A story of Rady
Rady Sa and her team filming the life of her community to raise awareness about gender-based violence. ©Bophana Center
Text by: Bophana Center
Rady Sa, 24, is a Tampuan indigenous woman from Ratanakri province in northeastern Cambodia experience a transformation in life. She graduated from high school in 2017. In 2022, Rady was one of twenty-one trainees selected for the training course with Bophana Center in Ratanakiri province as part of the project “The Arts of Visibility and Positive Social Change.” The project was co-funded by Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Ford Foundation and Oxfam.
Through her participation in the Bophana Center’s film training program, Rady’s rural life took a new direction when she received a job offer as a video editor at a prominent Cambodian Television Network (CTN). As the first indigenous woman to join the video editing team, she is thrilled to utilize the skills she acquired during the training program.
Rady is passionate about creating change in her community through education and vocational training. Despite the prevailing belief in her community that prioritizes early marriage for daughters, Rady firmly believe in the power of education emphasizing that marrying at a young age does not lead to a better future.
Rady is committed to overcoming barriers in her own community to pursue education and vocational training.
“I want to urge the elder to inspire the younger generation to seek knowledge. Marrying at a young age is not beneficial, only education can bring about a better life for them.”
Rady’s documentary film, “Unforgettable,” showcased the struggles of the Tampuan indigenous woman, Nhum Pak, who faced domestic abuse while working as a dancer to support her family. The film was screened by the Bophana Center and Cambodia International Film Festival in 2023, bringing attention to issue of gender-based violence and the importance of preserving traditional dance. The documentary serves as a critical tool to raise awareness within the community and ensure the continuation of cultural heritage.
Bophana Center, with support from Oxfam and other donors, has played a crucial role in empowering indigenous youth, particularly young women, in filmmaking and using their production to address concerns such as early marriage, gender-based violence, culture, education, and the environment.
This initiative is part of Oxfam’s Voice project that is implementing in the 10 countries. In Cambodia, Oxfam launched Voice project in December 2016 to strengthen the capacity for lobby and advocacy of civil society organizations and representatives of rightsholders and rightsholder groups to empower them and to have their voices heard and respected. The team will celebrate “The Power of Inclusion,” the eight-year impact and partnership in April 5, 2024.
