Partnerships, Purpose and Progress

What's been happening at Epic Arts

This month at Epic Arts, connection and collaboration took centre stage. We were proud to start our new partnership with Monde par la main / Give a Hand and their inspiring network. All staff joined together as one team for our annual staff retreat, a meaningful pause to reflect, reconnect and recharge. Alongside this, thanks to the generous support of Kampot ABA Bank Branch and Caritas Australia, we were able to support children with disabilities through school packs and bicycles, helping remove barriers to education and independence as we look ahead to 2026 with renewed energy and purpose.

To all our incredible supporters, thank you. Your continued belief in our mission helps us champion a world where every person counts (EPIC).

Inspiring Stories

Leading with Kindness: Sokny's Recognition as a Kindness Leader 

What does it truly mean to lead with kindness? For our CEO, Sokny, it's the foundation of transformative change.

We are bursting with pride to share that Sokny has been recognised as a Kindness Leader by the Women of the Future Awards, South East Asia, standing alongside an inspiring group of women who are reshaping their communities through compassionate leadership.

This recognition celebrates something we witness every day at Epic Arts: that kindness is revolutionary power in action.

For Sokny, this honour carries profound personal meaning. As she reflects:

"Growing up as a woman with a disability in Cambodia, kindness was not always given, but it became the value that shaped who I am as a leader."

Her journey has proven that kindness is far from softness. It's the courage to lead with empathy. It's the commitment to dignity. It's the deliberate practice of creating inclusion where exclusion once stood.

Sokny's approach to kindness is practical, intentional and transformative:

"For me, kindness is a daily leadership practice that helps us build teams, design better systems and create lasting social change."

This philosophy ripples through everything Epic Arts does. When we lead with kindness, we create spaces where people feel seen, valued and empowered to step into their own leadership. We design programs that honour each person's dignity. We build a community where everyone belongs.

This recognition isn't just about one leader, it's about a movement. Sokny joins a collective of remarkable women who are proving that kindness can reshape society, dismantle barriers and build futures where everyone can thrive.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dominic Williams, British Ambassador to Cambodia and the British Embassy in Cambodia for their generous support and inspiring leadership in championing this vital recognition.

 

Events and Performances

Stronger Together: Families and Teachers Champion Inclusion

This month our quarterly Students Progress Meeting brought something special to life where 88 people gathered with one shared goal: making sure every child gets the support they need to thrive.

Parents, teachers, Epic Arts staff and students with disabilities came together to celebrate real progress and honest conversations. Parents shared their experiences, asked questions and learned practical ways to support their children's learning journeys both at school and at home.

What struck us most was the energy in the room. When parents see their children making strides, whether in mainstream classrooms or our specialized programs, the pride is unmistakable. When teachers and families truly collaborate, barriers start to crumble.

This is inclusion in action. We're building classrooms and communities where difference is valued, where every student has a place and where learning happens together. These quarterly meetings keep everyone connected and moving forward as one team.

None of this happens without support. A heartfelt thank you to Felm Cambodia for believing in inclusive education and helping us create opportunities for every student to reach their potential.

The impact? Children who once faced closed doors are now opening new ones. Families who felt alone now have a community. And we're proving that education can work for everyone when we do it right.

Inclusive Arts

When Inclusive Arts Leaders Connect

What happens when trailblazers in inclusive arts come together?
Momentum, shared learning and a stronger vision for change.

This month, Epic Arts welcomed Vân, Creative Director of Tohe Social Enterprise, Vietnam’s only social enterprise providing creative education and arts opportunities for children with disabilities.

Founded on a belief in self-expression and inclusion, Tohe empowers children to share their stories through art, from workshops and exhibitions to transforming artwork into lifestyle products that advocate for inclusion. Vân’s visit to Kampot formed part of a wider regional research tour, connecting with inclusive arts organisations across Southeast Asia to explore how creativity can drive social inclusion and empowerment.

When organisations like Epic Arts and Tohe connect, the impact extends beyond borders. These exchanges help build a regional knowledge sharing network where:

• Inclusive arts innovations are shared across countries
• Successful approaches are adapted to new cultural contexts
• More children with disabilities gain access to creativity, expression and belonging

Every collaboration creates a ripple effect, ideas travel, practices evolve and opportunities expand for children across Southeast Asia.

This visit strengthens a growing regional movement of organisations committed to inclusive arts. Together, we are proving that creativity is a human right, and that the arts are a powerful force for empowerment, connection and social change.

Impact Update

Help Us Grow Our Impact

As Epic Arts continues to grow its impact in inclusive arts, education and disability rights, we’re looking to expand our Fundraising Committee with passionate new members from anywhere in the world. This group plays a vital role in shaping our fundraising ideas, opening doors to new networks and helping ensure Epic Arts can continue creating inclusive opportunities for children, young people and artists with disabilities in Cambodia.

Committee members don’t need to be based locally, just committed to Epic Arts’ mission, values and long term sustainability. Whether you bring experience in fundraising, communications, partnerships, events or simply a strong belief in inclusive arts and social change, your voice could make a real difference.

If you, or someone in your network, would like to contribute skills, ideas and energy to help Epic Arts thrive, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with Sam at sam@epicarts.org.uk to learn more about joining the Fundraising Committee.