Connecting, Learning and Celebrating Inclusion
What's been happening at Epic Arts
September was full of inspiration and community at Epic Arts. We celebrated International Sign Language Day, showing how sign language connects people, fosters inclusion and builds community.
Our Quarter 2 Students’ Progress Meeting brought together over 70 parents, teachers, staff and children with disabilities to share progress, challenges and hopes for the future, highlighting the power of collaboration in helping every child thrive.
We also marked Pchum Ben, an important Cambodian festival honouring ancestors and reflecting on family, community and gratitude.
Finally, we were proud to participate in the Inaugural Dialogue between the Disability Action Council and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, strengthening efforts toward disability inclusion in Cambodia.
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
Meet Dolla, Our Kitchen Supervisor
Do La, known to everyone as Dolla, has been part of the Epic Arts family for an incredible 19 years. Today she is our much loved Kitchen Supervisor at the Epic Arts Café, and her journey here is truly inspiring.
Dolla was born in a rural village outside Kampot, the eldest in her family and the only deaf person in her community. With limited family resources she attended mainstream school for just two years, but without access to formal sign language, learning was a daily struggle.
One Khmer New Year, her life changed. At the local pagoda, she met another deaf person for the very first time. That encounter opened a door to belonging she had never experienced before. Later, she studied at the Deaf Development Programme (DDP), gaining the communication skills and confidence she had longed for.
In 2006, Dolla came across a radio announcement about a two year Inclusive Arts Course at Epic Arts. She applied, completed the training and in 2008 officially joined the Epic Arts Café team.
At first, she worked front of house and felt nervous interacting with foreign customers, unsure how they would understand her. Over time, Dolla embraced new challenges, refined her skills and grew into a leader. Today, with her calm presence and expertise, she confidently manages orders, leads the kitchen team and ensures every meal is prepared with care.
To celebrate her incredible journey, Dolla is featured on a beautiful mural, now displayed upstairs in the Café shop, a lasting tribute to her dedication and spirit.
Outside of work, Dolla is a proud mother to a daughter and son and she is passionate about giving them the education opportunities she herself once lacked.
Dolla’s story is a powerful reminder of how opportunities, inclusion and perseverance can transform lives.
Events and Performances
Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Epic Arts Hosts the First Asia Disability Rights Network Conference in Kampot
This September, Kampot became a landmark destination for disability inclusion in Asia as Epic Arts proudly hosted the inaugural Asia Disability Rights Network (ADRN). A milestone gathering that united disability rights advocates and inclusion leaders from Nepal, Myanmar and Cambodia.
With the generous support of our long time partner Suomen Lähetysseura (FELM) the three day event brought together organizations and experts dedicated to advancing disability rights, accessibility and inclusion across the region.
This was the first of four annual ADRN seminars that will take place in Cambodia, Nepal and Thailand over the next four years, strengthening collaboration and amplifying the movement for disability inclusion across Asia.
Throughout the conference, delegates shared bold ideas and best practices in inclusive education, employment and arts. The atmosphere was alive with unity, pride and purpose as participants explored new ways to create lasting change.
As the conference drew to a close, everyone left with renewed motivation and a shared vision for a more inclusive future across Asia. Epic Arts extends heartfelt thanks to FELM and all partners who made this milestone possible.
Together, we are breaking barriers and building inclusive futures, and we’re already looking ahead with excitement to ADRN 2026 in Nepal.
Inclusive Arts
Epic Arts Dance Shines in Singapore!
This month Epic Arts Dance brought Cambodian culture and inclusive dance to Singapore over two transformative weeks, connecting with hundreds of students, artists and audiences. At UWCSEA, students from Grade 2 to Grade 12 discovered the art of the krama and traditional Khmer rhythms, while our showcase of Lost for Words and Krama moved audiences deeply. At Tanglin Trust School, junior students were captivated by Buffalo Boy and explored confidence, friendship and resilience through dance. La Salle University hosted conversations about inclusive dance practices and the transformative power of the arts.
The tour culminated at the Esplanade with Borderlands, a performance created through the True Colors Project, bringing together artists from Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia. The performance and post-show Q&A celebrated how art builds bridges and creates community across borders.
Students captured the heart of the experience in their own words: "Dear Epic Arts Dancers, thank you for showing your dance, I love it! Your performance was amazing!" and "Thank you for teaching us Cambodian Sign Language. Thank you for coming to Singapore!"
This tour strengthened international partnerships, showcased Cambodian culture on global stages and opened young minds to new perspectives on disability, dance and culture. Singapore was a milestone, not a destination and we're already planning future collaborations across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Impact Update
Inclusive Climate Action
Epic Arts’ social work team carried out research to understand how persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Kampot access climate related information. As climate impacts like floods, storms, droughts and rising seas intensify worldwide, clear and accessible information for all is vital for safety and resilience.
PWDs often face barriers that make receiving alerts, evacuating or accessing aid more difficult. By speaking directly with local participants, our study will highlight their experiences, challenges and ideas, giving them a platform to be seen and heard.
The findings will inform Epic Arts’ ongoing work to improve inclusive climate communication, advocacy and programming. This research is part of a wider series of initiatives on climate resilience that Epic Arts is carrying out this year to ensure vulnerable communities, including persons with disabilities, are better prepared for and supported through climate related challenges.