On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, the United States has decided to provide a new grant package of US$57,000 to support heritage protection efforts in Cambodia. This important announcement was made by Ms. Katherine Diop, Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy, during her participation in the 11th technical meeting of the International Coordinating Committee for the Preservation and Enhancement of Preah Vihear Temple, held in Siem Reap province.
According to the official Facebook page of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, published on the afternoon of October 2, 2026, the funding will be used to expand the scope of the professional certification training program in conservation for foremen and technicians to the Preah Vihear Temple World Heritage Site and Koh Ker heritage site. This technical skills training program is jointly led by the World Monuments Fund and the APSARA National Authority, following the initial success achieved at the Angkor heritage site in 2024.
Through this human resource development project, an additional 40 Cambodian foremen and technicians will receive training along with clearly recognized professional certification. This initiative reflects a direct investment in the capabilities of Cambodians, building strong and self-directed human capital, in order to sustain the protection and preservation of cultural property for future generations. By: Srey Pi
