Water Is Life - art - development - youth

In the world of Ambassador Angela this evening, the project Water Is Life: Leaving No One Behind project (supported by Water Aid, the Embassy) brought together group of young people from different provide to be trained and use photography, art to talk about development, water and  different aspect of water as part of life of various community.

As I moved through different corner of the display set of photos taken by the trained young photographer, there are various story and themes that are of great interest to me.
Pottery productions portrayed through various shot taken by Sreyneang
Theme that drew my interest was one presented by a cheerful young lady from Kampong Chhnang where she portrays water, women, and clay pot production. Coming from community at the foothill of Krang Dei Meas, her communities livelihood rely on the use of clay to mix with water into the clay based production and pottery which serve to great extend as water container. I enjoyed listening to Sreyneang narrative of how her family turning the clay mud into each pottery product; how water play a central role in turning pieces of 'hard' clay into possible base of products; how her grandmother, mother, aunty and uncle all involve in this as other fellow villagers.

I was interested to hear from her reflection of putting herself as a photographer, being able to tell the story of her community's special skills in this pottery products and standing here at Bophana ground floor presenting her works to many audience. Smiling never escape her face the whole time we spoke and she is very proud that this is possible.

As a young age, and as a university graduated in Accounting, Sreyneang did not end up using her skill in the accounting field. beside this voluntary work that she seized as WaterAid announced their recruitment for young photographer for the project, she is an active community volunteer, working as a Community-based pre-school program in her home village. She dreams of engaging more with work that build her confidence. as we causally chatted with toward the end of the session, she was gazing admiringly at a friend of mine who is the director of WaterShed Cambodia who elegantly present herself as a young capable woman leader of our time. I remind Sreyneang that she has done well in her presentation today, that she should reconfirming herself of the knowledge she holds and to be confident in speaking about the issue she is passionate to share. I hope my encouragement could be a reassuring message for this young lady who has every potential any young woman has to pursue her dream.

Display of photo exhibitions and actual pottery products from Kampong Chhnang

I am proud to see that there are many other young people that seize the opportunity to present their thinking on the issue that are closed to their heart - such a how water is such a close determinant factor in our every life.

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