Peter Sey’s childhood picture with his mother Amanda Nith, early 2000s
“My parents and grandparents have always prioritized our culture and religion,” Sey said. “They made
sure my sister and I learned about our traditions,” Sey adds.
Peter Sey, 22, a resident of North Philadelphia, is a graduate of Olney Charter High School and is part of
a family of four, including his parents and a younger sister. Sey’s mother immigrated to the United
States at a young age during the Pol Pot era, a period marked by violence in Cambodia.
Amanda Nith, Peter Sey’s mother, was five years old when her family fled Cambodia during the Pol Pot
era, a time of unimaginable violence and oppression.
“My parents and I moved from Cambodia during the Pol Pot era. It was a very corrupt time and many
people were dying,” Nith said.
The war started on April 17th, 1975, they had to escape due to discrimination against the higher class,
which led to a rebellion. When Pol Pot took over, they made everyone wear the same clothes and
enslaved their own people. They were fighting against each other and killing innocent people. If you
worked for the government, or anyone in your family did, they would kill you. They didn’t want anybody
to have an education; they just wanted everyone to live in the countryside and live the same way as
everybody else. There was no type of class
Philadelphia, PA, a home to thousands of immigrants and refugees who left behind their countries in
search of a better life. Philly is known for its diversity and rich culture. The city offers a sense of
community and support for those seeking a fresh start. At FDR Park, the lively food market, once started
by a single vendor, has grown into a cultural hub for the Cambodian community. The environment is
filled with the sights and sounds of stir-fried noodles, grilled meats, and traditional Cambodian dishes.
For many, the market is more than just a place to share food; it represents their history, challenges, and the hopes they have for their future. For families like Peter Sey’s, their journey is a testament to overcoming obstacles, embracing changes, and striving for a better life.
Sey, who currently works at Estée Lauder Wearhouse, keeps connected to his roots while overcoming
the challenges that Cambodian families experience in the city.
“There are a lot of positive aspects, like temples and community events, but there are also issues,
especially concerning crime among our youth,” he says.
Despite the difficulties, Sey sees an opportunity for progress and unity among the Cambodian
community. He appreciates the cultural events, such as those hosted in FDR Park, as opportunities for
connection and meeting new Cambodian families. One of his aunts prepares food and sells it at FDR
Park.
Despite the difficulties, Sey sees an opportunity for progress and unity among the Cambodian
community. He appreciates the cultural events, such as those hosted in FDR Park, as opportunities for
connection and meeting new Cambodian families. One of his aunts prepares food and sells it at FDR
Park.
Amanda Nith’s family was eventually able to escape, and though she was young, she vaguely remembers
the horrors of the time. “It was a nightmare for my parents, I was just a little kid, but I felt like I knew the
danger at that age,” Nith said.
Their escape led them to a refugee camp in Thailand for a couple of years and from there, they resettled
in Long Beach, California, as well as thousands of Cambodians. According to reports, between 1975 and 1994, nearly 158,000 Cambodians were admitted to the United States. Of these, approximately 149,000 arrived as refugees, 6,000 as immigrants, and 2,500 as humanitarian and public interest parolees. 86,244 Cambodian population is in California living a life they had built from scratch.
Amanda left California and decided to settle down in Philadelphia in the late ’90s and has been living
here for almost twenty-eight years now. Despite the traumatic experiences, Nith says, “We made it
through because of the strength of my parents. They gave us a better life, and I will never forget what
they went through to give me that opportunity.”
Sarun Chan, 38, is the Executive Director of the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia (CAGP).
The organization has been serving immigrant and refugee communities since 1979, addressing their
social, health, and educational needs. Chan, born in a refugee camp during the Khmer Rouge War, came
to the United States as a young kid and grew up in Philadelphia, where he immersed himself in the
Khmer (Cambodian national Language) community.
Looking back on the early years of resettlement, Chan reflects on the challenges of adapting to life as a
refugee and the effort it took to build a foundation for all immigrants and refugees.
“Once we (Cambodians) arrived in the early 80s, as refugees, one of the major factors for us was
purchasing homes, learning, and working under the table in factories… cash jobs, in the sense of not
legally working. Now, if you walk in this whole area, you see Spanish-speaking business owners,
Southeast Asians, South Asians, temples, churches, everything,” said Chan.
According to the 2020 Census, there are 11,000 Cambodians living in Philadelphia PA, and there are
more who immigrated and resettled in the last few years.
CAGP operates multiple programs to help the community, including preschool programs, after-school
care, and services for the elderly.
“We focus on bringing our elderly community together in a fun and supportive space, especially since
many of the elderly have faced trauma. We want to offer them joy, not more stress. We’re soon
launching a new program called CARE in Nature (Cambodian American Refugee Elders), where we’ll take
elders on nature walks and healing activities to connect them with nature”, said Chan.
Chan’s work in supporting the elderly shows a deep understanding of the issues they deal with.
However, for many older immigrants like Sey’s grandparents, the concept of therapy remains foreign.
“In the Asian culture, we don’t really use “therapy” like my grandparents, they just never talked about it
even though their lives changed forever,” said Sey.
The Cambodian community in Philadelphia has long experienced hardships, but recent developments
offer a commitment for a better future, particularly the Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park, which is
receiving recognition nationwide for its ability to become a permanent cultural powerhouse.
“It was never a market. It was just this one Laotian elder selling from a van. And then Cambodian
community members saw as well, and they started growing from 2 to 5 to 10 to 20,” Chan said.
Despite facing challenges, including frequent police shutdowns, the market’s resilience has been
inspiring. “History of violence, history of police shutting it down, throwing their grills, giving tickets. So that’s our history,” Chan added.
CAGP is now working with a grant from Commerce to secure a permanent location and expand the
market into a recognized space like Reading Terminal Market, serving as a model for immigrant
communities nationwide.
“I heard they’re planning to approve it as a new Reading Terminal. That’s a great thing because my aunt
sells food down there, and she makes probably the best stir-fry noodles… It’s great for introducing
everybody to our culture,” Sey Said.
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