Vibol Hou, KC Co-Founder blazes Phnom Penh Post

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How the Internet makes its presence felt

Once a domain reserved for tourists and foreigners, ever-cheaper Web cafes across Phnom Penh are now packed with young Cambodians. And as the cost of WEb access and personal computers continues to drop, observers expect to see many more households across the country acquiring a second address--for e-mail. In a series of interviews conducted by Cheng Meng and Phatry Derek Pan for the Post, two men--one credited with bringing email to Cambodia in 1994 and the other a co-founder of the world's largest Khmer website--talk about their work.

Norbert Klein
Open Forum of Cambodia

Norbert Klein serves as advisor to the director of the Open Forum of Cambodia, and has lived in Cambodia since 1990. Editor of two weekly press reviews of Khmer media, Klein is credited with introducing Cambodia e-mail in 1994.

Post: Explain the claim that you brought e-mail to Cambodia in 1994.
Klein: Before I arrived in Cambodia, I was an early e-mail user in Germany starting in 1983. I used it to communicate internationally. When I arrived in Cambodia, I noticed a need for e-mail here so I saught advice on creating a system..

At that time I was working at the Ministery of Agriculture in the department of animal health and production. One of my Cambodia colleagues was offered a scholarship for an international study program but could not accept because he had no access to e-mail.

I thought: "No e-mail means no international education?" That's unfair." So I set out to establish the first such communication system in Cambodia.

Post: What changes have you observed in Cambodia since the introduction of the Internet?
Klein: When I started the first e-mail system, it was mainly to open up a path for international communication in Cambodia, since it had been isolated for so many years. As more people have started using e-mail, it has become an instrument of communication between people in the kingdom as well.

The Web has also made it easier for people to get information from international sources which are only available outside Cambodia. And this can happen quickly and cheaply. (Buying books abroad is expensive, and takes quite a long time.)

Post: Is it difficult for newcomers and older Cambodians to learn to use the Web?
Klein: Of course not. I think it will beomce increasingly easier for everyone to access the Internet, even if they do not know the English necessary to operate a computer. Some excellent Khmer-language software has been developed that is available legally and free of charge.

Vibol Hou
Khmer Connection

While Klein's early efforts connected Cambodians to the world around them, California-based Vibol Hou has linked expatriate Khmers to one another, and to life back in Cambodia. Hou, 25, is executive director and co-founder of KhmerConnection, an online community for overseas Cambodians. With 35,000 visitors per month, it is the world's most popular Khmer web site.

Post: What was your initial vision for KhmerConnection? Did you have any idea that it would be so big?
Hou: I envisioned KhmerConnection (KC) as an open and active community of Khmers. To that extent, it has been extremely successful and I am proud of all the people who made it possible. I did not anticipate that KC would be the world's largest Khmer site, but all of the co-founders agreed that we wanted it to be big. We devoted hundreds of hours of hard work to the site--of course we wanted to see it grow.

Post: You have obviously struck a chord among Khmers--you have a loyal member base, and the page is viewed three million times each month. Why do you think people are so attracted to KC? Is your membership still growing?
Hou: Yes, though it varies. I'd estimate 75 new members join in an average month. I think most members would agree that KC is one of the few places on the Internet where they can interact with fellow Khmers from around the world. For those in remote locations without a strong Khmer population, KC is sort of an oasis in the desert.

Other members are drawn to the dialogue: They find it satisfying to be able to engage in discourse with others who share a similar background and awareness of Cambodian culture. And many of them are around the same age--the majority are between 16 and 31 years old. They discuss everything from business to entertainment to romance... the reasons they log in are practically endless.

Post: Where is KC headed in the coming years?
Hou: KC will continue to exist as a medium for Khmers around the world. But for my co-founders and me to remain engaged, the website must keep growing. I've written about this on my weblog: I would love to see the KC site permeate the fabric of Khmer society, empowering us all to do something more productive. That could be as simple as meeting new people face-to-face, or participating in cultural events. We even learn more about the Cambodian diaspora... The goal is to keep moving forward.


Phnom Penh Post, Issue 14/25, December 16 - 29, 2005
© Michael Hayes, 2005. All rights revert to authors and artists on publication.

[Message last modified 12-17-2005 04:30pm by phatry]

Wow, go Vibol! Didn't know it was the world's largest khmer website.

____________________________________
licadho.org/campaign

 

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I am pleased to read this interview, brought a smile to my face.

i am addicted to KC.

show you the money

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Congrats Vibol! I have alot of faith in you and your team. I think by working together - KC can get even bigger and profitable. Let me "show you the money" LOL

 Congrats, Vibol

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I too hope that kc will influence the way Khmers around the world and especially in Cambodia think.

I really hope that more and more Khmers inside Cambodia will start reading, if not join and debate, the posts in kc and walk away with a different perspective on things and on who we are, what we are like and what we could be, as Khmers.

whooptie whoop go cousin!!!!!

____________________________________
Let me grab your waist with my embrace

That interviewer forget to ask Vibol this question.
"When do you plan on updating the stupid front page!?"

I see the same damn people on the spotlight for years and years.
where will there be a new one?

Vi, you've always been my superstar. Congratulations.

Congrats Vibol, your baby's all grown up!

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Can't believe I just read this You go Vibol!!! And Thank you for what you created.

quote:

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Originally posted by Sam
whooptie whoop go cousin!!!!!

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That is soooo typically Khmer!

newais..the largest Khmer site huh!? ...yay congrats KC!

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JOB WELL DONE BOSS

 Bravo!

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Bravo!!!! Great work Vibol. this is wonderful.

happy new year!

mystic

quote:

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Originally posted by phatry
How the Internet makes its presence felt

Once a domain reserved for tourists and foreigners, ever-cheaper Web cafes across Phnom Penh are now packed with young Cambodians. And as the cost of WEb access and personal computers continues to drop, observers expect to see many more households across the country acquiring a second address--for e-mail. In a series of interviews conducted by Cheng Meng and Phatry Derek Pan for the Post, two men--one credited with bringing email to Cambodia in 1994 and the other a co-founder of the world's largest Khmer website--talk about their work.

Norbert Klein
Open Forum of Cambodia

Norbert Klein serves as advisor to the director of the Open Forum of Cambodia, and has lived in Cambodia since 1990. Editor of two weekly press reviews of Khmer media, Klein is credited with introducing Cambodia e-mail in 1994.

Post: Explain the claim that you brought e-mail to Cambodia in 1994.
Klein: Before I arrived in Cambodia, I was an early e-mail user in Germany starting in 1983. I used it to communicate internationally. When I arrived in Cambodia, I noticed a need for e-mail here so I saught advice on creating a system..

At that time I was working at the Ministery of Agriculture in the department of animal health and production. One of my Cambodia colleagues was offered a scholarship for an international study program but could not accept because he had no access to e-mail.

I thought: "No e-mail means no international education?" That's unfair." So I set out to establish the first such communication system in Cambodia.

Post: What changes have you observed in Cambodia since the introduction of the Internet?
Klein: When I started the first e-mail system, it was mainly to open up a path for international communication in Cambodia, since it had been isolated for so many years. As more people have started using e-mail, it has become an instrument of communication between people in the kingdom as well.

The Web has also made it easier for people to get information from international sources which are only available outside Cambodia. And this can happen quickly and cheaply. (Buying books abroad is expensive, and takes quite a long time.)

Post: Is it difficult for newcomers and older Cambodians to learn to use the Web?
Klein: Of course not. I think it will beomce increasingly easier for everyone to access the Internet, even if they do not know the English necessary to operate a computer. Some excellent Khmer-language software has been developed that is available legally and free of charge.

Vibol Hou
Khmer Connection

While Klein's early efforts connected Cambodians to the world around them, California-based Vibol Hou has linked expatriate Khmers to one another, and to life back in Cambodia. Hou, 25, is executive director and co-founder of KhmerConnection, an online community for overseas Cambodians. With 35,000 visitors per month, it is the world's most popular Khmer web site.

Post: What was your initial vision for KhmerConnection? Did you have any idea that it would be so big?
Hou: I envisioned KhmerConnection (KC) as an open and active community of Khmers. To that extent, it has been extremely successful and I am proud of all the people who made it possible. I did not anticipate that KC would be the world's largest Khmer site, but all of the co-founders agreed that we wanted it to be big. We devoted hundreds of hours of hard work to the site--of course we wanted to see it grow.

Post: You have obviously struck a chord among Khmers--you have a loyal member base, and the page is viewed three million times each month. Why do you think people are so attracted to KC? Is your membership still growing?
Hou: Yes, though it varies. I'd estimate 75 new members join in an average month. I think most members would agree that KC is one of the few places on the Internet where they can interact with fellow Khmers from around the world. For those in remote locations without a strong Khmer population, KC is sort of an oasis in the desert.

Other members are drawn to the dialogue: They find it satisfying to be able to engage in discourse with others who share a similar background and awareness of Cambodian culture. And many of them are around the same age--the majority are between 16 and 31 years old. They discuss everything from business to entertainment to romance... the reasons they log in are practically endless.

Post: Where is KC headed in the coming years?
Hou: KC will continue to exist as a medium for Khmers around the world. But for my co-founders and me to remain engaged, the website must keep growing. I've written about this on my weblog: I would love to see the KC site permeate the fabric of Khmer society, empowering us all to do something more productive. That could be as simple as meeting new people face-to-face, or participating in cultural events. We even learn more about the Cambodian diaspora... The goal is to keep moving forward.


Phnom Penh Post, Issue 14/25, December 16 - 29, 2005
© Michael Hayes, 2005. All rights revert to authors and artists on publication.

[Message last modified 12-17-2005 04:30pm by phatry]

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Congrat Vibol for your achievement and accomplishment ....your creation has change many peoples lives and bringing our khmer community into one place...thanks bro and we're apreciated of what you've done.


Darkifre

but the most visits website is cambodia.org(alexa.com), and the first khmer website on the net as i know seen back in 1995 or 1996
congratulations to all of them.

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Phatry
Was amazing sitting in a noodle house in PP and reading your article right there over my gadeel biggear!! Tell you what, defintely felt a simultaneous rush of pride for the amazing job you and Vibol are both doing connecting Khmer worldwide as well as a rush of stardom cos i actually knew of you guys.. haha.

Thoroughly enjoyed the paper as well, 4000 riels for the paper and another 3000 riels for my gadeel biggear .. i was one happy chickie

Yorn:

What on Earth is a "gadeel biggear?" Its probably Kiwi slang, eh.

Bummer that we did not connect during your stay here, but surely we will in the near future. I'll be here for a good while.

Best, Phatry
-P-

quote:

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Originally posted by silverfern
Phatry
Was amazing sitting in a noodle house in PP and reading your article right there over my gadeel biggear!! Tell you what, defintely felt a simultaneous rush of pride for the amazing job you and Vibol are both doing connecting Khmer worldwide as well as a rush of stardom cos i actually knew of you guys.. haha.

Thoroughly enjoyed the paper as well, 4000 riels for the paper and another 3000 riels for my gadeel biggear .. i was one happy chickie

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congrad.

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A big stand up and congrad for Vibol and all the staff of Khmerconnection. I been down with all you guys since day one. Don't forget about us little people. And watch your steps you might just step on one of us..ha

cheers.

quote:

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Originally posted by phatry
Yorn:

What on Earth is a "gadeel biggear?" Its probably Kiwi slang, eh.

Bummer that we did not connect during your stay here, but surely we will in the near future. I'll be here for a good while.

Best, Phatry
-P-

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hahah you'd think a month in Cambodge would improve that ol khmerenglish of mine, but alas not so!! haha sorry mate, gadeel biggear - noodles with shrimp

be my round for gadeel biggear next time im in PP Phatry

[Message last modified 01-05-2006 02:21pm by silverfern]

wow... way to go, Vibol! you deserve it!

It doesn't surprise me that KC is the largest Khmer website. I am SO thankful for KC. Seriously... without KC, I don't think I would be the same person. I wouldn't have met such wonderful people (with some exceptions) and my days would go by SO slow!

if i haven't said it yet, let me say it now...

I LOVE KHMERCONNECTION!!

p.s. aNd i aM sO GlAd ThAt MoSt oF y'AlLs dO nOt tYpE LikE ThIs!!

p.s.s. and i am so glad that i don't hear people saying, "Khmer Pride" or "Khmer 'Til I Die" on every page! ugh! i mean that's great and all... but do you really have to throw it all over the damn place? we already know!

p.s.s.s. and thank goodness there is no "Rate a Picture" or "Hot or Not" type thing on this site. HALLELUJAH!