Empowering Youth Collaboration at Cambodia Festival 2026 with CIESF

CIESF's Engagement at Cambodia Festival 2026

This year, CIESF (Center for International Education and Study Foundations) is excited to announce its participation in the Cambodia Festival 2026, which will take place on May 3rd and 4th. This initiative features a project team primarily composed of current high school students from across Japan, aiming to raise awareness and share the diverse attractions of Cambodia. The students will be actively involved in everything from booth planning to management, giving them a platform to express their creative ideas.

Background of CIESF and Its Mission

CIESF is dedicated to providing educational support in Cambodia, yet its mission and accomplishments are still not widely known. To create awareness and encourage collective discussion regarding Cambodian education, the organization is setting the stage for significant engagement at the festival. Beyond merely disseminating information, CIESF seeks to foster deeper involvement in its initiatives, thus recruiting students who aspire to more actively participate in the project through planning and execution. Moreover, to enhance public engagement, volunteers will also be recruited for the event.

CIESF operates with the ethos of “Education as the Foundation of Everything,” supporting the self-sufficiency of nations like Cambodia. Their approach emphasizes sustainable development instead of temporary assistance, focusing on nurturing educators and fostering the next generation of leaders via diverse programs such as the ‘Teacher Without Borders’ initiative.

Festival Experience and Activities

Booth Activities

1. Kroma Accessory Experience
One of the highlights of our booth will be a hands-on workshop where participants can create original accessories using Kroma, a traditional Cambodian fabric. Renowned for its vibrant checks and versatility, this material has a significant place in Cambodian life. Participants will learn to craft accessories that blend traditional artistry with modern fashion.

2. Learn to Write Your Name in Khmer
Visitors will also have the chance to write their names in Khmer, Cambodia's official language spoken by approximately 15 million people. The unique characteristics of Khmer—its grammatical structure, with roots similar to English, and its 33 consonants coupled with 21 vowels—will be explored. Participants will take home a personalized sticker featuring their names in this beautiful script.

3. Supporting Education through Purchases
This year, we will offer a variety of products made in Cambodia, including beverages where 100% of the proceeds will be directed toward educational support. Attendees can choose from dried fruits, pouches, and more—items typically available only in Cambodia or online—at our booth. This initiative serves as a gateway for everyone to engage in international support through purchasing, thus fostering awareness about these vital issues.

The Spirit of Student Leadership

The project members, comprised of enthusiastic students, have been diligently working on organizing workshops and retail opportunities while leveraging social media and other platforms for promotion. The volunteer team on that day will consist of 28 individuals who are eager to support the booth’s operation, showcasing a wave of youthful energy leading up to the festival. We invite everyone to witness this innovative approach to raising awareness about Cambodia at the CIESF booth!

Future Prospects

This initiative boasts 16 project team members, with an additional 28 volunteers set to contribute their efforts, many of whom are high school students. Notably, a number of participants are students from schools that have adopted CIESF's donation-enabled vending machines or have engaged in outreach classes.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in real-world experiences and volunteer work within educational institutions. CIESF aims to harness this enthusiasm to offer opportunities that educate participants about international cooperation and encourage proactive thinking about global support. Through this project, we hope to cultivate an awareness of personal action linked to global benefits. Furthermore, our plans include expanding the implementation of donation-enabled vending machines in schools and businesses, promoting a sustainable support structure for the future of education in Cambodia.

About CIESF

- Organization Name: Center for International Education and Study Foundations (CIESF)
- Chairperson: Hideo Okubo
- Location: 3F, SD25 Building, 2-9-8 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan
- Founded: December 2008
- Scope of Work: Delivering quality education / Training teachers / Improving educational administration / Supporting entrepreneurs / Training industrial personnel
- Website: CIESF Official Site

The above press release was prepared by Ayane Kagawa, a second-year high school student and the public relations leader for the Cambodia Festival 2026 Project. For more inquiries, please contact CIESF: Toyoshima, Tel: 03-5774-0250, Fax: 03-5774-0251, Email: [email protected].