Clearwater, FL – On Saturday, April 27th, 2024 the Clearwater Community Volunteers (CCV) Center partnered with the Cambodian Vintage Music Archive (CVMA) to host a night of Cambodian history and heritage for all to learn about the country and its culture. The evening focused on the unforgotten Khmer Rouge genocide, and in particular, its impact on the artists of that time. The film, “Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten,” was shown to the guests, and afterwards they were treated to live Cambodian music.



Attendees who weren’t of Cambodian origin, but were interested in learning more about the culture, were given a true look at recent Cambodian history with the film. To them, the story was unbelievable, but to those who lived through it, it was a reminder of what their people had gone through a mere 45 years ago in the 1970s.



The Khmer Rouge was a radical regime in Cambodia that was in power from 1975 to 1979. During this time, millions of innocent Cambodians were taken from their homes to work in the fields, where many lost their lives during the evacuations.



“The Khmer Rouge left its mark on Cambodia,” said Tracy Hawkins, manager of the CCV Center. “What CVMA is doing to restore the artistic values of the country is extremely important and the CCV Center is happy to back them up. As Humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard once said, ‘A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists.’”



About the Clearwater Community Volunteers Center:



The Clearwater Community Volunteers Center, established by the Church of Scientology in 2018, is a home for the benefit of all Tampa Bay nonprofit organizations. Built on the success of the Clearwater Community Volunteers, who host the signature Winter Wonderland and Easter Egg Hunt in Clearwater, the Center was created to serve the needs of local nonprofits. The Center is fully equipped to host meetings, seminars, events and gatherings, all at no cost to the nonprofit community. Please email [email protected] for more information about the Center and its facilities.