Philosophy Club

After a lot of great Open Workshops over the last few months at Kinyei, we’re continuing to host the Open Workshop about Philosophy class; it starts every Thursday from 6pm- 7pm at Kinyei.

What is it about ? This workshop is both for Khmer people and foreigners. It aims to bring people together to discuss and share the philosophy of life and community eg. This workshop will not just about discussing but also to encourage our minds to understand more about life and other philosophies.

About the Presenter Diana Thompson from Australia has been running a lot of workshops about philosophy for many people with different ages. She has many experiences discussing philosophy, and she wants to share with people to understand more because philosophy is very important for everyday life .

Who’s it for? The Workshop will be in English and it  will be the best for people who are interested to know more about philosophy of life and who want to improve their thinking, and share and discuss about their own topics of philosophy. So, please invite people who are interested in this, to get more ideas and learn more about philosophy from each other.

Where to join ? Workshop place is at kinyei Cafe on the street number 1.5  near central market, Battambang town.

When ? Every  Thursday from 6 pm to 7pm .

Extra: If you have a particular skill, idea or experience you would like to share with the broader community, we’d love to talk to you about an open workshop, please contact us by email at info@kinyei.org.

As always, participation in Kinyei Open Workshops is free of charge. Look forward to seeing you there!

After a bit of a hiatus the Open Workshop is back with an amazing opportunity: Working Across Cultures with veteran trainer John Jablonka, June 6th at 2pm. Our last cross-cultural workshop packed out so make sure you get in early!

What is it about?

This workshop is both for Khmer people and foreigners working in Battambang in the social enterprise and development sectors. It aims to bring people together to discuss the issues faced in working with people from diverse cultures eg. How can we best …

• Form relationships?
• Communicate?
• Manage time?
• Plan?
• Get things done?
• Create Change?
• Sustain change?

The workshop is not about do’s and don’ts that oversimplify cultures. It will encourage dialogue using participatory approaches. It will enable you to explore ideas and myths about culture and generate some unique ideas relevant to your communities and people.

About the Presenter

John is a cross cultural trainer based in Australia who works with developing communities. He has been travelling to work in Cambodia since 2000 as well as many other countries in the Asia Pacific where he has explored principles for working well across cultures.

Who’s it for?

Workshop will be in English and Khmer (volunteer translators welcome). The workshop will work best with a mix of participants so please invite both your expat and Khmer colleagues.

How to register?

Workshop places are limited so please register your interest to ensure a place.

Please email workshop@kinyei.org with:

Your name: Number of people participating: Organisation (if applicable): What do you want to achieve in this workshop:

When

Tuesday June 5, 2pm – 5pm. (update: previous date was incorrect, this is now the correct date)

Where

Kinyei Cafe St 1.5 Battambang Town

As always, participation in Kinyei Open Workshops is free of charge. Look forward to seeing you there!

—

ធ្វើការជាមួយវប្បធម៍ចំរុះ

បន្ទាប់ពីបានសរាក់បន្តិច ពីការសិក្ខាសាលា ត្រឡប់មកនេះគឺជាឳកាសដ៏អស្ចារ្យ៖ គឺការធ្វើការ ចំរុះវប្បធម៍ជាមួយអ្នកបណ្តុះបណ្តាល ចន ចាបលូកា (John Jablonka) នៅថ្ងៃទី ៦ ខែ មិថុនា នៅវេលាម៉ោង ២រសៀល។ សិក្ខាសាលាអំពី ការចំរុះវប្បធម៍ និងមានអ្នកចូលរូមច្រើន ហើយ ចំនួនមានកំណត់ ប្រាដកថាអ្នកមកចូលរូមបានមុនពេលចាប់ផ្តើម។ តើគេនិយាយអំពីអ្វី?

សិក្ខាសាលានេះ អ្នកចូលរូមគឺមានទាំងខ្មែរនិងបរទេស ដែលពូកគេធ្វើការក្នុងខេត្តបាត់ដំបងនិង ជាភ្នាក់ងារជាអភិវឌ្ឃសង្គម។ យើងមានគោលបំណង ប្រមូលផ្តុំមនុស្សទាំងនោះមកធ្វើការ ពិភាក្សាទៅបញ្ហាដែលធ្វើការជាមួយមនុស្សដែលមានវប្បធម៍ខុសៗគ្នា។ ជាឧទាហរណ៍ដូចជា៖ តើយើងអាចធ្វើយ៉ាងណា…. ទំរង់នៃការទាក់ទង? ការទំនាក់ទំនង? ការគ្រប់គ្រង់ពេលវេលា? គំរោងការ? ធ្វើការផ្លាស់ប្តូរ? គំាទ្រការផ្លាស់ប្តូរ? សិក្ខាសាលានេះគឺមិនអំពី មិនមែនធ្វើអ្វីឲ្យខុសឆ្ងាយពីភាពសមញ្ញនៃវប្បធម៍។ យើងនិង លើកទឹកចិត្តចំពោះការចូលរួមធ្វើការសន្ទនា។ យើងនិងធ្វើឲ្យអ្នកអាច ស្វែងរកគំនិត និង ជំនឿដែលមិនគួជឿអំពីវប្បធម៍ និងធ្វើការបង្កើតនូវគំនិតដែលពាក់ពន្ធ័ទៅនិង សហគមន៍ និង មនុស្ស។ អំពី វាគ្មិន លោក ចន គឺជាអ្នកបណ្តុំបណ្តាល់អំពីវប្បធម៍ចំរុះមួយនៅ អូស្រ្តលី ដែលគាត់ធ្វើការជាមួយការ អភិវឌ្ឃសហគមន៍។ គាត់បានធ្វើដំណើរមកប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ចាប់តាំងពីឆ្នាំ ២០០០ មកម្ល៉េះ ហើយ គាត់ក៏បានធ្វើដំណើរទៅប្រទេសផ្សេងៗទៀតជាច្រើន នៅអាស៊ីប៉ាស៊ីភិចនេះ ដែលគាត់បាន ស្វែងរកនូវគោលការណ៍ សំរាប់ការធ្វើការងារចំរុះវប្បធម៍នេះ។

តើសិក្ខាសិលានេះសំរាប់អ្នកណា?​ សិក្ខាសាលានេះចាប់ធ្វើរូមគ្នាជាមួយជនជាតិខ្មែរ និងបរទេស (អ្នកស្មាគ្រ័ចិត្តបកប្រែទាំងអស់ សូមស្វាគមន៍)។ សិក្ខាសាលានេះ និងដំណើរការទៅបានល្អប្រសើរលុះត្រាតែមានការចូលរូមចំរុះ ដូចច្នោះ សូមអញ្ជើញទាំងបរទេស និងបុគ្គលឹកខ្មែរ។

តើអ្នកចុះឈ្មោះដោយរបៀបណា? ទីកន្លែងសំរាប់សិក្ខាសាលា គឺមានកំណត់ដូចច្នោះសូមប្រញាប់រួសរាន់ចុះឈ្មោះឡើង ដើម្បី ធានាបាននៅទីកន្លែងសំរាប់អ្នក។

សូមទំនាក់ទំនងមក អ៊ីម៉ែលរបស់ខ្ញី៖ អ៊ីម៉ែល៖ workshop@kinyei.org ឈ្មោះ ចំនួនអ្នកចូលរូម អង្គការ (ប្រសិនបើអាច) តើអ្នកចង់បានអ្វីពីសិក្ខាសាលានេះ? នៅពេលណា? ថ្ងៃទី ០៦/ មិថុនា/ ២០១២ ពីម៉ោង ២ល្ងាច ដល់ម៉ោង ៥​ល្ងាច។ នៅឯណា? ធ្វើនៅ ខ្ញី នៅផ្លូវលេខ ១ កន្លះ ក្នុង ក្រុងបាត់ដំបង។

Jan Cornall travels the world teaching creative writing workshops. We’re happy to have the chance to host her at the Open Workshop for two sessions on Tuesday, December 20, one on creative writing and another on zine production. Here are the details:

The Zen of Zine Making – 11am-3pm, 20 Dec

Get some pointers on the Japanese art of haiku (three line poem) and haibun (descriptive haiku like prose)  then learn how to make a simple zine (small hand made book) to put them in. Working with handmade papers,fabric and found materials learn how to use folding and oriental stitching to create different kinds of zines and mini artist books. No experience necessary – just a creative spirit and desire to play with words and paper.

Workshop schedule includes time for lunch.

Seize the Moment Creative Writing Workshop – 6.30pm-8.30pm, 20 Dec

Have you always wanted to write a collection of stories or poems, travel memoir, life story or play around with fiction or non-fiction? Are you already writing but need a shot of inspiration to keep you going? In a creative and supportive atmosphere find out where to start, how to progress and set realistic goals for finishing. Revise the essential elements of writing; learn how to find your writers voice, develop descriptive detail, create interesting characters and find the structure that will bring your story to life. Using meditative techniques discover how easy it is to access your creative source on a daily basis and leave the workshop with a plan that will see you completing your writing project within months. All genres, all levels of experience welcome.

About Jan

Jan Cornall is a Sydney based writer, performer and teacher who supports writers through the long process of realising their creative work. The author of fifteen plays and musicals, a feature film, three CDs of songs and a novel, Jan teaches creative writing at writer’s centres, community colleges and universities in Australia and the Asia Pacific. Jan also leads writing retreats in inspirational locations: Bali, Fiji, Laos, Cambodia and the Australian desert. Dedicated to nurturing the unique attributes of each writer, each year a number of her students go on to publish with major publishing houses. www.writersjourney.com.au www.myspace.com/jancornall

Who’s it for?

Any age, genre, experience level welcome. Workshop will be in English (volunteer translators welcome), participants are welcome to write in their own language.

How to register?

Workshop places are limited so please register your interest to ensure a place.

Please email workshop@kinyei.org with:

Your name: Organisation (if applicable): What do you want to achieve in this workshop:

Where

Kinyei Cafe St 1.5 Battambang Town

As always, participation in Kinyei Open Workshops is free of charge. Look forward to seeing you there!

A few guys here are starting up a hack night – basically a creative space for working on tech projects and doing skillshares. If you know anyone who likes to tinker, please point them in the direction of our sign up form . English is not really a requirement, just motivation and a thing for self directed learning!

On Monday 13th June Kinyei commenced its first session of a 4 week open workshop series on WordPress with Alexandra Roberson and Seavyi Yonn as the facilitators. It took place at Street one and half Cafe Shop. Many people from NGO organizations, schools, and myself joined the workshop series for four weeks every Monday from 5:00 to 6:30pm.

I think the WordPress workshop helped me improve and learn many things such as, new and up to date technology, blog designs, web site for the Kinyei organization and my own blog posts.

There are many reasons why I attended the WordPress Open Workshop Series:

1. I can know and learn the latest technology
2. Create my perfect WordPress blog
3. Upload images and video
4. Learn the importance of widgets to attract people who read your blog. Widgets make it easy for viewers to quickly look at the right of page and navigate to most recent post etc.
5. People around the world can use WordPress and blogging platforms to share their information, stories and activities via text, photos and video.

These are just some of the many important points I learned at the WordPress workshop series.

The Most interesting point that I found at the Workshop

Learning how to upload pictures to your website was the most interesting point for me in the workshop so I’m going to share how to do this with all of you. Uploading pictures is very important for my blog or and organisation’s website. I think that the reader can understand the activity by just seeing the picture and the text description. It enables the reader to make sense of what you’re talking about easily and quickly.

Here are the steps to uploading pictures to your blog:

First, you need to re-size your picture using Irfan view, Photo Shop or other image editing programs.

Second, save it for ‘the web’ to reduce its file size – (this optimises your images for your website by reducing the time it takes to load your image when a user visits your page).

The participants practise uploading pictures and video

Third, I click on insert picture in WordPress and chose the picture I want to upload. I upload picture which I have already re-sized.

Fourth, I select where I want the image to go by aligning it either to the left, centrel or right of the blog post.

Fifth, I like to tell the readers or audience (including Google as it cannot read images so you need to describe it to Google using descriptions) about my picture by adding alternate text, image title and caption to describe my picture.

Using pictures with text description in our blog or website helps attract and hold viewers attention.

What makes for a good workshop learning environment?

Learning is not only dependent on your instructor but also your classroom environment. I think that Kinyei is a good environment for learning through workshops. For example, at the WordPress workshops they had equipment such as a projector, computers, tables, chairs and a white board  that the facilitator could use to present their workshop. Moreover, Kinyei is a warm and friendly place because it has snacks and drinks for when we had break time. They also asked the participants to complete a feedback form at the end of the series so they can learn how to do it better for the next one. I really like this activity because Kinyei can know about the points they need to improve and the positive points of things they did well. Kinyei always pay attention, take care and are friendly to everyone in their workshops and other projects.

Learning WordPress at Kinyei was a great time for me. I learn many things about WordPress. It also gave me the chance to interact with both Khmer and Foreigners through English language. It’s good time for me to practice English and share ideas about Cambodians and Westerners.

Thursday 5th May 2011 marked the beginning of the Photography Open Workshop Series at Kinyei, taught by Mr André Vandam. Andre is a freelance photographer who is interested in the history of Cambodia and capturing that history through photography.He start to follow his passion as a photographer and traveler in a couple of years ago. He changed the direction of his career from teaching to photography a couple years ago. His passion for photography has grown into a full time career while living abroad in China for 2 years and now Cambodia. In China he enjoyed photographing many beautiful landscapes. He will stay here (in Battambang) for two years as a photographer with his wife who is a volunteer at the Battambang’s Provincial Education Department.

This workshop series catered to organizations in Battambang needing to up skill their staff in how to take quality photo’s. This enables us to visually share our programs and community initiatives online with supporters and stakeholders.

15 participants attended the workshop series from many organizations around Battambang. Half the participants were foreign volunteers working in Cambodia who brought a Khmer counterpart to ensure the skills were passed on sustainably.

I am Untac, a participant in this amazing workshop and want to share what we learned. I got something that I never expected I would get from this workshop. That is taking a perfect picture by knowing how:

• To use shutter speed, appeture and ISO,
• The camera balances light,
• To use the rule of thirds and
• many more useful photography principles that we never knew.

For the last workshop session we had a photography contest and I got second place for the photo below. What do you see? This is what I see when I look at this photo:

“While I am sad this picture makes me better. If I am glad this picture reduce it because when I am sad this picture tell me that not only you who sad, I am also. And when I am glad this picture tells me that No… you have to help somebody to get them as happy as you because there are still many people around you who want happiness.”

This is a photo in Battambang along street 2 that I took for the contest

Because the photography workshop became so popular, Kinyei and Andre are running another one this month for those that missed out first time round. We still keep practicing and sharing our photography with each other on our very own Facebook Page called Battambang Photography. Be sure to check out the awesome photography coming out of Battambang by following us on Facebook.

Does your organization have a website that is in need of revival with fresh content and updates? WordPress is designed for the ‘non-techy’ and provides a user-friendly easy to manage and update website solution. Many of us are working for NGO’s and Community Based Organisations who have limited budgets especially when it comes to communications. WordPress is FREE! We want to share what we know about updating and maintaining your WordPress website so you can keep your supporters up to date on the latest development news.

Alex holding WordPress tutorial with Kinyei interns

What do we mean by Open Workshop?

**Kinyei Open Workshops is a free community run programme for skill sharing and education, everyone’s welcome to attend at no charge.

When are the workshops?

• Introduction to WordPress: Monday 13th June 2011 5pm-6.30pm
• Adding a blog post vs. a page: Monday 20th May 2011 5pm-6.30pm
• Working with images, video and maps: Monday 27th May 2011 5pm-6.30pm
• Working with widgets: Monday 4th July 2011 5pm-6.30pm

Who is running the workshop series?

Communications Officer for CORDE and Kinyei Consultant: Alexandra Robertson

I’m currently working as Communications Officer at Cambodian Organization for Research, Development and Education (CORDE) and a Consultant at Kinyei. I hold a Degree in Marketing and Public Relations and upon graduating began working in online marketing for UntangleMyWeb.com, as a Web Marketing Copywriter. It was here I learnt to navigate multiple website content management systems in order to update website content and blog posts. I always found WordPress extremely user-friendly to use, which is why I encourage its use for organizations who don’t have a technical genius to call on everytime their website needs updating.

I left UntangleMyWeb.com to work in community development and a core part of my communications roles at CORDE and Kinyei hasbeen to develop and update websites with the organization‘s latests news and development initiatives using none other than WordPress! I have found WordPress to be an ideal tool when training Khmer counterparts in updating blog articles and general website information, which is why I want to help make it accessible and achievable for other Cambodian NGO’s in Battambang.

Who should attend the workshop series?

Anyone involved in updating and maintaining their organization’s website. If you are a foreign volunteer and would like to join the workshop we encourage you to bring a Khmer counterpart to ensure the skills are delivered sustainably.

What languages will the workshops be in?

English and Khmer

How do I register?

Please email workshops@kinyei.org with:

• Your name:
• Your Khmer Counterpart’s name (if applicable):
• Organisation:
• Does your organization have a website?
• Does your organization currently use wordpress?

Please note you will need to commit to all 4 sessions and the workshop can only cater for 8-10 people so first in best dressed.

Materials needed: Please bring your lap top if you have one to practice what you’re learning in real time.

Where the workshop will be held: Kinyei Office, St 1.5 Battambang Town

Look forward to seeing you in June for some WordPressing,

Kinyei Collaborate for change www.kinyei.org

Kinyei is holding a series of 4 Open Workshops on Photography throughout May. Good photography can go along way in helping us visually communicate Battambang globally. Recognising that many of us are working for NGO’s and Community Based Organisations that need to communicate development challenges, progress, environment and teams to supporters and board members this workshop series aims to help us do that through enabling us to take quality photographs.

When

Introduction to Photography: Thursday 5th May 2011 5pm-6.30pm More on Composition: Thursday 12th May 2011 5pm-6.30pm Light and subjects: Thursday 19th May 2011 5pm-6.30pm Sharing and discussing eachothers photographs: Thursday 26th May 2011 5pm-6.30pm

Who is running the workshop?

Andre Vandam Freelance Photographer

Andre was originaly a primary school teacher, but 3 years ago he changed careers to follow his passion and became a freelance photographer. Andre spent the last 2 years living in China, in a very remote mountian village, which provided him with lots of opportunities to photograph daily life. It was here that he developed a great love for black and white photography!

Andre moved to Battambang in September 2010 and intends to stay for 2 years. His most recent project was a calendar for 2011, which sold very well in the Netherlands, France, Spain, England, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand and Cambodia.

Among his new projects are exhibitions in Cafe Eden and the Lighthouse Gallery, near the Royal Hotel and cards, which are hand made, and contain unique photographs of Cambodia. Andre is excited about sharing his knowledge of photography with Battambang’s community, as it’s such a fantastic way to capture and record the amazing projects taking place.

Who’s it for?

Anyone involved in producing communication and marketing marterials for their organisation. If you are a foreign volunteer and would like to join the workshop we encourage you to bring a Khmer counterpart to ensure the skills are delivered in a sustainably.

What languages will the workshop be in?

English and Khmer

How to register?

Please email workshop@kinyei.org with:

Your name: Your Khmer Counterpart’s name (if applicable): Organisation:

Please note you will need to commit to all 4 sessions and the workshop can only cater for 8-10 people so first in best dressed.

Materials needed

A camera (simple is fine; does not require an expensive camera)

Where

Kinyei Office St 1.5 Battambang Town

Look forward to seeing you in May and taking some amazing photos!

Greetings Kinyei Cafe Backers!

We’re nearly two months on from the end of our Kickstarter and wanted to share some of what we’ve been up to and what your support has enabled. The hot season is nearly upon us here in Battambang, but things have been ramping up we’ve got momentum going to sustain energy levels even through the most brutal of 40 degree weather!

Coffee + the Cafe

• We’ve introduced some western snacks to the menu. Khmer snacks such as sugared sweet potato fries were trialled but we couldn’t compete with the reigning kings of these snacks around the market on price or secret khmer snack-fu techniques.
• One of our backers requested the number of black coffees without ice sold. It is 57.
• Total khmer vs espresso coffees served: 84 : 436
• Nationalities served: 23
• Small lattes (“latte dtoich”) are the new rage

Introducing the small latte; objects in photo appear larger than they actually are

• Our staff regularly get told they make the best coffee in Cambodia. We’re pleased as punch about this.
• With a fridge breakdown, a burst pipe, and sudden wedding-related staff absences almost every week this month, we’re learning to deal with mini crises.
• Two team members, Phalla and Untac, participated in the first ever TEDx conference in Cambodia in February and are completely pumped to organize Battambang’s own in the coming months
• Competition is heating up as the staff battle it out on the espresso machine for best cappuccino. This week, best yogurt!

Untac's winning yogurt creation

Other projects developing in the space

• An exciting collaboration between local artists, Siem Reap’s ArtDeli and Kinyei is kicking off. “Sammaki” is going to be Battambang’s first collaborative art space, a gallery which exhibits local work without restriction, and hosts artists’ workshops and events. It will be run as a cooperative effort between 2 artists in residence, Kinyei and Jam’s Art Deli. We’ve already hosted planning workshops and it’s all hands on deck these next few weekends, as we’ll be prepping the space art(/rennovation) attack style. Check out how far we’ve come.
• The Open Classroom has seen lots of traffic in the last month with workshops run on women’s reproductive health, working with Cambodian culture, and cross-cultural creative expression
• Soksabike community tours have been operating out of the space and have been going great guns: Soksabike feature in local publication
• Seavyi Yonn, a Kinyei intern has started a skills club in the Open Workshop space, now 10 sessions in, that allows high school students to get together and share extra curricular skills such as email use, something they desperately want but cannot get without paying for pricey short courses.

Seavyi's internet workshop

It’s really exciting to see the communities spring up around this place, even within a few short months. I think we’ve got a really great year ahead of us and we’d like to invite you all to come visit some time!

Cheers, Kinyei