Samaki Kohn Khmer

Samaki Kohn Khmer
Common name	SKK
Alternative names	Association Samaki Kohn Khmer; Jeunesse Cambodgienne solidaire
Type	Community association
Focus areas	Promotion of Cambodian culture in France; charitable aid for Cambodia; Sabay Festival
Subjects	Community & Civic Life; Migration & Diaspora
City	Saint-Cyr-l'École
Country	France
Address	1 rue Fernand-Léger, 78210 Saint-Cyr-l'École, France
Founded	2013
Contact	06 59 85 17 00; [email protected]
Operating status	active

Samaki Kohn Khmer (SKK) is a non-profit association founded in 2013 by two young Cambodians in France, Dara and Samara, to promote Cambodian culture and charitable aid. It created the Sabay Festival, held at the Grande Pagode du Bois de Vincennes in Paris, and is an affiliated member of the Union Bouddhiste de France. (Ville de Paris, programme of the festival Cambodge, d'hier à aujourd'hui (2018); Bel-Air Sud, 4th Sabay Festival at the Grande Pagode (June 2025); Union Bouddhiste de France, Annuaire des membres)

History

The founders were second-generation Khmers in France whose aim was to bring the diaspora together and act for the future of Cambodia. The association runs on volunteer work and organizes meetings on Cambodian themes for Cambodians in France and friends of the country, with the aim of passing on Cambodian history and traditions. (Hub d'entraide franco-khmer, partners; Ville de Paris, programme of the festival Cambodge, d'hier à aujourd'hui (2018))

In 2015 it partnered with a Scouts et Guides de France team from Versailles on Samaki Scouts, a development and education project in Cambodia. (KissKissBankBank, Les compagnons au Cambodge (2015))

The association was presented in the programme of Cambodge, d'hier à aujourd'hui, a month of Cambodian arts and culture across Greater Paris in May 2018. (Ville de Paris, programme of the festival Cambodge, d'hier à aujourd'hui (2018))

The association created the Sabay Festival in 2022 to promote Khmer culture in France. It organizes the festival with Sabay - Evaan Market & Services at the Grande Pagode du Bois de Vincennes. (Bel-Air Sud, 4th Sabay Festival at the Grande Pagode (June 2025); JDS, Sabay Festival 2025)

2023: the second edition celebrated Khmer New Year on April 30, 2023, opening with a Buddhist ceremony. (Le Petit Journal Cambodge, Sabay Festival at the Grande Pagode (April 2023))
2025: the fourth edition took place on June 14 and 15, 2025. (JDS, Sabay Festival 2025; Bel-Air Sud, 4th Sabay Festival at the Grande Pagode (June 2025))

SKK co-organizes the Asian Street Food Festival with Sabay Events Production. Its sixth edition took place at the Grande Pagode on September 5 and 6, 2026, and the federation's 2026 calendar lists co-president Dara Thong as the contact for that weekend. (Shotgun, Asian Street Food Festival, 6th edition (September 2026); Union Bouddhiste de France, Grande Pagode festivities, 2026 season)

The Union Bouddhiste de France directory lists Dara Thong and Samara Men as co-presidents. (Union Bouddhiste de France, Association Samaki Kohn Khmer)

Address: 1 rue Fernand-Léger, 78210 Saint-Cyr-l'École, France (Union Bouddhiste de France, Association Samaki Kohn Khmer)
Contact: 06 59 85 17 00; [email protected] (Union Bouddhiste de France, Association Samaki Kohn Khmer)