YOUNG people will be the beneficiaries of Phnom Penh’s first Christmas ball on Saturday, December 18.

The black-tie ball at Raffles Hotel Le Royal will support five NGOs focusing on young people, in recognition of this year’s International Year of Youth. And one of the ball’s highlights will be a performance by Epic Arts Cambodia.

This NGO, one of the five to benefit from the ball’s proceeds, offers professional dance, drama and art classes to disabled Cambodian youths.

The group’s aim is to break down barriers in a country where an estimated one in 10 people have a disability, and few have access to jobs or training.

Recently the NGO has branched out to give creative workshops to youngsters with intellectual disabilities and also runs a café in Kampot that’s a focus for the town’s deaf community.

Rose Rehabilitation Cambodia is another NGO that helps disabled young people. Based in Kandal province, the group uses physiotherapy and holistic health care to help train medical workers and help the most vulnerable.

Children living amid sickening conditions at Phnom Penh’s Stung Meanchey dump are helped by A New Day Cambodia, another NGO to benefit.

Two centres care for about 100 children full-time, providing shelter, clean clothes, food, and an education. With the chance to enter vocational training or university, A New Day Cambodia gives youngsters everything they need to escape the cycle of poverty.

Hip hop music, breakdancing and contemporary arts are used by Tiny Toones Cambodia to spread its message of living healthily.

Encouraging children to protect themselves against the dangers of HIV and drugs, the group offers free English classes, lessons and computer lessons as well as a creative programme that reaches out to young people with Hip-hop.

The Youth Resource Development Program is the final beneficiary of next Saturday’s event. Since 1992, the YRDP has helped university students question the world around them and learn about human rights, peace, and public dialogue.

Tickets are on sale for US$80, at The Shop on Street 240 from 5pm to 9pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week during the street’s Christmas Fair.

Purchase tickets also through [email protected] or by telephone, 077 998 439.

Book before December 11 to secure your table.