Empowering Cambodia’s Youth Through Creativity and Collaboration
C. Keo / FEBRUARY 21, 2025 / Mural Commission
The “I Am Great” Art Competition, organized by the Cambodian Israeli Chamber of Commerce (CICC), is a remarkable initiative designed to empower underprivileged children through artistic collaboration while raising essential funds for Tiny Toones, a Phnom Penh-based non-profit organization.
About Tiny Toons
Founded in 2005 by Tuy Sobil, also known as “KK,” Tiny Toones provides a safe and positive environment for at-risk youth in Cambodia. After being deported from the United States to a country he had never visited, KK began offering breakdancing lessons to street children in Phnom Penh. This initiative evolved into a comprehensive program where children not only learn hip-hop dance but also receive education in English, mathematics, and other essential subjects. Tiny Toones aims to inspire creativity, build self-confidence, and steer youth away from drugs and other negative influences.
The "I Am Great" Art Competition
Launched as part of the “Born for Greatness” campaign, the “I Am Great” Art Competition fosters creativity among at-risk youth by pairing them with professional artists. Children from various NGOs, including COLD, ISF, and others, participate by creating original drawings that reflect their personal visions of greatness. These artworks are then reimagined and transformed into professional pieces by collaborating artists. The final artworks are auctioned in a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting Tiny Toones.
My Experience in the Competition
Although primarily an amateur art competition, I was drawn to participate due to its inspiring mission. I collaborated with a young artist from the NGO COLD, who created a simple yet profound drawing titled “Soursdey Chnam Thmey,” meaning “Hello New Year.”
Inspired by this, I crafted a piece influenced by the surrealist works of René Magritte. The artwork juxtaposes the bright optimism of a new year, symbolized by a clear blue sky, against the dark silhouettes of traditional Cambodian rural wooden houses adorned with last night’s remnants of festive garlands. This composition captures the transition between the conclusion of festivities and the a clear blue sky of a new day, a new beginning, encapsulating two moments in a single image.
Participating in the “I Am Great” Art Competition has been a profoundly rewarding experience, allowing me to contribute to a cause that nurtures the potential of Cambodia’s youth through the transformative power of art.
