For most Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) students, picking up a camera is a recent adventure. For Grade 8 student Sou Chhay, it’s been just three months. Yet three of his striking images are already on public display, having been chosen for a national photography exhibition celebrating the vibrant life, people, and heritage of Phnom Penh.
Sou Chhay, 16, is one of seven CCF Photography & Media Club students whose work was featured in Photography for Empowerment. The exhibition, launched on August 30, showcases a rich collection of images captured by professionals, hobbyists, and emerging young photographers like Chhay. It runs for two months across three venues in Phnom Penh, with all proceeds supporting CCF’s Photography & Media Club.
The project is a creative collaboration between the Phnom Penh Photography Collective (PPPC), Kinin Collective, and CCF, aimed at empowering young photographers, celebrating local talent, and raising funds to nurture the next generation of Cambodian storytellers.
Over the past three months, CCF students took part in workshops and guided photowalks with professional and amateur photographers, learning to see their city through a new lens.
The result is a stunning visual narrative of Phnom Penh — its bustling street markets, rich history, evolving skyline, and the people who bring it to life.
One of Chhay’s photos, now displayed alongside the work of seasoned photographers, depicts a woman walking through Orussey Market, her red-and-yellow umbrella vivid against a muted backdrop.
“I waited for the right moment to capture her,” said Sou Chhay, who dreams of becoming a professional photographer or musician. “The umbrella’s colours reflect the building behind her — old meets new, like Phnom Penh itself.”
More than 500 submissions were received for the exhibition, narrowed down to 106 photos across three categories:
Phnom Penh Eclectic – Architecture, heritage, and spaces
Faces of Phnom Penh - Portraits celebrating diversity and resilience
The Pulse of Phnom Penh - Colours, textures, and moods of daily life
Work from other CCF students, not selected for the main exhibitions, was also showcased at the launch event.
Seeing my photo on the wall gives me the confidence to take more photos
For many students, seeing their work exhibited has been a huge thrill.
“I am so happy. Seeing my photo on the wall gives me the confidence to take more photos,” said Kimsang, 15, who photographed a weathered residential building depicting city life unfolding on the balconies.
Her 17-year-old sister’s photo, taken at dusk in Steung Meanchey near where the family lives, captures the glow of a single bulb illuminating the rubbish-strewn ground and a garbage cart.
Theavy, 13, a Grade 7 student, uses perspective to draw the viewer's eye through a local market.
Another student, Savet, 16, only started photography six months ago. Two of his images — a bustling street food scene and a dimly lit corridor — are now part of the exhibition.
“This is the first time I’ve entered an event like this,” he said proudly. “I wanted to show people what Phnom Penh is really like, things others might not notice.”
Savet with his street food scene image
And a darker feel showing a figure entering a rented room in a dimly lit entrance
The exhibition was the brainchild of Shunsuke “Take” Miyatake, Creative Director of PPPC, who previously ran a workshop for CCF students.
“This project is about more than photographs,” he said. “It’s about identity, memory, and change, seen through the eyes of those who live it every day.”
Kerryn Leitch of Kinin Collective echoed this sentiment:
“These exhibitions wouldn’t be possible without Take and the incredible photographers supporting CCF. They are a remarkable NGO doing so much for some of the neediest kids in Phnom Penh.”
Street photography gives our students the chance to see beauty and meaning in the everyday world around them, something poverty doesn’t often allow them to see
For CCF educators, the project represents more than artistic growth — it’s a way for students to rediscover their city and themselves.
“It also teaches students to slow down, find meaning in small details, and helps them to step out of their classroom and learn from their surroundings,” said Phorn Lea, CCF Education Project Officer.
Andrew Roberts, CCF’s STEM Coordinator, added:
"Street photography gives our students the chance to see beauty and meaning in the everyday world around them, something poverty doesn’t often allow them to see,” added Andrew Roberts, CCF STEM Coordinator.
“Through this exhibition, they’re not only sharing their voices alongside respected photographers, but learning that their creativity has value. It can open doors.”
