Dhamma Aid Cambodia was established in 2006 to support the resurgence of Buddhism in Cambodia.

Our primary objective is to support Cambodian Buddhist organisations in the field of Dhamma education.  As Dhamma Aid Cambodia grows, we may assist other initiatives as a means of assisting the Buddhist renewal in Cambodia.

Buddhism in Cambodia

The people of Cambodia or Khmers have been Buddhists since the 13th century and was once part of a great empire. However, fate took a twist in modern times. The Khmers suffered terribly during the civil war between the years 1970 to 1975 and in the years thereafter. When the communist Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975, its genocidal programs led to the death of between 1 to 3 million people out of a population of 7.3 million. In an effort to restructure Cambodian society the Khmer Rouge targeted the educated class and destroyed the religious and cultural structure of society. Of the estimated 65,000 monks in Cambodia at that time, less than 3,000 survived the Khmer Rouge years.

With the defeat of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, the Cambodian people vigorously rebuilt their religious infrastructure and embarked on the construction of monasteries. However, because of the severe lack of teachers and resources, religious education fell far behind. It is estimated that only about 20% of the sangha receive some formal education.

If the knowledge of the members of the sangha is weak, then the lay-people who look to the monks for guidance and instruction are in an even worse position. Already suffering greatly from poverty, and the residual trauma of war, their spirit is further weakened by superstition and ignorance. Not surprisingly, well funded missionaries of various stripes have descended on the country. While some have noble and genuine intentions, a significant number merely wish to capitalise on the vulnerability of the populace by introducing beliefs that further weaken and divide the people and erode confidence in their culture.

The people of Cambodia have suffered enough. As they leap into the modern world while recovering from their recent trauma, there is a great need for them to reclaim their religious heritage, be re-educated in the Dhamma and to regain their spirit and self-confidence.

Bandar Utama Buddhist Society

Dhamma Aid Cambodia is a heart-felt response to the situation described above which crystallized into a project of the Bandar Utama Buddhist Society, Malaysia. While the Cambodians have difficulty in finding the educational resources to rebuild their religion, Buddhists here and in many countries often have a surplus. Dhamma Aid Cambodia seeks to address this disparity but creating the medium for Buddhists who seek a wiser and effective way to donate funds in support of the Buddha Sasana.

We are a community based society in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.  Since 2000 we have been actively promoting the study, understanding and practice of the Buddha's Teachings.

Khmer Youth Education Buddhist Centre
- Bio of Ven Sophan Vodano
- Letter from Ven Vodano

Khmer-Buddhist Educational Assistance Project

Dhamma Aid Cambodia is presently working with :

Khmer Youth Education Buddhist Centre (KYEBC)
The KYEBC is an organization under the patronage of the Cambodian Education Ministry, and advised by Ven Sophan Vodano. It works primarily with young people and school children. Since 2000 it has held numerous Dhamma camps in the country. 

Khmer-Buddhist Educational Assistance Project (KEAP)
KEAP was registered as a non-profit corporation in the State of Colorado, USA in 1999 with the late Ven Maha Ghosananda as its founding patron. The Cambodian scholar Dr Peter Gyallay-Pap is its executive director. KEAP runs several programs in Cambodia to promote the recovery, renewal, and development of Cambodian society through its own spiritual and cultural heritage.

Buddhist Maha Vihara

Presently our projects are:

Dhamma books
We print Dhamma books in Khmer for free distribution.  These are distributed by our friends in Cambodia to select population groups such as monks, youth groups, village heads, community leaders, etc. This project is supported by the Buddhist Mahavihara, Malaysia.

Scholarships
We provide scholarship support for monastic education at the undergraduate level. This will support efforts to educate a new generation of Buddhist scholars which shall result in the sangha recovering its traditional role as teachers and leaders of the Cambodian people. Read more.

• Jan 2008 - some photos of the book distribution of "Buddhist Ethics in Daily Life" and preparing for a new book publication

Previous year's Updates

Donations may be made personally at the Society. You can also send a cheque payable to "Bandar Utama Buddhist Society", (write Dhamma Aid Cambodia at the back of the cheque) to 52 Jalan BU11/16 Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.  We can also help to arrange for private sponsorships of specific projects.

Policy: All donations are used 100% for DAC's projects. Personal expenses of any volunteers involved in its projects are borne by themselves.

Dhamma Aid Cambodia
If not now, then when?