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Welcome to Cambodia
Many travelers cite Angkor Wat, one of the great wonders of the world and the symbol of the heart and soul of the Cambodian nation, as one of the highlights of a visit to South East Asia. However, few tourists venture beyond the glory of the temples into wider Cambodia to discover other aspects that make up this diverse and captivating country.
Cambodia is a country rich in culture, nature, history and tradition. However, it has also been devastated by recent wars. Although tourism has grown dramatically in recent years, much of Cambodia still remains in poverty. Increasing numbers of visitors can also have negative environmental and social and cultural consequences and typically these impact the poorest of people.
Stay Another Day Cambodia presents a wealth of remarkable initiatives which not only provide ideas for a richer travel experience, but also the opportunity to contribute in some way to improving the welfare of local people.
The Cyclo Centre
Despite their iconic status, cyclo drivers are the poorest of urban poor in Phnom Penh. We provide a space for them to meet and access a range of services including educational, medical and social activities, all provided free-of-charge. We also organize fundraising cyclo rallies and cyclo tours for travelers who want a novel way to see the city.
Khmer Architecture Tours
Khmer Architecture Tours (KA Tours) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation established in 2003 to promote the understanding of modern architecture in Cambodia. Our tours focus on buildings erected after Cambodia’s independence in 1953, described as ‘New Khmer Architecture’, while setting these in the historical context of Phnom Penh.
Rehab Craft Cambodia
Run by and for disabled Cambodians, Rehab Craft Cambodia is a not-for-profit, non-religious, non-government organisation providing long-term and sustainable employment opportunities for Cambodians with physical disabilities. A fair trade organisation, it produces and markets quality handicrafts made by disabled artisans. Travellers can tour the workshops and see producers at work.
Centre for Khmer Studies
The Center for Khmer Studies support emerging Cambodian scholars, writers and artists, who almost disappeared during the Khmer Rouge regime. The Center boasts the largest specialized public library in Cambodia outside Phnom Penh, in the tranquil, restored Wat Damnak. It also prints books, research and reference materials.
Senteurs d’Angkor
Senteurs d'Angkor uses the finest ingredients from all over the country - its Kampot pepper is well-known - to produce high-quality handicrafts such as silk products, hand-made soaps and massage oils, and exotic sculptures. It prides itself on sourcing all its products in Cambodia, from raw ingredients to the packaging materials and focusing on keeping jobs and incomes within the country. Travelers can either visit the boutique or workshop - both in Siem Reap - to discover more.
Rachana Handicrafts
Rachana Handicrafts is a local, non-profit organization involved in the production and marketing of handicrafts and has developed a number of income generating activities for women and the disabled. Travellers can visit Rachana's workshop to see how the handicrafts are produced, or stop by at the retail shop to browse the products.
Krousar Thmey
Krousar Thmey (New Family) gives material, educational and social support to abandoned and orphaned children, street children and victims of trafficking. It has created a Khmer version of Braille and sign language, and adapted vocational training for students with sight and hearing disabilities while its centres provide a much needed home for the children.
ART+Foundation
Art+Foundation is a German Foundation in Cambodia. Established in 2003, we firmly believe that the performing arts, in particular classical music, have the potential to shape and change our world through creativity, the sharing of common values, learning and communicating.
Bunong Information Centre
The Bunong Information Centre (BIC) is a non-profit venture located within “The Middle of Somewhere” café. Replete with authentic Bunong décor, it is located along the main road in Sen Monorom near the market.
Phare Ponleu Selpak
Originating from simple drawing workshops at a refugee camp on the Thai border, Phare Ponleu Selpak (meaning the brightness of art) now has over 1,000 pupils, providing social and educational help to children through the revival of Khmer culture. Travellers can enjoy circus performances, participate in drawing workshops and tour the center.
Cambodian Craft Cooperation
Although weaving and wearing silk continues to be part of Cambodia's cultural and social traditions, most weavers are unaware of their products' value, with little access to markets. Set up to address this, the Cambodian Craft Cooperation supports small and family-run craft enterprises to improve their capacity. Check out the variety of Cambodian silk on offer at the shop.
Cambodian Living Arts
Founded eight years ago by a Cambodian-American refugee, CLA promotes the revival of traditional Cambodian art forms and empowers the students and master teachers to sustain themselves through the arts. Travellers can gain better insight of Cambodia's heritage by enjoying traditional shadow puppetry performed by firelight in the evening.
Sovanna Phum
Sovanna Phum (meaning Golden Era) is an independent and self-financed Khmer art association working at the forefront of performing arts in Cambodia. First established in 1994, Sovanna Phum offers real opportunities for Cambodian artists to make a living through their art by organising performances as well as nurturing, preserving and promoting the treasures of Cambodian culture through various projects.
Meta House
Meta House firmly believes that contemporary art is crucial to the development of any society and is working hard to fill a gap in the arts scene in Cambodia and offers a unique intercultural and interactive forum for artists on three and a half floors. Travellers can enjoy international art house cinema and films and meet and participate in workshops with local and international artists.
Cambodian Rural Development Team
Since 2004, Cambodian Rural Development Team has introduced alternative employment opportunities to over 1,000 families in return for their support of local conservation projects, which include the critically endangered Mekong River freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins in Kratie and Stung Treng, and the protection of tropical forest biodiversity in Mondulkiri.
Isanborei Craft Hut
Isanborei Craft Hut was established to revive the ancient art of craft making using traditional materials, reduce poverty, and encourage the conservation and development of the monuments of Sambor Prei Kuk which are older than the famous Angkor Wat. Travellers can check out the variety of local products available for sale at the Hut.
Wat Kor Cultural & Agricultural Village
Located 2km south of Battambang town, lie the cultural and agricultural villages of Wat Kor Commune where visitors can gain an insight into the Cambodian way of life. Known for its ancient wooden houses, some of which were constructed in the early 20th century, travellers can visit the villages the traditional way - by ox cart.
Epic Arts
Encouraging the belief that every person is counted, Epic Arts was set up to nurture and highlight the abilities of those usually termed as disabled by society. It organises arts workshops to promote the integration of disabled and able-bodied people and stages performances by Cambodia's first professional disabled dancers.
Sangkheum Center for Children
The Sangkheum Center for Children is a joint project between the Italian NGO Progetto Continenti and the Khmer Angkor Development Organisation (KADO). In the Khmer language, Sangkheum means ‘hope’. Since 2001, we have provided hope for over 274 orphaned, abused or neglected children.
Samatoa
Created in 2004, Samatoa Cooperative is a community group that specialises in producing silk apparel. Our desire from the start has been to re-introduce the unique quality of natural Cambodian silk using the knowledge of skilled weavers and tailors. Samatoa offers a wide range of quality products made from natural Cambodian silk. We offer tailored, ‘made to measure’ silk clothes in 24 hours.
Artisans Angkor
Established in 1999 to help young people find work in their home villages, the self-financed Artisans Angkor's aim is to revive traditional craft skills. It has so far created over 1,000 jobs for both artisans and non-craftsmen in rural Cambodia. A visit to the workshops will take travellers from raw materials to splendid craft-wares.
Wat Roka Kandal Pagoda & Handicraft Centre
The former pagoda of Wat Roka Kandal was constructed at the end of the 18th century and is the oldest preserved pagoda in Cambodia. Abandoned for many years, renovations of the pagoda took place in February 2002. At the centre, travellers can learn more about the pagoda, Kratie's fame for traditional crafts and how wicker products are made.
National Center for Khmer Ceramics Revival
The National Centre for Khmer Ceramic Revival (NCKCR) and its young Khmer students are passionate about reviving the ancient skill of creating traditional, high quality, Khmer ceramics that once thrived during the Khmer Empire from 802 to 1432. NCKCR was created in 2006 to revive this knowledge.
Cheung Kok Ecotourism Village - AMICA
For those traveling through the province of Kompong Cham, a must-see place is the Cheung Kok Ecotourism Village, developed with support from Assistance Médiation Internationale (AMICA). Travellers can visit the village and take part in activities to experience village life. Profits from tourism go towards re-investment into long-term projects.