GENOCIDE EDUCATION MEMORIAL SITES

On June 17, 2010 the Ministry of Education approved a plan to hang anti-genocide memorials across all Cambodian high schools to remind students of the importance of learning about the history of Democratic Kampuchea and to serve as memorial to those who lost their lives. Engraved on these memorials are two messages: (1) “Talking about experiences during the Khmer Rouge regime is to promote reconciliation and to educate children about forgiveness and tolerance;” and (2) “Learning about the history of Democratic Kampuchea is to prevent genocide.”

These two messages remind us of the critical relationship between education, memory and history in genocide prevention. Under the Khmer Rouge regime, schools were banded and there was no formal education. This educational paralysis lingers in modern-day Cambodia where children know little and believe even less in the events that took place during Democratic Kampuchea. These anti-genocide memorials, to be displayed in all 1,700 high schools, create a powerful collective message that helps to reserve this educational paralysis.

Working together, DC-Cam along with former students of each high school will design and raise funds for each memorial, bringing together the survivor generation and those born after the regime, for the sake of future generations. We also hope that outside contributors, such as community members and local organizations, will also kindly contribute to this important mission of genocide education and prevention.

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