APSARA National Authority and Khmer Heritage Organization Train Krabei Riel Primary School Students on History and Conservation of Angkor Site

To raise awareness and foster a spirit of heritage preservation among local children living in the Angkor region, the APSARA National Authority, in collaboration with the Khmer Heritage Organization (KHO), organized a heritage education program titled “History and Conservation of the Angkor Site” for students at Krabei Riel Primary School. Led by lead trainer Mr. On Sopheap, the training session focused on four key pillars:

• Factors Causing Structural Damage: Detailed explanation of natural decay over centuries, climate fluctuations (heat, moisture, rain) causing stone fracture, flooding and soil erosion weakening temple foundations, and deep root intrusion destabilizing stone architecture. Human factors were also presented, including past armed conflict, illegal looting, antiquities trafficking, and the historical relocation of the capital leaving temples without timely maintenance.
• History of Angkor Conservation: Overview of official conservation efforts initiated in the early 20th century by the École française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) and the establishment of the Angkor Conservation office in 1908, leading up to the creation of the APSARA National Authority on February 19, 1995. Current site management follows international standards and the Angkor Charter under the coordination of UNESCO and ICC-Angkor.
• International Cooperation: Highlighting global partnerships developed since Angkor’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 14, 1992, bringing international experts, research technology, and technical training to support Cambodian conservation teams.
• National Conservation Missions: Overview of the APSARA National Authority’s core operations, including historical and technical research, establishing conservation guidelines according to original standards, executing emergency structural interventions, and conducting ongoing site restoration and routine maintenance.

The heritage education program provided essential knowledge to Krabei Riel Primary School students regarding the invaluable worth of the Angkor World Heritage Site, inspiring local youth residing within the heritage zone to take pride in and actively safeguard their ancestral cultural legacy.