Anvaya (organization)

Anvaya is a Khmer association established in 2010 with a mission to bring together and support the returning movement of diasporic Cambodians from overseas. Anaya is an independent, apolitical and non-profit organization. It is an active organization within Cambodia and overseas in countries with a Cambodian diasporia.^[1][2][3]

Anvaya has over 300 registered members,“Anvayiste,” across the World.

Name and emblem

The name Anvaya comes from the Sanskrit language and means family or lineage. The Anvaya’s emblem is a set of three lotus flowers, which is superimposed from a single flower. Each flower symbolizes one of the continents of the Diaspora (Europe, America, Oceania) which together represent Cambodia.

Creation

Anvaya was created in 2010 by two friends, Soreasmey Ke Bin,^[4][5] a French-Cambodian, and David Yim, a Cambodian-American. These two entrepreneurs have returned in Cambodia in early 00’s and made the observation that there was a lack of support for Cambodians who wished to return to their roots. Anvaya was first launched as a free network aiming to gather members around regular events.

In 2013 Anvaya became a fully legal registered association established by Soreasmey Ke Bin, its founding president.

Organization

Anvaya is managed by a Steering Committee of 6 directors elected by 30 members of the permanent council of the association with a two-year mandate. At the moment, the President of the Association is one of the original co-founders Soreasmey Ke Bin.^[6]

Mission

The main goal of Anvaya is to ease the return of the Cambodian diaspora.^[7] Anvaya's 4 key objectives are to:

• Foster a sense of community among returnees through this social and professional network.
• Encourage and support overseas Cambodians in their effort to return.
• Inform overseas Cambodian on business, social and employment opportunities in Cambodia.
• Develop opportunities for overseas Cambodians to return, especially young professionals.

Anvaya aspires to catalyze and facilitate the rebirth of Cambodia through the collaboration and support of partners in the private sector, international institutions and government.

Members

All the members of Anvaya originate from Cambodia and have lived among the Cambodian diaspora communities. They may be in Cambodia or overseas.

In March 2015, Anvaya had 300 members. Since the beginning of its official registration, Anvaya can count on the support and the membership of leading characters of the Diaspora such as the Cambodian society. Current prominent members include:

• Two Cambodian government ministers: Sun Chanthol, Minister of trade and Dr. Ing Khantha Phavi, Minister of Women.
• French-Cambodian film directors and producers, Rithy Panh, Davy Chou, and Visal Sok.
• Artists like Peap Tarr, Fonki, the cartoonist Séra, and singers such as Tony Keo (Canadian) and Laura Mam (USA).
• Professional athletic members include Tep Rivihit, the general secretary of the Cambodian tennis federation and the N°1 Cambodian professional tennis player Kenny Bun (French). as well as French-Khmer football/soccer players Thierry Chantha Bin, and Boris Kok.^[8]
• Pily Wong, the former president of the French Chamber of Commerce, is an Anvaya counselor.
• Entrepreneur and investor Thierry Teafis theounder of PhilJets Group^[9] and Agama Investments,^[10] People of the Year awardee in the Philippines, and also a Foreign Trade Adviser for France.^[11]
• The current president of Anvaya, Soreasmey Ke Bin, is also the secretary general of the French Chamber of Commerce.

Financing

The association is financing by the subscriptions and donations of its members. In 2015 the French Member of Parliament, Thierry Mariani has chosen to subsidize Anvaya on his diplomatic reserve.

Activities

Anvaya supports several types of activities to support their members in Cambodia such as overseas. Subscribers in Cambodia meet every second Thursday of the month for an Afterwork event. Since 2013 a series of monthly dinners have revolved around Cambodian personalities from the government or from the society such as the French Ambassador, Mr. Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, the director Rithy Panh, the deputy Hun Many or the deputy from the opposition, Mu Sochua.

In July 2012 and April 2013, two symposiums were organized on the purpose of the Diaspora at the French Institute of Cambodia.

Furthermore, Khmer courses, oral and literature are proposed to members of Anvaya in Phnom Penh. Besides that, Anvaya proposes regular outing cultural and sporting. Members had the chance to accompany Father François Ponchuaud to recall the events of April 1975. Treks and outing in the forest are also organized such as tree planting or environmental site cleaning project to support community development. Anvaya also has a football team in Phnom Penh, called Anvaya Keila which may be replicated in Lyon (France). Besides this, some Anvaya members are distinguishing themselves in different sport competitions (tennis, half-marathon etc.…)

Relationship with authorities

Anvaya is nonpolitical but it keeps a strong open dialogue with Cambodian authorities such as Government or other administrations. In October 2012, Anvaya was at the Royal Palace to pay tribute to the King Father Norodom Sihanouk, this delegation was invited by the Prince Norodom Ranariddh in the capacity of element of the civil society.^[12]

A MOU was signed in March 2014 with the Cambodian Olympic Committee providing a mission to Anvaya which is to recruit athletes from the Diaspora for the next sporting event such as SEA Games and Olympic games.^[13][14]

The association counts a wide majority of French members and has a strong relationship with the French Embassy. Thanks to this relationship, Anvaya has signed in November 2013 a agreement for the building of a memorial for the victims of the Khmer Rouge. The monument is designed by Ing Séra a French-Cambodian artist.^[15] The project is predicted for summer 2015 and is recognized by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia as a meaningful reparation for Khmer Rouge victims.^[16]

Anvaya Reatrei

In March 2015, Anvaya has organized its first Gala known as Anvaya Reatrei. This event gathered more than 150 people and awarded the most deserving members of the year. Rithy Panh was awarded as the best director, Thierry Chantha Bin for the best athlete. The French-Cambodian Borany Mam won the award of the best activist for her association ASPK cho aim to restore and protect the painting at the Nation Museum of Phonm Penh. In the musical category, Tony Keo a Canadian singer won the award. American-Cambodian Chanda Hun who won as the best entrepreneur, and Peap Tarr won the award for the best designer.^[17]

References

External links

• Official website
• fr:Anvaya