Granny Apsara Project

The Granny Apsara Project is a creative initiative by Feel The Warmth that celebrates elderly women from CCF as symbols of strength, beauty, and cultural pride. It reimagines grandmothers as modern-day Apsaras, blending traditional Khmer mythology with contemporary storytelling, student engagement, and visual arts.

What is CCF?
CCF stands for Cambodian Children’s Fund. The organization supports disadvantaged children and families in Cambodia through education programs, healthcare, and social support, creating sustainable opportunities for a better future.

What are Apsaras?
Apsaras are celestial dancers from Hindu and Buddhist mythology in Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, they are an important cultural symbol, widely known from the intricate bas-reliefs at Angkor Wat. Apsaras represent grace, beauty, elegance, and spiritual strength. The traditional Apsara dance remains a significant part of Cambodian culture and national heritage.

The artistic foundation of the project is based on an online workshop held in 2021 with the team of Freiraumgalerie. During this workshop, the conceptual and artistic approaches for creating the canvases were developed, which later became a central element of the project.

This bold reinterpretation challenges societal norms about aging and beauty while honoring the wisdom, humor, resilience, and warmth of older women in Cambodia.

The project began in May 2024 with two CCF grandmothers and quickly became a viral online sensation. Many Cambodians embraced the core idea of turning a traditional symbol on its head by presenting Khmer grandmothers—who are often unseen or overlooked—as Apsaras.

Due to the strong response, the project was continued in 2025 with six additional CCF grandmothers to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8.

Project Impact

Empowers Elderly Women:
Provides grandmothers with a platform to be seen, celebrated, and heard.

Breaks Stereotypes:
Challenges perceptions that value youth over age or silence the voices of older women.

Educates and Connects:
Encourages young Cambodians to honor elders and learn from their life experiences.