Personalizing the History for the young-age learners to learn about the History of Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1979)
By Ly David and Touch Vannet
On July 11, 2025, the Kampong Cham Documentation Center has a group visit of young students who are studying at Hun Neng Beong Snay Primary School located in Kampong Cham provincial town. A purpose of their visit is to see the Center’s library and exhibition and learn about the history with a session on listening to a story of the Khmer Rouge survivor Kim Ath. In realization of their young age to learn about it, our guest speaker personalized the history by focusing on suitable themes of survival, courage, and resilience while talking the historical facts gently and honestly.
Kim Ath, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime, firstly said, “I am so happy to see you and you are the same age of my grandchildren.” Then, she continued: “I live in Beong Kok 2 village, Beong Kok commune, Kampong Cham provincial town. As a child, I studied at Oddar Primary School. I dropped out of school at Grade 6 (old system). After that, I moved to live with my elder sister in Battambang province. Everything turned worse after Lon Nol coup to depose Samdech Norodom Sihanouk. The country fell into a war. I escaped from the war from one place to another. When the Khmer Rouge took over the country in 1975, I was sent to Anlong Vill village, Sangke district. The Khmer Rouge asked what my parents did in the previous regime. I replied that they were a farmer. The Khmer Rouge kept asking me if I had a father who served as a soldier, but I consistently said no. I told them that I was an orphan. On the next day, I was sent to do the farming with other people. I could not have any rights to do what I could. I must listen to what the Khmer Rouge told me to do. In 1977, I was given a task to harvest rice. The Khmer Rouge always came to examine my work. I lived in a hard life during the regime because I was from other place. The Khmer Rouge always monitored and checked my work. I was forced by the Khmer Rouge to work heavily hard. In 1978, I was sent to dig and carry earth to build a dam. At the dam site, I had to work from dusk till dawn and during the period of full moon, I had an extra work to do, starting from 8pm till 12 midnight. I worked at the dam until the forces of the United Front for the National Salvation of Kampuchea liberated the country. At that time, I did not return to Kampong Cham province but fled to seek safety in a refugee camp along the Cambodian-Thai border. Later, I returned to get reunited with my parents and siblings. I am grateful that I can have a second life after the 1979 liberation.”
Kim Ath ended her talk with a message: “I have a difficult life but you do not because you are born when our country has peace. Under any circumstance, you do not lose hope and never give up. Your parents and grandparents are having a difficult time but they make sure you have a happy life.”
Primary School Students listen to a story of the Khmer Rouge survivor
Kampong Cham Documentation Center
A Community Center of the Documentation Center of Cambodia
July 11, 2025
Photo by Sang Chanthou
Documentation Center of Cambodia Archives