The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts raised more than $80,000 from a December 16 charity performance in Siem Reap, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Angkor Archaeological Park’s addition to the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The funds were gifted to the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital.
The event sold tickets to an exclusive dinner event at the Bayon Temple. Guests were treated to a wide range of performances that showcased the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage. The heads of local ministries and institutions, working groups, UNESCO, and international partners of the APSARA National Authority (ANA) were in attendance.
The assembled visitors witnessed performances by the Secondary School of Fine Arts; Department of Performing Arts; Om Youvandy Cultural Arts Club; Preah Sorya team; Yuthakrom Com Federation; Chey Techa Bokator School; Leak Rayong Bokator Association; Tep Botumvong Classical Music Group; and Pich Charnai Bokator Team.
All of the artists worked closely together to create a show which reinforced the cultural wealth of the nation and reminded people of the magnificent Khmer civilisation.
Long Bonna Sirivath, culture ministry spokesman, said the funds raised had already been handed to the hospital.
“This was a one-off event. We specifically organised it to benefit the children’s hospital and mark the anniversary of Angkor inscription on the UNESCO heritage list,” he added.
Tickets to the event were $500 per person, or $3,000 for a table of eight.
Since its 1992 reopening, the Kantha Bopha hospital has saved the lives of millions of Cambodian children.
According a recent report by the hospital, 67,629 children were examined and treated in the outpatient consultation department in November, while 13,869 seriously ill children were hospitalised.
Surgery was performed on 1,895 children, including 69 instances of heart surgery. 8,193 pregnant women received antenatal care and 1,808 children were born in the same period.
