The art school that grew out of a refugee camp

Phare Ponleu Selpak has operated in Battambang, in north-western Cambodia, since 1994. It was founded, according to a reference summary of its history, by Cambodians who had learned in refugee camps that art can be a way to forget trauma.

Its purpose is to use art to help young people cope with the effects of war, and to support children, young adults and their families through art schools, education and social services. It offers multidisciplinary training in theatre, acrobatics and music, with an on-campus school that teaches English, mathematics and computer programming. Students are generally from low-income households.

The organisation has performed abroad, including in Bangladesh, Thailand and, in 2012, in Germany and Denmark with its circus. It holds an annual international circus festival, Tini Tinou, and received a Prince Claus Award in 2012.

For travellers, the connection is the circus it supports in Siem Reap. We could not verify details of that venue, its ticketing or its financial model from the sources we read, so check the organisation's own website. As with any social enterprise, ask how revenue is used, and book directly.