Youths now run the show at Church media office

Three months after the former director and mentor of the Catholic Social Communications (CSC) office left the country, 11 young Cambodian Church workers here are building on his work, running the office by themselves.

Keo Kagnha edits a Catholic weekly radio program broadcast

Father Omer Giraldo, a missioner of the Colombia-based Yarumal foreign mission society, left his position as CSC director last March to serve in his society´s council in his own country.

The priest founded CSC, located in Phnom Penh, in 2003. He assembled a team of young people, both Catholics and Buddhists, to take on the work of publishing a monthly news bulletin and producing radio as well as video and audio programs.

Father Giraldo was a staunch advocate of the use of media to create awareness of social issues, particularly children´s rights in Cambodia. He hosted the first assembly of SIGNIS, a worldwide Catholic association for audiovisual, broadcast and new media, to be held in Cambodia in September 2008.

His work has lived on despite his departure.

“I feel the Church is now more concerned about media and communications,” said Ly Sovanna, who has been CSC director since March 12.

Sovanna, 30, is the oldest staff member. He said the Church is giving the opportunity to young Cambodians to head Church projects. All Sovanna´s staff are local Cambodians in their 20s and four are Buddhists.

The CSC currently has five main programs. It publishes “The Messenger,” a weekly 20-page Church bulletin in Khmer with a circulation of 3,000; two radio programs, with one focusing mainly on youth issues; a video program; an audio program; and a Church website in Khmer, English, French and Spanish.

Sovanna says other projects in the pipeline include establishing an Internet cafe, further developing the Church website in Khmer and English, and training more young people in video production, web design and news writing.

Vietnamese Catholics in Cambodia receive ‘The Messenger’

“The CSC is the voice of the Church in Cambodia. It aims to highlight the activities of the Church to Catholic communities and to Cambodian society,” Sovanna said. “Through the website we can also reach an international audience and give a better understanding of the Catholic Church in Cambodia.”

Rin Bunrith, producer of the youth radio program “I Need U,” said the program helps young people understand their lives. Listeners call in to discuss issues such as love and relationships. The program runs live twice a week for an hour each time.

Phat Sampy, 28, a Buddhist who is editor-in-chief of “The Messenger,” has worked with the CSC since 2004. He recalled that “The Messenger” had just eight pages when it was launched.

He also shared that his initial fears that he might have to convert to Catholicism were unfounded. Furthermore, he managed to overcome his disappointment at the low salary after realizing that his job enables him to “serve Cambodian society.”

His sentiments are echoed by Khan Phirom, 30, a part-time reporter for the CSC. Even though the pay is low, the CSC staff are free from petty jealousies and no one looks down on anyone else, he said.

People buying CDs of Catholic songs, produced by CSC

Keo Kagnha, CSC deputy director, said she finds meaning in the work of helping “new” Catholics — those who have just converted — to live the faith. Kagnha, 23, heads the weekly radio program broadcast on seven radio stations in the country.

Similarly, Yim Mary, who has worked in the CSC for only a few months, said: “I have the opportunity to highlight the activities of the Catholic Church to Cambodians.” Mary, a 23-year-old Catholic, is a reporter for “The Messenger” and also works for the CSC´s radio program.

Father Paul Roeung Chatchai, CSC coordinator, said that there is no religious discrimination in the CSC. “Our mission is to serve not only Catholics but all people,” he stressed.

About 95 percent of the more than 14 million Cambodians are Buddhists. Christians form approximately 2 percent of the population.