Save Khmer at UW

Save Khmer at UW
Alternative names	Save Khmer Language at UW
Type	Advocacy
Focus areas	Advocacy and fundraising to preserve the Khmer Language Program at the University of Washington
Subjects	Language & Literacy; Community & Civic Life
State / province	Washington
Country	United States
Website	Website
Donation	Donation
Contact	[email protected]
Instagram	Instagram
Operating status	active

Save Khmer at UW is a grassroots, community-led campaign working through advocacy and fundraising to preserve the Khmer Language Program at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. Its organizers describe themselves as members of the Khmer diaspora and children of survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide. Its slogan is ងើបឈរដើម្បីភាសាខ្មែរ. The campaign is not affiliated with the University of Washington. (Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page)

It is not a university student organization, and it operates under a fiscal sponsor rather than as its own registered charity. The sponsor is the Cambodian American Community Council of Washington (CACCWA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so direct donations are tax-deductible. (Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page)

Campaign

Goal: $100,000 by June 2027, the cost of running the Khmer Language Program at UW for one full year. (Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page)
Purpose: to show the university how much the community values the program. The organizers also work with community leaders who are pressing for state funding to keep the program going. (Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page)
Fundraising so far: the campaign launched with a Flowers for Flourishing bouquet fundraiser with the grower Yeng Gardens, and then moved to Givebutter. Having a fiscal sponsor also lets the campaign apply for grants and receive larger gifts, including proceeds from the Seattle Mariners' Cambodian Heritage Night on September 24, 2026. (Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page; Stayhappening, Seattle Mariners Cambodian Heritage Night listing)
In September 2026 the Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy (KLACA) spotlighted the campaign on its Facebook page. (KLACA on Facebook, Organization Spotlight: Save Khmer at UW (September 2026))

The UW Khmer Language Program

Khmer courses at UW began in 2012 with federal Title VI funding, after vocal advocacy led by the Khmer Students Association and the wider Cambodian community. (International Examiner, community gathers to save UW's Khmer language program (January 2026); Northwest Asian Weekly, UW Khmer program at risk (December 2025))
In 2017 UW considered dropping the language but decided against it. (Northwest Asian Weekly, UW Khmer program at risk (December 2025))
Until 2023 the program was housed in the Jackson School of International Studies. From autumn 2023 the Department of Asian Languages and Literature began offering the Khmer courses. (UW Department of Asian Languages and Literature, Asia Notes (2023); UW Department of Asian Languages and Literature, Khmer)
UW is one of seven U.S. universities where students can learn to read, write and speak Khmer. (Northwest Asian Weekly, UW Khmer program at risk (December 2025)) The International Examiner reported in January 2026 that it is the last top-tier (R1) research university on the West Coast to teach Khmer. (International Examiner, community gathers to save UW's Khmer language program (January 2026))
Longtime lecturer Luoth Yin has retired, and the current lecturer is Nielson Hul, who came from Cornell University. (Northwest Asian Weekly, UW Khmer program at risk (December 2025); International Examiner, community gathers to save UW's Khmer language program (January 2026))
In 2025 the U.S. Department of Education cancelled funding to all national resource centers. UW's Center for Southeast Asia & its Diasporas lost its entire $500,000 federal award, including support for language instructors. (Northwest Asian Weekly, UW Khmer program at risk (December 2025)) The Department of Asian Languages and Literature put together one year of funding to keep the program running through 2025-26. (International Examiner, community gathers to save UW's Khmer language program (January 2026))
For 2026-27 the program has been cut back from courses at all three levels to beginner Khmer only, and there is no funding beyond that academic year. (Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page; UW Department of Asian Languages and Literature, course listings)
On December 10, 2025, students, professors and community members met at Le's Deli & Bakery in South Seattle to discuss the program's future. (International Examiner, community gathers to save UW's Khmer language program (January 2026))

How to support

Donate online through the campaign's Givebutter page: https://givebutter.com/savekhmeratuw (Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page)
Donate by check or cash: email [email protected]. (Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page)
Donate through the fiscal sponsor: contact CACCWA at [email protected] or 253-459-9522 and say the donation is for Save Khmer at UW. (Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page; Cambodian American Community Council of Washington, Donate)
Other actions suggested in January 2026 coverage: write to state legislators and UW leadership, and enroll in UW Khmer courses, which are open to anyone. (International Examiner, community gathers to save UW's Khmer language program (January 2026))
Follow the campaign on Instagram: @savekhmeratuw. (Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page)

Sources

Campaign

The UW Khmer Language Program

How to support

See also

Sources