This morning, I woke up to rain, sounding like a drum beating on the roof of our house. As it cleared and sunlight started to brighten the day, I could hear the sounds of birds chirping.  Singing in anticipation of today. Like we are, in our excitement to attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) opening today. 

COVID 19 has disrupted so many in person events and UNPFII has been one of those. Even as the pandemic hit the world and forced everything to close, the rights of indigenous peoples continue to worsen. 

This year’s theme, achieving SDG 16 through peace,  justice and strong institutions is important because without strong institutions like the United Nations, I cannot imagine what the state of the world would be in terms of peace, justice and human rights. 

Likewise, without an indigenous organization like the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF), the voices of the Khmer-Krom people would not be heard in the global arena.

It was the KKF that put Khmer-Krom on the map and on the internet. And while the world knows more about Khmer-Krom than it did decades ago, much remains to be done to ensure they have equal access to health, education and recognition as indigenous peoples. 

It is also through  the work of unrecognized institutions inside of Kampuchea-Krom such as our Khmer-Krom temples and endless work of our Theravada Buddhist monks that have played a crucial role in helping to preserve our culture  and Khmer identity for centuries.  

Our temples are more than a religious institution, it is our community center. It is a place where we gather to learn about our culture, religion and language.  With over 450 temples scattered across the Mekong Delta, it has stood the test of time. It is like a beacon of light and hope for the Khmer-Krom in their fight for the right to live in dignity, peace and as equals.

Because of the sacrifices of our ancestors and important work of our spiritual leaders and our people inside and outside of Kampuchea-Krom today,  we are more powerful and connected than we have ever been before. 

Today, a group of Khmer-Krom youth representing KKF and our Khmer-Krom brothers and sisters in the Mekong Delta will be joining this important event virtually, to ensure that the voices of our Khmer-Krom people are heard and included. 

I am so thankful for our passionate youths and the amazing work they have done with the t-shirt campaign. We’ve had more requests than we can handle, especially requests from our international community. Thank you to those who bought the t shirt and continue to donate their time and efforts towards the Khmer-Krom cause.

If you would like to support the important work of KKF, you can donate here. Or you can order a t- shirt to support the youth if you are in the US.