OUDAM.COM

Hi Everyone,

I have been contacted by Mariko, a representative of Ning, the software platform on which Khmercity.net is built, about having our community featured as one of the six networks (out of 275,000) displayed on their homepage.

Our site is just 1 member short of the 1000-member milestone. This milestone, achieved in just six months, along with Ning’s recognition, attests to the stunning success of our online community, which is made possible only through the contributions of our members.

Below are my answers to a questionnaire posed to me by Mariko. I thought I’d share them with you since all members of Khmercity.net, especially the active members, have played a role in the growth of our online community.

If you’re not yet a member of Khmercity.net, I encourage you to sign up today!

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How did you hear about Ning?

I learned about Ning while exploring options (through Googling) for creating an online community for the Khmer diaspora throughout the world. After careful consideration of hosted and non-hosted solutions, I felt Ning offered the best combination of social networking features, architecture, and support.

What is your favourite feature?

My personal favorite is the forum which exists in the context of a social network. As opposed to stand-alone forums, the Ning forum fosters a climate of friendship and respect and discourages anonymity, flaming, harrassments and other abusive practices often associated with internet message boards.

How have your members reacted to the network?

Many of my fellow Khmers have expressed great excitement and gratitude that an online community is created to bring together Cambodians from all over the world to make friends, share music and photos, and celebrate our rich culture and heritage. In just six months since its launch, Khmercity.net has reached the 1000-member milestone.

What have you found most surprising in the process of creating this network?

Despite some limitations of a hosted solution, I was surprised how little time I had to put into maintaing and tweaking the site to ensure that it runs smoothly, allowing me to devote more time to content development.

Have your members met each other outside of cyberspace?

Some of my real-life friends are also members of Khmer City. One member wrote to thank me that Khmer City has enabled him to find his soulmate. They are set to be engaged, but I’m not sure if they have met offline, yet.

What is your vision for your network?

As a “survivor” of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, I’ve always had a penchant to help my people and my native country Cambodia in some way. Having grown up mostly in U.S. and as a full-time web developer, this is the only way I know how to contribute. Presently, Khmercity.net serves mostly to bring together Cambodian people scattered all over the world to chat, make friends and share photos and ideas.

My vision for Khmer City as it continues to grow, through increased membership, exposure and recognition, is to use it as a vehicle for positive changes within Khmer communities worldwide and to contribute to the rebuilding of Cambodia, which in many ways is still reeling from a very tragic recent past.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

We have some of the greatest human beings on our site!

Is there any specific area of your network that you would like me to focus my blog post on?

I trust your judgement on this. But I’d stress the role of the internet as a unifying medium for a proud, intelligent and dignified people victimized by one of greatest human tragedies of all time.

Thank you for your kind consideration!

Oudam Em
Network creator

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Hi Everyone,

You’re probably aware of the terrible cyclone that hit Myanmar (Burma) last week. The natural disaster has so far killed over 22,000 people. Over 40,000 people are still missing. Experts estimate that the actual death toll could top 100,000.

Like Cambodia, Burma is an impoverished Buddhist Southeast Asian country unable to cope with this type of catastrophe on its own.

As kind-hearted, compassionate individuals, we can’t put the whole world on our shoulders…and we don’t have to. Any amount you can donate to this terrible tragedy will help make a difference.

Here are a couple of links you can use to make online donations to international relief efforts in Burma.

1. UNICEF website

2. Donate to UNICEF or Direct Relief via Google Checkout (easier)

Discuss this topic on Khmercity.net

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Very inspiring story. Peter Chhun is a true Khmer hero.

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Update (4/15/08): The celebration was a huge success. Thousands of people of all ages took part in this joyous occasion. Thanks to all the organizers and volunteers, the event helped to raise much needed donations for Wat Buddharangsey.

This year’s celebration was a special occasion for me as I was able to participate personally, as a volunteer who helped setting up tents and selling raffle tickets to raise money for the temple.

I’ll post some pictures from the event soon.

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If you’ll be in the Houston area on April 13, please be sure to come join the Khmer New Year Celebration at Wat Buddharangsey, at 15211 Sellers Rd., Houston, TX 77060 (Tel: 281-999-8678).

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Besides honoring our Khmer tradition and cultural heritage, the event is always fun and entertaining to people of all ages. There’ll be plenty of food, concession stands, and parking spaces for everyone.

At this year’s celebration there will be a DJ who will operate a karaoke system for those of you who’d like to sing karaoke songs. So, if you would like to perform, please bring your own DVDs containing your favorite songs to the temple.

As usual we will be selling raffle tickets to raise money for the temple. To make the event more fun and productive, we need people to bring gifts to be offered as prizes for the raffle winners. The more attractive the prizes, the more raffle tickets we’ll sell, and the more money is raised for the temple.

See you there!

For more information, please visit Wat Buddharangsey’s website.

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Motanak pheap jea Khmer - Rock Zone

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