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Contemporary Cambodian Literature: Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol 7

Funding for Vol. 7 of the Nou Hach Literary Journal, the only publication of contemporary literature in Cambodia. Khmer with some English translations.

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  • Nou Hach Literary Association, Writers Conference in Phnom Penh, July 2013.
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Contemporary Cambodian Literature: Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol 7

Contemporary Cambodian Literature: Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol 7

Contemporary Cambodian Literature: Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol 7

Contemporary Cambodian Literature: Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol 7

Contemporary Cambodian Literature: Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol 7

Funding for Vol. 7 of the Nou Hach Literary Journal, the only publication of contemporary literature in Cambodia. Khmer with some English translations.

Funding for Vol. 7 of the Nou Hach Literary Journal, the only publication of contemporary literature in Cambodia. Khmer with some English translations.

Funding for Vol. 7 of the Nou Hach Literary Journal, the only publication of contemporary literature in Cambodia. Khmer with some English translations.

Funding for Vol. 7 of the Nou Hach Literary Journal, the only publication of contemporary literature in Cambodia. Khmer with some English translations.

Teri Yamada
Teri Yamada
Teri Yamada
Teri Yamada
2 Campaigns |
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
$2,100 USD 19 backers
100% of $2,100 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

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About this project

Why is it important?

It's important for young emerging Cambodian writers to see their work in print. It validates creativity and the significance of the written word;

It's important for young Cambodians to develop a literature that represents their own experience in modernizing Cambodia.

Background

This project supports the publication of the only literary journal in Cambodia: The Nou Hach Literary Journal.  After a hiatus of three years, we would like to publish Volume 7, which contains  award winning poetry and short fiction from the 2011 and 2013 literary contests sponsored by the  Nou Hach Literary Association (NHLA) in Phnom Penh. 

NHLA is an NGO established in 2002 with the intent to support the development of  younger creative writers in Cambodia and to provide a venue for them to publish.  It also fosters an emerging modern literary tradition for Cambodia, which was disrupted during the Khmer Rouge era.  Since the 1990s writers still struggle to establish a new tradition due to high publication costs, and a unregulated market of pirated books.   

Some of our writers associated with the Nou Hach Literary Association have achieved literary fame: Sok Chanphal was recently awarded the SEA WRITE AWARD for Cambodia.   Writers associated with NHLA produce both socially critical and imaginative fiction and poetry.  They are at the cutting edge of developing new literature for the younger generation of college educated Khmer.  A strong literary tradition influences literacy, an area where Cambodia lags behind other Asian countries. 

         We support young Cambodian writers to develop a new literary tradition of their own with free workshops lead by talented American, European, and Australian poets and fiction writers  volunteering their time while we provide the venue. There are no creative writing programs in Cambodian universities.

     Poetry Workshop with Greg Bem, "Writing Your Environment" (Fall 2013)

American Film-maker Greg Cahill at Short Film Workshop, Ministry of Information (summer 2007)

                Zine workshop with Ryan  (summer 2012)    

      Some Highlights in English for Vol. 7


"Strobe Lights"  by Yeng Cheangly (Second Place Award for Poetry, 2013)

                                Awesome!  This nightclub in the city

                                     Its strobe lights  brightly flashing

                                     Light swirling everywhere

                                     Shimmering in every color...

                                Colorful light fills the inside,

                                      Outside, pitch black darkness.

                                      Hungry lives walking, exploring

                                      Without the same clarifying light.

"Starlight"  by Chieh Kim Heang

Steung Mean Chey, my wonderland...The pile of garbage is my property; the property that never drains dry.

My name is Chey.  I do not know why I ended up living here or even when I arrived. Nor do I know my age.  My background is also a mystery.  Everyday I compete with others to pick up things that were thrown away on the stinking garbage pile.

Many people run after the garbage truck.  Garbage is our money; I and others run after the money. Some people say that I have done this job even in my previous life. How could they know about my previous life?  I don't even know about my own background now.  I don't even know my parents.

One day, there is an accident.  A monk falls into a fetid water channel with a dead dog in it. The people don't dare to help the monk; they just stand and watch as I save him from the smelly water. The awful odor is easy for me. Still it doesn't mean I don't like the fragrance of flowers.  I know that rotting things attract flies; flowers attract butterflies.  There is no butterfly on the garbage heap.  It has only flies, blue and grey headed flies.

Gold is still gold even when it has fallen into the mud.  The monk has fallen into smelly water; no one dares to approach him since he is not gold. The value of a person is based on the situation.  I help him to his home in the pagoda.....

      Workshop with poets Yin Luoth and Chin Meas, with editor Akhaing Khem 


What We Need & What You Get

The publication and distribution of 1,000 copies of the 150-page Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol. 7.  is $1, 400  for publication and distribution; $500 for layout and editing; $200 for cover art.  

     Pledge $5 or more and we will include your name in appreciation on the Nou Hach Literary Journal website as a supporter of the Journal and in our next publication.

      

     Pledge $50 and we will include your name on the Nou Hach Literary Journal website as a supporter and send you a copy of our latest publication "'Just a Human Being' and Other Tales from Contemporary Cambodia"  just in time for a holiday present.

       Pledge $75 or more and we will include your name in appreciation on the Nou Hach Literary Journal website as a supporter of the Journal  and send you a copy of the Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol. 7.

        Pledge $175 or more and we will include your name  in appreciation on the Nou Hach Literary Journal website as a supporter of the Journal, send you the Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol. 7 and a copy of the forthcoming fiction/poetry collection in English from the Nou Hach LIterary Association: Transnational Cambodia.


The Impact

Cambodia lags behind the rest of Asia in the development of a modern literature.  This impacts literacy in the country since without interesting literature there is not much incentive to read.  The young writers in Vol. 7 are not only the most promising creative writers in Cambodia today, they are also associated with a clarity of Khmer writing and editing.  Being published is the best incentive for young writers to keep mastering their craft.


Other Ways You Can Help

Please tell your friends and colleagues about our campaign. It means a lot to writers in Cambodia to have their work translated in English and read by an international audience.

Please use the Indiegogo share tools to spread the word!!

FUTURE PUBLICATION:  "TRANSNATIONAL CAMBODIA" 

Fiction, essays, poetry and a play in English by Cambodians at home and abroad

                       




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Choose your Perk

featured

Supporter

$5 USD
Pledge $5 or more and we will include your name in appreciation on the Nou Hach Literary Journal website as a supporter of the Journal and in our next publication.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
3 claimed

Terrific Supporter

$50 USD
Pledge $50 or more and we will include your name in appreciation on the Nou Hach Literary Journal website as a supporter of the Journal, and send you a copy of our latest publication: "'Just a Human Being' and other Tales from Contemporary Cambodia" in time for Xmas.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
1 out of 10 of claimed

Super Supporter

$75 USD
Pledge $75 or more and we will include your name in appreciation on the Nou Hach Literary Journal website as a supporter of the Journal and send you a copy of the Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol. 7
Estimated Shipping
January 2014
3 out of 20 of claimed

Magnanimous Supporter

$175 USD
Pledge $175 or more and we will include your name in appreciation on the Nou Hach Literary Journal website as a supporter of the Journal, send you the Nou Hach Literary Journal, Vol. 7 and a copy of the forthcoming fiction/poetry collection in English from the Nou Hach LIterary Association: Transnational Cambodia.
Estimated Shipping
January 2014
2 out of 10 of claimed
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