Khmer New Year, known locally as Choul Chhnam Thmey, is one of Cambodia’s most cherished celebrations. Taking place annually from 14 to 16 April, it symbolises renewal, gratitude, and the hope for prosperity and peace in the year ahead. During this vibrant period, Cambodian families reunite, engage in traditional activities, and visit significant cultural and spiritual sites, strengthening their bonds of family and community.
On Wednesday, 10 April 2025, the ACCESS 2 in-country team, consisting of 21 dedicated staff members, joyfully came together for our traditional Khmer New Year blessing ceremony. Dressed respectfully in traditional attire, we were honoured to receive heartfelt blessings from monks, wishing our entire team continued success, prosperity, and wellbeing in the forthcoming year of the Snake.
This special occasion serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of kindness, compassion, and peace—not only among ourselves but extending our hearts and hands towards the most vulnerable members of our communities. At ACCESS 2, our mission remains deeply rooted in promoting and nurturing kindness, offering assistance to those in greatest need, and fostering lasting peace and inclusivity throughout Cambodia.
We express our profound gratitude to our esteemed Royal Government of Cambodia counterparts from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY), and Ministry of Health (MOH). Their invaluable guidance and collaboration have been instrumental in achieving our shared objectives. We also warmly acknowledge and thank all our Strategic Implementing Partners (SIPs) and our dedicated Abt colleagues for their unwavering support and partnership, as well as our esteemed subnational Government counterparts across our target provinces of Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap and Ratanakiri.
Special heartfelt thanks are extended to the team from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), working at the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh. Their continued support, collaboration, and trust throughout the year are deeply appreciated and valued by the ACCESS 2 team.
As we embrace the Khmer New Year, may we be inspired to cultivate compassion and extend kindness throughout our communities. Let us collectively commit to peace, harmony, and generosity, reflecting the true spirit of Choul Chhnam Thmey.
In closing, we offer this resonating message in Khmer:
«សូមឱ្យឆ្នាំថ្មីនេះនាំមកនូវសេចក្ដីសុខសាន្ត សុខភាពល្អ និងសេចក្ដីរីករាយដល់អ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នា។ សូមឱ្យយើងមានចិត្តមេត្តាករុណា និងការប្រណីដល់គ្នាទៅវិញទៅមក ជាពិសេសដល់អ្នកដែលខ្វះខាតបំផុតក្នុងសង្គមរបស់យើង»។
“May this New Year bring peace, good health, and joy to everyone. Let us be compassionate and kind to each other, especially to those most in need within our communities.”
The entire ACCESS 2 family wishes you and your loved ones a joyful, prosperous, and peaceful Khmer New Year.
