Breakdancer Tiny Toones Cambodia

Tiny Toones Cambodia uses breakdancing, Hip-Hop music, and the contemporary arts as creative tools to empower the youth of Cambodia to live healthier lives free of HIV and drugs, build a more promising future by furthering their educational opportunities, and become positive role models for their community.
Tiny Toones welcomes all youth to participate in its programs, regardless of gender, social-economic status, physical handicaps, family background, or other personal disadvantages. The education, health, and arts curriculum of Tiny Toones consists of free daily classes in English and Khmer to supplement the children's public schooling, and the integration of HIV education and drug prevention in a fun, child-friendly approach through fun games, skits, and performances. Peer mentors are available around the clock to provide positive support and to teach the Hip-Hop arts, including breakdancing, rapping, djing, and traditional Khmer painting.
Tiny Toones Cambodia was founded by Tuy “KK” Sobil, born in the Thai refugee camps in 1977, and raised in Long Beach before being deported to Cambodia in 2004. He witnessed that the underprivileged youth of Phnom Penh faced many of the same gang and drug related pressures that he did in the U.S. While KK was on outreach in Phnom Penh at his former job, educating youth about HIV prevention and drug harm reduction, word spread that KK was a very talented breakdancer when he was younger. Nine kids approached him to be their dance teacher, but he turned them down at first, since he had stopped dancing over ten years ago. He soon learned that the children lacked positive role models and were very at-risk to choosing a life style of hardship. Fearing that they otherwise might repeat his own mistakes, he opened up his own home to serve as a youth centre with breakdancing as the main activity. KK funded much of the early program out of his pocket, by continuing to work at his full time job; however, he spent the entirety of his evenings, weekends, and holidays mentoring his students.
The mission of Tiny Toones Cambodia is to provide a safe, positive environment for at-risk youth to channel their energy and creativity into the arts and education, empowering them to build self-confidence in their daily lives, aim for better employment possibilities, and feel supported pursuing their dream