Princess Sylvia Sisowath: “My return to Cambodia was an explosion of happiness!”

Princess Sylvia Sisowath left Cambodia for France eight years ago. In November 2024, she decided to return to celebrate her 70th birthday. On the eve of her departure a few days ago, the princess recounts her emotional stay.

At the request of His Majesty King Sihamoni, Princess Sylvia Sisowath is preparing her return to the Kingdom

For those few who don't already know you, please tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Sylvia Sisowath, I'm the first cousin of the late King Father Sihanouk and therefore the second cousin of His Majesty King Sihamoni. I first came to Cambodia in 1966, before General de Gaulle's visit. I left again in 1974, before the tragic events linked to the Khmer Rouge, and I came back to follow His Majesty in 2006. And in 2017, I retired in France and came back to serve His Majesty.

You previously worked for CMK (Crédit Mutuel Kampuchea).

I started with the Bophana audiovisual centre transcribing documents, then as an interpreter for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and then at Knai Bang Chhat in Kep. And finally, I ended up at CMK as HR, PR and network coordinator for about four years.

Why did you decide to return to France?

In a way, I think the younger generation needed to take charge. I had around a hundred employees, or rather collaborators, who were dynamic and full of vitality. And I said to myself, we should make room for others. And above all, I wanted to be with my family, my grandchildren, whom I didn't see often enough.

In November this year, you decided to return to Cambodia, why?

To celebrate my birthday with the children from the Kep Education Centre

Dance classes

And you're still involved in community work

Yes, always. I'm still involved in community and cultural work.

Tell us a little about your association in Kep

In October 2011, Dominique Lorrain and I restored a house we owned in the middle of the rice fields. We wanted to turn it into a house of culture and sports because I was very attached to preserving culture. And just as we were starting the restoration work, the local children came to play.

So it wasn't the House of Culture that interested them, but a place where they could play. That's how we became a day centre. Cultural activities came a long time later. The priority became to create play and recreation areas for the children. We then created the Maison de la Culture to return to my first love. That was in 2013 because the dance teacher was available that year. He's still with us today.

Why has the youth centre become Kep's ‘education centre’?

It's called the Kep education centre because the majority of donors are 90% French and to receive a tax receipt, the authorities require us to include the word education in our name. It's simply a question of form.

Young pupil at the Kep Education Centre

So, from France, you managed the subsidy side of things...

I also managed public relations. Locally, the association was managed by Mona Tep. I would like to stress that thanks to our donors, we are able to provide very decent salaries for all our employees.

What was it like coming back from 2024?

It was an opportunity to reconnect with a lot of people. Everyone, the children of the association, the staff at the Kep centre, but also the former members of CMK and Knai Bang Chat. And finally, I'd like to mention the friends and people who never forgot me during my travels.

It was a very moving return because every time I opened a door, a waiter, a person or a tuktuk driver recognised me. For example, this morning, I was having breakfast and all of a sudden I see my former personal assistant from CMK, with tears in his eyes, coming to say hello before I get on the plane tomorrow. The audience with His Majesty on 3 December took a new turn for the future. I am preparing to devote half my life here and the other half in France to the service of His Majesty.

You came with a group of donors, tell us a little more about them

They are godmothers who came to see how the centre's activities were going. They were very surprised by what we've been able to put in place, by the joy of the children and also by the involvement of the staff.

In 2011, we had 20 children; today we have 200 who benefit from our activities, which include English classes, dance classes, sport and early-learning art classes.

Everything takes place in the afternoon, because they're at school in the morning. So it's just the headmistress who's there in the morning with a cleaning lady.

I've brought in my nephew, who should be taking over a bit, but I'm going to continue to get involved because, in the eyes of the local authorities and partners, having a Cambodian woman involved in running the centre provides a solid foundation.

Apart from that, what is your opinion of Cambodia in 2024 compared with 2016?

When I lived here, I used to like to escape to Bangkok or Singapore to relax and I used to say that the way Cambodia is developing, in 10 years' time we'd be a mini-Bangkok. And today, I realise that we're there. In other words, there are towers,

sky bridges, much more developed road infrastructure... There are four lanes, there are even speed cameras... There's also a message of hope: young people are much more open to the outside world. They're on planes to Bangkok, they're taking their parents with them, instead of by car, they're taking them by plane. So there's an evolution and an openness to the outside world.

Why are you presenting your activities at the Institut Français today?

I'm doing this for the Phnom Penh Accueil association. I still have fond memories of this organisation, because I was treasurer of the association in its early days. It's also about giving a bit of visibility to the association in Kep.

If you had to sum up your return trip in one word?

It would be an explosion of emotions. I'd like to thank all the people I met for bringing back memories that I'd honestly forgotten because, for me, it was natural to have met people and I didn't think I would have left such a lasting impression.

A few photos of the Education Center here...