Voice of Cambodia

Wednesday 9 - 9.30pm

In Khmer.

Covering cultural issues, traditional Cambodian culture and community news.

Presented by Vymala Yim.

Contact via 3CR on 03 9419 8377.

CRAM Article November 2007

Voice of Cambodia

Vymala first heard about 3CR from her teacher during her Adult Migrant English Services course in 2005 after arriving in Australia in 2003 from Cambodia. Looking up 3CR on the internet and seeing that 3CR’s frequency - 855AM - is the same as the Cambodian country code 855 intrigued Vymala. Once she found out that 3CR “fights for justice, liberty, equality, and is an independent radio station” she decided that she would love to get involved. The Cambodian program began airing in May 2007. Believing that
radio plays a great role in society and understanding that not all Cambodian-Australians are fluent in English, the Cambodian program aims to give listeners the opportunity to hear radio in their own language, Khmer.

The program ranges over issues including health, history, literature and news.

Vymala thinks that the program’s audience is wide-ranging, from the young to the elderly. There are about ten thousand Khmer-speaking people in Melbourne, and Cambodians often call in during the program to express their support.

According to Vymala, the major challenges facing Cambodian-Australians are loneliness (especially for elderly people) and the lack of information in Khmer. She believes that radio can assist the Cambodian community in Melbourne by bringing people together, informing people of what’s going on where they live, sharing with Cambodians the knowledge of their privileges and responsibilities in Australia and providing Cambodians with the opportunity to enjoy their culture.

Personally for Vymala, “This is what I love to do. One part of my dream is to make people live in harmony; I love the art of healing. Now I try to make Cambodians in Australia feel a sense of home and hope. Bringing Cambodians together to somewhere they can trust, somewhere where everyone is welcome, we are just one family.” Outside of 3CR Vymala is an Arts student at Victoria University.

Vymala would like to express her gratitude to all the listeners and supporters of 3CR’s Cambodian program, including Radio Australia -Khmer Service and SBS Melbourne that have played a major role as the resources for the program. She would particularly like to thank Ross Fox for taking care of English texts. Finally Vymala would like to thank 3CR for allowing her to do the program on the airwaves of an independent radio station.

By Bree McKilligan.