From the Origins of Khmer Smiling Children to the New Challenges of the Kep Educational Center

Editorial team
24 hours ago
3 min read

From the Origins of Khmer Smiling Children (ESK) to the New Challenges of the Kep Educational Center (CEK), Sylvia Sisowath Embodies an Unwavering Supportive Presence. Returning from an intense four-month stay, she draws up a balance sheet for Cambodge Mag of an initiative that today brings together numerous actors around education, disability, and culture.

Princesse Sylvia Sisowath, un engagement de cœur au service du Cambodge

A Life of Promises Kept

For Sylvia Sisowath, commitment is not an empty word. As Secretary of State in the private office of His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, she has dedicated her energy to children and culture since 1976. A major milestone was set in 1996 with the creation of Khmer Smiling Children (ESK), whose primary mission is to restore hope and smiles to children born with cleft lips.

In 2010, during a visit to Kep with Dominique Klein, she discovered a family home that was closed. On the adjacent land, children were playing, and a somewhat eccentric idea came to them: they bought the property to create a real living space for the local children. It was 2011; the House of Sports and Culture, now the Kep Educational Center (CEK), came to life.

“Keeping a promise is my guiding principle,” she confides. “What was once a single traditional house has become a campus of seven buildings that today hosts a hundred children during major events, like the center's Olympiads.”

The Bet on Francophonie and Exchange

Sylvia Sisowath's latest four-month stay was marked by a strong ambition: to launch a practical French class one year before the 2026 Francophonie Summit. A successful bet thanks to a motivated team: a dozen students and the center's director are now initiating themselves to the language of Molière.

This momentum relies on exemplary inter-associative solidarity, in Kep with other associations, but Sylvia has also multiplied meetings with the country's historic actors.

Phnom Penh Photo (of which she is the godmother): The association behind the international photography festival, an essential cultural pillar for the country's image.
Taramana: Based in Phnom Penh's Boeng Salang neighborhood, this NGO supports the education and health of nearly 200 children.
Enfants du Mékong: A major education player that has worked for decades to school young Cambodians.

Recently, the CEK opened its doors to offer seaside weekends to groups of children from Taramana and Enfants du Mékong, illustrating this willingness to share between organizations.

New Horizons: Disability and Demining

True to her need “to listen, analyze, and act,” Sylvia Sisowath has extended her field of action beyond education. In January 2026, she signed a memorandum of understanding with the NGO Cambodian Self Help Demining (CSHD), founded by Aki Ra. This iconic structure not only works on demining rural areas but also supports mine victims and their families.

She has also sealed a partnership with the Belgian association Kkep on Learning, which brings its expertise in pedagogical support, thus strengthening the international outreach of the Kep Center.

A Devoted Human Chain

Behind these projects, Sylvia Sisowath relies on a circle of collaborators whose synergy she highlights. In France, she travels the roads with her nephew Matthieu Majoli, president of CEK France, to raise awareness among donors. In Cambodia, daily operations are carried by trusted figures:

Perom Oua: At 28, the director of the Kep center is a recognized educator whose rigor and involvement command respect.
Borey Pheng: A former senator, she puts her network and knowledge of administration at the service of the center to facilitate procedures and attract local donations.
Vathana Chey: A United Nations retiree, she handled logistics and moral support for Sylvia during these intense four months.
Louis Scotti: Based in Phnom Penh, this expert voluntarily oversees the technical compliance and safety of the new buildings.
Mona Tep: Vice-president of ESK Cambodia, she co-manages the center.
Chanda Muy: Coordinator with local associations.

The Call of 2026

Despite these advances, the financial challenge remains. Sylvia Sisowath favors collective sponsorship, an ethical approach aimed at protecting the child from the trauma of a potential individual disengagement. A courageous choice, but one that requires constant mobilization.

“I will only return if my charitable activities in Europe bear fruit,” she confides with frankness tinged with hope. For Sylvia, 2026 will be the year of fundraising, so that the promises made to the children of Kep, people with disabilities, and mine victims continue to be honored.