Last week, we were pleased to welcome a presentation of “I am a Daughter.” This performance was part of a country-wide tour of Cambodian playwright, Kim Dyna’s, play. It follows a girl’s struggles to continue her education after graduating from primary school. This narrative is especially relevant in Cambodia where, outside city centers, girls attendance in primary and secondary school wallows at 33 percent and enrollment in tertiary education is 37.8. (UNDP, 2011) 

In this 2-person play, the actors play different roles. From a grandmother and her granddaughter to a husband and wife, sometimes swapping gender roles. Its story line shows the protagonist’s path to higher education and finding a partner who is supportive of her goals and willing to wait for marriage.  Over the course of its dozen vignettes, topics of women’s rights, family disapproval and domestic violence are discussed.

Two actors play multiple roles in this thought-provoking performance

Before and after the play, the audience of over 70 young ISF students discussed their thoughts on the role of women within society. The themes of the play were expanded on in a Q&A session with the actors – with questions presented by our students.  At the end of the show, a female role model shared her path to success within a male-dominated society.

Students are invited to share their thoughts on the play, I am a Daughter

The play’s organisers believe this story is especially important for young people to see. This is due to the fact that women’s access to education and employment has traditionally been limited in Cambodia.  Adding that many girls in the country believe that their only options are a factory job or marriage. The aim of the performance is to raise aspirations and expand conceptions of what women’s roles can look like.

The protagonist juggles education, family expectations and a career

Themes covered in “I am a Daughter’ reaffirm the social impact lessons lessons we share with ISF students. Our Youth Role Model project covers topics like gender equality, inclusion and environmental stewardship. And the ISF Football Programme incorporates a bespoke social impact curriculum to discuss socially relevant topics. Created in partnership with Coaches Across Continents (CAC), it highlights ‘Purposeful Play’ and uses the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as its framework.

The performance series is organised by the Cambodian-German Cultural Association (KDKG e.V.) Meta House, and Khmer Art Action. Kim Dyna’s original script was adapted for schools in 2017. Starting in 2018, the play began traveling to high schools in Phnom Penh, Mondol Kiri, and Kratie. Find out more about the play at the I am a Daughter website.