- The Khmer Voice In Poetry (K.V.I.P) is a club for young
and adult Cambodians interested in expressing themselves
through poems and stories. The club was founded in March
1995 by Thavrith Bunkasem, a counselor working with at
risk youth. Originally, there were approximately 15
members actively writing and submitting their works. The
KVIP’s primary goal is to provide interested members
with a vehicle to communicate their thoughts, fears,
hopes, and fantasies. In addition to instilling a sense
of pride as Cambodians in America.
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- Art and culture are key components to self-expression of
an individual in all societies. One of the main reasons
for the existence of this club is to expose people,
especially, the youth to the different types of art forms
of which poetry and story writing are important ones. A
poem or a story can narrate an individual’s life
experiences such as successes or failures. When it
reaches an audience or a reader, he or she may identify
similarities in their own lives and the commonalities
that we share as fellow human beings. Through these art
forms, an individual can learn more about his or her own
culture as well as defining it to others. Writing about
the experiences of being a Cambodian-American, the
process of assimilation, challenges encountered in school
and social settings, language barrier, dress, and the
desire to fit in,
oftentimes lead to frustration, isolation, anger, and
fear. Writing about one’s family experiences during
war time in Cambodia and its effects can be difficult or
produce complex emotions. Hopefully, this club will offer
one way to express some of these feelings. Now the
mission for the Khmer Voice In Poetry is to reach out to
all interested Cambodians. I believe that everyone is a
poet. Everybody is a writer either by trait or training.
And my sincere wish is to see more Khmer writers.