months and we know that the time the speakers put into their their talks made it easier for their passion and personalities to shine through on the day of the event.

3) Fabulous partners. Our sponsors were fabulous: Northbridge, EZECOM, and Cellcard gave us the support and funding we needed to make the event possible and to livestream the day on the internet. As we mentioned yesterday, Rob and his wife Kelli from Northbridge schools were key to making this event possible. The Northbridge students who helped volunteer were essential to keeping the event running! Lift magazine made it possible for us to host an Essay Contest to select a final speaker, and we want to congratulate Seiha again on putting his presentation together in such a short time after winning the contest!

4) A great team. The team of people involved in getting TEDxPhnomPenh off the ground was far greater than even the number of people we were allowed to invite to the event. There were more than 30 people who attended planning meetings and gave their time and energy to getting the event off the ground. At the same time that we started the TEDxPhnomPenh meetings, the KYE team started and has over 100 members. This group helped vet and coach speakers as well as gather interest and support for the TEDx event among young Khmer students and professionals who might not have heard of TED before. The audience had to apply to be a part of the day – and we were inspired by the essay submissions we received from applicants. Our team of 9 organizers got so much out of the event – from meeting the speakers, from getting to know the audience, and from working with each other. We all believed in the idea of bringing “Ideas Worth Spreading” to Cambodia and, because of a shared commitment to the team and the event, we all grew from taking this project on.

So – THANK YOU all for being a part of this. For spreading the word, for giving your time, for sharing your ideas, for voting, for nominating, for attending, for “liking”, for commenting, and for supporting this event!  We’re grateful to have been a part of this inaugural event!  If you are interested in being part of the the next TEDxPhnomPenh planning committee, please be in touch with us (info@tedxphnompenh.com) as we are already starting to think about the next event!  (Note: We’d LOVE more Khmer leaders on our planning team – so spread the word!).

Thank you, and we hope to see you all involved in the next event!

- The First TEDxPhnomPenh Planning Commitee
Allie Hoffman, Bryse Gaboury, Daniela Papi, Justin Lorenzon, Marc Rousseau, Megan Clavier, Melina Chan, Nikola Errington, and Rithy Thul

More photos from TEDxPhnomPenh have been added to the TEDx group page on Flickr – check them out here.