The Spotlight is on... Ngam Kimhut!

From Devin Diver, a K7 ETTT Volunteer currently living in Koh Kong Province:
“Ngam Kimhut is one of our best friends in Cambodia. She is a 27 year old female who was born in Kampong Chnang province and currently resides away from her family, in Koh Kong. Here she works as an accountant at a local NGO called Morodok. That is how we got to know her.

In our village we have three foreigners living within a kilometer of each other. Two of us, Devin and Megan, are American Peace Corps volunteers, and the other is an Australian volunteer, Jenna. She works at Morodok. Jenna introduced us to Kim back in July 2014, right after Kim began her contract with Morodok, and we instantly became friends. We all get together almost every day to gossip, laugh at our inside jokes, go on long bike rides to the beach or the local swimming hole, or play sports.

Kim put herself through university in Svay Reing by volunteering at Aceleda bank, which eventually turned into a paying job. With her success she now helps support her family. In her free time Kim loves playing soccer, riding her bike, and reading [usually books about accounting].”

Kim, Jenna, Devin, and Megan in a traditional Khmer picture

Kim took some time to answer some questions for the GenEq Committee. Here is what we learned from her answers:
Kim is a role model for gender equality in general, especially for the younger females at Morodok. She encourages and helps the younger girls to learn and teaches them how to act appropriately at work. Kim credits “scholarship and studying hard” for helping her to get where she is today. She worked part time as a cashier at Aceleda bank, where she was originally a volunteer. She sees her family maybe every 6 months.

Kim believes that “lack of gender equality and poor education” are the biggest issues facing Cambodia today. She had this to say about women and higher education: "I think more boys go to school than girls, especially for university, because they always have a place to stay, they can stay at the pagoda for free... but women always have to stay, they cannot live at the pagoda".  Kim’s advice for the youth of Cambodia is to “always work hard and study hard because if you work hard, you will always reach a goal, and then maybe you can help other Cambodians and make the country stronger.”  One thing that Kim loves about Cambodia is “how friendly the people are and how everyone can come together to help each other."

What does Kim like to do in her free time? In her own words: "I like to listen to English music. I really like Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry, and I like to play soccer and hang out with Devin, Megan, and Jenna! I like to read English books about accounting too."

Thank you Kim and Devin for taking the time to talk to us about gender equality!

Host Mom: Ma Seu

Hello world, meet the most amazing (pseudo) host mother in the land, Momma Seu!

I first met the Seu family as I was taking a leisurely bike ride near my site. I heard a woman screaming excitedly which was the first person who had been that happy to really get to know me. I saw her waving me over in that upside-down Khmer wave. I immediately swung my bike around and headed back to where they were sitting. I was greeted with the warmest smile and encouragement to “on-goy lang” (sit-play). Luckily for me, Ma’s youngest daughter, Hapisash spoke fluent English and was able to help me translate as I was still new to Cambodia, and my site. Hapisash and I became fast friends and continued to study and participate in projects together for the rest of her grade 12 year.

I have gone to visit this family at least every other day, if not every day, since I began my service. Every single day my pseudo host mom’s face brightens as I arrive. We sit and talk about Cambodia, America, projects I’m doing, and family. Sometimes we don’t talk at all, but just sit and enjoy the serenity of the moment. I have taught them how to make some American food too such as hamburgers, tacos, and my favorite, pumpkin spiced pancakes! I think the hamburgers are their favorite. Ma also never forgets to invite me to fun outings with the family such as going to the Kep Sea Festival or a Leo Beer Concert in Kampot town. One of my favorite memories was within the first weeks of meeting them and they dressed me up in a traditional Muslim outfit, hijab and all, and proceeded to take pictures of me!

One of the things I like most about this family is how much they spoil me! My pseudo mom is always giving me iced-lemon teas, coconuts, bread, or any sweet that’s lying around. Last June, the family built a Halal restaurant in front of their house and I now even get free breakfast whenever I want it! My Ma will never take compensation for all they have given and done for me, and insist that I am their “goan” (child) and I am loved just the same.

There is no way I would have been able to make it through my Peace Corps service without Ma and her family. They are my sunshine on a rainy day and continue to give me purpose for being here. She has taught me so much about Khmer and Muslim culture and accepted me for who I am. I feel so incredibly blessed to have known her and feel tears on the verge whenever I think about how I am going to have to leave her one day.


Post provided by K6 Hayley Knicely; Community Health Education Volunteer in Kampot Province

Same Sex Couple Initiative Training

In February, two of our members and our adviser attended a training about having same sex couples as part of our Peace Corps family in Cambodia. Here are their responses:

Tharoth:

        Recently PC Cambodia has received a three-day training on the Same Sex Couple Initiative (SSxCI). It was an interesting training. I learned a lot about being LGBTQ in the US and was very excited to learn about the real issues of LGBTQ in Cambodia from the panel discussion. I know that we will face a lot of challenges while receiving the SSxC in this country due to some discrimination in the family and society. However, Cambodian people are friendly to foreigners, and I am sure that this will work fine in Cambodia. 

       For Fiscal Year 2015, we are planning to receive the SSx C Volu nteers and, as we are currently doing site development for K8s, I have been integrating the new idea of SSxC to the communities I visit. It has been nice to see the communities’ reaction after hearing that. Some accept the fact, and some are unsure. I have been introducing the difference of being a Gay/Lesbian couple in the America from Cambodia and educating them a bit about being LGBTQ. After hearing this explanation, some people are fine with that and some still unsure. This is just the preliminary try for the 1^st visit with the school staff and local authority, and I am eager to hear more from the real Cambodian host families related to SSxC.  Stay tuned for that!

Meghan:

        In June of last year, Peace Corps Headquarters (Washington) announced that they would be inviting same-sex couples to serve. The Same-Sex Couples Initiative (SSxCI), as it is known, has been a long time in the making and was rolled out with the "pilot couple" in Ecuador right around the same time as the announcement. PC Cambodia was identified as one of a handful countries that would follow suit. So two weeks ago, I headed down to Phnom Penh as a member of the Gender Equality committee to participate in our post's SSxCI Workshop (although it is unlikely PC Cambodia will get a couple this fiscal year). It was a 4-day intensive strategic planning workshop/training that brought up a lot of questions. We were lucky enough to hear from Khmer panelists who are identify as and/or are active in the LGBTQ community in Cambodia, to hear their views on the acceptance of LGBTQ people and how receptive communities would be if a foreign same-sex couple was placed in a village/town. Two main things that I got out of the week were: 1) this initiative is just another aspect of diversity and a great way to further cross-cultural understanding, and 2) the way that Transgender is defined is not universal. Let me explain. The SSxCI is really exciting! It means a lot to me as an ally and I believe that being able to serve in Peace Corps with your significant other would be a powerful experience. (Maybe I will bully my future husband into another tour with me... jokes.) As for the definition of Transgender, I learned as an undergraduate Gender Studies major the importance of self-identification and the feeling of being born into the wrong body. I can say for a fact that my studies were limited and America-centric. In conversations that week it became clear that pronouns when speaking about lesbians and gay men were tied to the gender identity that the person presented. For example, while in the U.S. a lesbian may be butch or dress more traditionally masculine, she is still called a she. In Cambodia, that same person would be called a he and would be labeled transgender, even if she (my use) did not believe herself (my use again) a man. So while gender identity and transgender identity in America can be separate from sexual orientation or sexuality, in Cambodia this is not so much the case. MY MIND WAS BLOWN. While everyday I am confronted by difference in cultures, it is this one in particular that still has me reeling. And I can not profess to be an expert. I have just scratched the surface. And like that Intro to Women's & Gender Studies my second semester first-year, I am hooked and want to learn more.

Mary:

        The Same Sex Couple Initiative Training was a three-day training put on by Headquarters in order to prepare the country staff for our first same-sex couple, who should be coming next year, if everything goes according to plan. After the extremely exciting announcement last year that PC would begin accepting same-sex couples, the people in charge of the initiative had to narrow down countries in which same-sex activities are not illegal or danger-inducing, and where staff were willing to accept and promote these couples. The training was for staff and PCVs who had a stake in the future of the program. There were around 7 of us PCVs that participated in the training.

        The first day of the training included going over “the basics” of LGBT, Safe Zone Training, and Action Planning for when the same-sex couple finally arrives. Going over the basics of LGBT was like being back in college, where I spent a lot of time in the Gender Studies Department and with QuASA, the Queer and Allied Student Association. That session really boiled down to definitions of each of the letters in LGBT and the subsequent identities that go along with that. Safe Zone Training was mostly for staff, but it was nice to be able to have some input on appropriate things to say to someone, especially when it came to asking about “partners” rather than “boyfriends” or “girlfriends.” Action Planning was fun in that the PCVs who were there got an inside look into what the staff does every year when it comes to site development, and what things would be different with a same-sex couple (hint: it isn’t much!). Day 1 was also the day in which most of the LG&B volunteers came out to staff, who were as supportive and wonderful as they always are.

        I found Day 2 to be the most interesting of the three, if only because of the two panels in which LGBT community members and activists came to speak to us about LGBT issues in Cambodia. Hearing about the real struggles that people faced in being “out” in their communities, especially in a culture with the gender norms as specific as they are here, was interesting, if a bit startling. It was also when the group discovered that the terminology we use in the States is, in some respects, vastly different from the terminology used here in Cambodia. For example, somebody who is “trans*” here is just somebody who dresses outside of the traditional gender norms, as we heard from one girl whose parents wouldn’t even let her wear pants. Day 2 was also the day we heard from the Country Director who was in Ecuador when the project was piloted (and successful!), before PC decided to start accepting SSxC applicants. He skillfully crafted the story of how it happened and how it turned out, and what Peace Corps learned from that experience. It was great to hear it from somebody who helped it unfold first-hand.

        Day 3 was the most planning-intensive day, as we worked in groups to break down each step in which a same-sex couple placement would have to be handled differently than a single-PCV or heterosexual couple placement. From the point of view of someone on the ground rather than in the office, it was interesting to see everything that goes into planning where somebody will be placed and who they will stay with, especially when it comes to couple’s placements.

        Overall, I found the Same Sex Couple Initiative training to be highly informative and a great experience to have with the staff. The trainers from Headquarters were wonderful and down-to-earth and I’m really happy I was selected to attend.

Host Mom: Kim Chantrea

Host Mama Kim Chantrea

Why I Love my Host Mom


When I first arrived at my site, I missed my training host family and didn’t want to adjust to another, different family. I got frustrated that my new host mom knocked on my door to offer me things I didn’t need, or to wake me up to ask if I was sleeping. I felt that she didn’t understand me like my last family.

So much time has passed since those first few weeks, and I am embarrassed at my initial feelings towards my host mom. I have come to see that she is the most caring, sweetest person I know, and that in the beginning of my time here, she was trying to make me comfortable even though she had no idea how. Both of us have come so far in our relationship, and we understand each other so much better now. She has done an amazing job at being flexible with me, learning each day a little more about me. We have worked the menu for dinner down to a science, and she only makes me food that I like. She is very perceptive- noticing when I avoid an ingredient in a dish. She will not put it in next time. She is receptive- when I tell her I don’t like something, she just accepts it with no questions. She is my biggest advocate in my community, and since she is a well-respected member of the community, people treat me well also. When I held a Girl’s Health event at the school, she took a whole stack of fliers and handed them out at the market. She occasionally brings me little treats from the market, which shows me she thinks about me even when I'm not with her.

She is the best host mom I could have asked for and definitely makes me feel at home.

Post provided by K6 Margaret Rusch; Community Health Education Volunteer in Kampong Chnang Province

Host mom: Ming Sun Chea

Host Mama Sun Chea

Meet my host mom, Ming Sun Chea!! I was lucky enough to live with this fireball of love and joy for the last ten months of my service but I was blessed to know her for my entire duration at site. Through less than ideal times with my first host family, Ming Sun Chea was always there for me, no matter what I needed.

She sold bobor in front of her house and everyday I stopped before work and ate a heaping bowl full, if not two. Not once did she ever ask or accept money. Whenever I would see her at the market she would buy fruit or bread or those weird pink slimy noms for me. She would put them in my hands and tell me to save them for when I was hungry. One night during the weekend she would have me over to eat dinner with her family. She would cook bowls of meat and so many vegetables! She made certain that we sat and ate until every last piece was gone. I napped in her hammock and celebrated holidays with her family. Everything was given to me without ever asking for compensation. And everything was always done with a loving smile and true compassion. She made me feel so welcomed, loved, and most importantly, wanted.

I was able to move into her house after three months with my first family. It was a new start to my time in Cambodia. She was always having a laugh, loved to pick on people, never let you wear a bra/pants after showering, generally a major goofball yet was always looking out for me. She not only made me happier but also refocused my mindset.

That night in October, when circumstances became out of our control, she was stronger than anyone. She held me as I cried. Held me tight with two arms. She had the entire neighborhood and police squad at our house before I even found my phone to call anybody. She was exactly what I needed.

She was the last person at my house that I hugged goodbye. When I speak with her now, I can still hear the love in her voice. I will never be able to thank Ming Sun Chea enough for what she did or the impact she has had on me. I am so proud and fortunate to call her my mom.

RPCV Amber and her host mama

If you’re ever traveling up road 5 and pass by my site, keep an eye out for her. She’ll be in the hammock, in an old Michigan State University t-shirt, drinking an ABC & I know she would love to share.

Post provided by K6 RPCV Amber Bytwerk; she was a Community Health Education Volunteer in Kampong Chnang Province

Host Mom: Sok Sovannara

Host Mama Sok Sovannara

It's come to my attention that for many Peace Corps Volunteers, our host moms are very important figures in our lives. They are the glue keeping our service together as best they can; feeding us delicious fried vegetables, making sure we always have a place to sit, keeping us sane in difficult times during our service, and possibly one of the reasons we don't pack our bags and leave Cambodia entirely.

The latter is my experience with my host mom. Without a doubt in my mind, SHE CARES ABOUT ME. When I first started to travel around the country, I took for granted her phone calls checking in on me – making sure I ate rice and was safe in Phnom Penh, Kampot, or Siem Reap – wherever I was traveling, she made sure to check in. Those phone calls are not as frequent as they used to be and I find myself missing them.

During dinners with my host family, she makes me feel included in the conversation (even though I have no idea what's being said most of the time) simply with a nod of her head and a flash of the most beautiful smile in Cambodia. She gave me a new pair of flip-flops when I lost my third pair in about a month. She gives me handfuls of fruit – durian, jackfruit, apples, bananas, dragon fruit, and papaya (our favorite.) I will never go hungry with her around. I have not found a single person in the village that denies that she is "jet la'aw" or very nice. She is generous and welcoming to everyone and treats my PCV friends just the same as our Khmer visitors.

And when my living situation was really tense, she cried with me. I don't know if I'd still be here without all of her love and support during the last year and a half. She took me into her home and treated me like a child of her own and I am so lucky to have her in my life. And as far as I'm concerned, the (host) moms of Cambodia truly run the world.

BREW CREW - Boys Respecting Empowered Women

Today's blogpost comes directly from Peace Corps Volunteer Rich Durnan's personal website http://richdurnanphoto.com/

Visit his website to learn more about his PC service in Cambodia.

On September 27^th, 28^th, and 29^th, several of the English Teacher Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) from Takeo and Kampot provinces, and their Cambodian teacher counterparts, invited 50 high school aged boys for a three-day Camp BREW (Boys Respecting Empowered Women). It’s a camp focusing on topics related to health, career planning, gender issues, and community engagement. These are topics generally misunderstood or overlooked in the public schools. Camp BREW allows attendees to be exposed to and discuss these topics in a safe environment, while they gain knowledge and skills in areas needed to succeed after graduation. It also allows a rare opportunity for Cambodian students from different provinces to meet and exchange ideas on how to better their communities. There is a similar all girls event put on by PCVs called Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World).

Sokhom Kourn translates for me during my alcohol use lessons

I was invited to teach a health related section at the camp. One of my secondary projects here is working with several other health volunteers to create a series of curriculum toolkits containing lessons on health topics. This was a great opportunity for me to pilot several of these lessons.

I presented on substance abuse, in particular alcohol use, a topic I consider very important here in Cambodia, and completely overlooked in the schools. 54% of Cambodians report having used alcohol in the last 30 days and men are 10 times more likely than women to heavily use alcohol. Cambodia currently has no minimum drinking age, and although they do have a blood alcohol limit for driving, it is not enforced. Alcohol is uncontrolled and can be obtained any place and by any one regardless of age. The only barrier to obtaining alcohol in Cambodia is money. There is tremendous peer pressure to drink alcohol, especially amongst men, which usually manifests in the form of binge drinking. A common phrase in Cambodia is “Drink to get drunk, and if you are not getting drunk, then why drink?”

With the help of a wonderful teacher Sokhom Kourn as my translator, my presentation began with a quick basic anatomy and physiology lesson explaining how alcohol is processed and its effects on the body.

Then, I led a discussion on the consequences of intoxication. We explored the ways that alcohol can affect many aspects of our lives such as financially, our health through harm to our health through disease as well as through accidents and increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, and socially through our relationships including increased domestic violence.

I had the students play a spoon game. In this game, they close their eyes and spin 10 or 20 times to get dizzy. Then I ask them to walk a straight line balancing an egg on a spoon. The idea is to illustrate how alcohol alters our consciousness and coordination preventing us from doing tasks we normally can do effortlessly. The boys loved this, and they easily made the connection on their own to driving drunk. Road accidents are the number one killer in Cambodia, and alcohol accounts for more than half of traffic fatalities.

My presentation concluded with having the boys write a list of all the things they think they are good at. Anything could be on their list. Then I divided the boys into smaller groups, and had them create lists of things that they could do better together as a group. After the groups presented their lists, I guided them to see that as individuals, they have many strengths, and as a group, they have even greater strength to accomplish things in their lives. The intent was to foster greater confidence and self esteem, two qualities important to combating peer pressure. We finished with a discussion of peer pressure and its role in the abuse of alcohol.


Other topics covered in sessions over the course of the camp were study skills, reproductive health and sexually transmitted diseases, domestic violence prevention and prostitution, what it means to be a man, playing sports, and how to plan for your future.

The camp culminated in a field trip to the southern Cambodian beach town Kep.


Here we purchased 30 Kilograms of fresh blue crabs and had them cooked up for us along with fresh fish squid, and shrimp for a seafood smorgasbord. Many of the students had never seen the ocean let alone eaten this kind of food. They were all thrilled.


So were the teachers.

After lunch, we played soccer on the beach and swam in the ocean.


… and of course took a nap.

International Day of the Girl Child

GIRL RISING
_____________________________________________________________________________________ On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. The term “girl child” is commonly used abroad to distinguish the unique challenges faced by those under age 18 from those faced by women.

Here are some statistics (click the link!)

Girl Rising (http://girlrising.com/). This inspiring film tells the stories of nine girls from across the world who have found the courage to challenge the bounds that society and circumstance placed them in, from poverty to child marriages to cultural constraints and more. Directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins, this film brings the reality of the lives of young girls in the developing world to light in a powerful way. Through education, self-determination, and unconquerable spirit, these young women are changing their lives and helping others do the same.

One of the nine girls is Sokha. “This is not the end. It is the beginning.” Sokha was a Cambodian child of the dump: orphaned and forced to pick through garbage to survive. But, through a series of miracles, Sokha finds her way to school – and, like a phoenix, she has risen to become a star student on the brink of a brilliant and once unimaginable future. Sokha's story is written by Loung Ung. Loung is one of the most powerful voices to emerge from modern Cambodia. An orphan of the Khmer Rouge, she fled Pol Pot's brutal regime at the age of 10. Loung's bestselling memoirs have brought home the tragedy of Cambodia for millions of readers. Through the lens of her own extraordinary experience, she speaks directly to the fractured reality of her country as the past continues to reverberate through the present.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
There is a Girl Rising Curriculum! for 5th graders all the way to college students. Although the curriculum has some focus on 2 stories of girls from Nepal and Peru, the curriculum can be adapted to focus on the Khmer part of the film. The film will be available at our post soon, but don't let that stop you from doing activities now (or whenever). The film is not in Khmer unfortunately - yet still a great resources for English Teachers! You can also use this curriculum without showing the film and adapting the lessons to be discussion based.

Create your own event and get resources to help! Go to http://10x10act.org/idg/ and register at that site!

A Development of Self...Spotlight on Soth Leakhena!!!

Leakhena and Ryan


A Development of Self - An interview with a Khmer woman who is struggling to find the balance between Cambodian culture, customs, traditions, her own personal identity, and the role they play in determining her future.

By PCV Ryan McCabe

On this typical hot Cambodian day (and it was only 9:00am), I found myself biking ten kilometers to the next town over to meet with one of my co-teachers. I had asked her the previous day if I could ask her a few questions about being a woman in Cambodia. Being on the Peace Corps Cambodia Diversity Committee, I was interested in finding out more about female gender roles and being “sopee-up” (polite, gentle, feminine) and was also asked by our WID/GAD committee to spotlight her in an article because of her participation and community involvement. So, after a thirty-minute bike ride, I arrived at her family’s home in a place that is familiar to many Peace Corps volunteers (the K6 ETTT volunteers did their two months of training here) and has become a second home for me. When I have free time, I make my way here and visit the many families who have impacted my volunteer service so far and become rejuvenated and refreshed from their warmhearted hospitality and friendliness.

But today, I head straight for Soth Leakhena’s house and upon arrival, am greeted with various snacks and a smile. We quickly catch up and then jump right into the interview. In the beginning, I could sense that she was a little nervous talking to me but after ten minutes, her anxiety diminished and I saw a powerful and strong woman sitting in front of me. This interview offered me so much more insight than I ever expected and I would just like to take a moment to thank Leakhena for discussing such a personal topic with me. I hope all of you reading this gain a better understanding of what life is like in different cultures and the difficulties that surround women in Cambodia when forming their identities and working to develop not only their communities, but their country as well.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Leakhena was born on January 17th, 1983 and has two sisters and three brothers. Being born after the Khmer Rouge, she mentioned, “Before, I heard from my parents, they had to do everything on one dish of rice porridge. If you steal, you betray the organization, you would be killed; very cruel. [They] beat babies against palm trees, kill the people with higher ability: nurses, doctors, teachers, monks. Kill them with cruel activity. We lost a lot of higher knowledge people. Now the people have higher knowledge the same, but for the 35 years, Khmer people suffer from bad situation of Khmer Rouge. But Prime Minister Hun Sen saved the people from the bad situation, and developed the country… now we can all work to develop the country.”

And work to develop the country she does. With activities related to gender and youth development, she mentioned that she joins “all the activities that make the other women to be active and show their ideas in society; to have confidence and talk about what they want to do so they can have the confidence to do what the other women do and what men do. Joining the activities helps society and is something that helps the other villages and communities, and we learn we can use our ability to overcome obstacles that we are faced with.”

She is actively engaged in the Cambodian Children and Youth Council, Scouts, Red Cross, and the Federation Union of Cambodian Youth. When I asked her why it is important for her to be active in her community, she said she wanted to “…help the school to be developed and encourage other teachers and students to join in activities to help the community and to help themselves. We can build their confidence and lead in development and help other people.”

With the Scouts and Cambodian Red Cross, she works with students in the high school to rebuild houses in villages and clean the rubbish in the community. Working for Federation Union of Cambodian Youth, she goes “…with other community members to go to visit people in the village and ask them what problems they have, and during Khmer New Year I join activities in Angkor Wat to encourage tourists to join in, play, and participate in traditional games and teach them about Cambodian culture.” In her free time, she also teaches the older people in the community English at the high school and also volunteers for the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) “…to teach the people how the CPP helped the country with development, but not to persuade them, because it is their right to choose the member they wish to choose.”

She also volunteers for the National Democratic Organization (NDO). Through this organization, Leakhena visits members of rural communities within the district to discuss and find solutions for community obstacles or dilemmas. For example, one village she travelled to “had little access to clean water and had many problems with their road conditions. I helped arrange a meeting that brought together the village members and their local government representatives.” This gave an opportunity for the community members and their representative to collectively work out a solution and address any challenges or setbacks they might encounter. With Lehkana’s help, they were able to build a pond and fix the damaged roads.

Not only is she working to develop her community, she also said, “I have developed myself a lot, to pass the exam to be a teacher and also teach private classes and help my community.” Initially, Leakhena passed the junior high school exam to teach Khmer Literature and proceeded to study English for four years and in 2009, passed the exam to be a high school teacher and now teaches grades 10-12.

When talking about the youth in Cambodia, I asked her what sort of challenges they face nowadays. She mentioned that “some students in Phnom Penh have the ability to apply for jobs,” but others “even though the have higher ability, it is difficult for them to find a job. They do not have any relatives to work for or any connections. Because Cambodia is a developing country, even when students finish school, it is very hard for them to find a job.” Leakhena goes on to say that women have a more difficult time because they “do not have enough rights to find a job, to make their own ideas, because in society it is looked down upon, especially in the rural areas. In the rural areas, people do not have the same opportunities to join in [workshops] or activities like those in the city. They can know the information now [about furthering their education and scholarships], but they do not understand the obstacles ahead because they are poor and do not have the proper resources. They need to learn to develop themselves so they can succeed over the obstacles.”

I asked her to explain further about the obstacles and give examples from her own experience. She went on to explain, “some people have lower ability, and those people with higher ability look down on them. In the past, some were afraid to stand up against the injustice against them because they were afraid of the higher authority. These days, it is similar, but people are developing themselves.”
“For women, before they thought that women could only cook food for the man, and only get married and have children and do not have the same rights to learn as a man. They lacked confidence to do anything. After learning about the situation in the country, equal rights with the men, the women can do activities like the men; teaching, becoming a doctor, no prejudice like before. But women, when they want to have higher education or higher job, when they continue their study, how do they find people to look after their children and their family. Their husband does not want them to continue their education; he is in charge of the family. He can become jealous if she has higher knowledge and becomes afraid. So he keeps the women in the family and has her work a suitable job. [The women] hide their ability to do more, they are already married and so they think they do not want to find another job to support themselves. Sometimes the women want to do the other job that is difficult for them to do, like a plumber, but they cannot. [It is] not the same as America.”

“Before, I wanted to continue my studies and pass my scholarships to study in other countries, but other people say, “You are a women, you need to stop your activities and make a family.” “No,” I tell them. I want to achieve my ambitions of understanding knowledge from the world. So I compete with other people, I do not know how to develop myself. They want me to stop because I am a high school teacher and that is where I should stop. In Cambodian culture, I am very old. I am thirty, and people tell me I need to get married.” I then asked her about her family and whether or not they support her decision to hold off on having a family. She first mentioned her mother, saying, “Whatever I decide, she agrees with me. All mothers want their daughters to get married, but she respects my decision and agrees with what I decide.” When I asked about the pressure she receives from her co-workers she said, “Most of the teachers do not support us, we [female teachers] support ourselves. Some teachers say that I should keep studying but a lot tell me to get married. When they tell me, I am so sad. ‘You should get married, you should get married, you are old,’ but I say I want to be alone.”

Acquiring a better understanding of the daily struggles and hardships that my co teacher, my friend, has to face, I begin to realize how difficult this must be for her to talk about. Our conversation halts briefly, and I begin to wonder how it is that someone overcomes the adversity that she has faced. Pushing the conversation further, I ask her what she turns to for stability to get her through tough times. She goes on to explain, “To get through difficult times, I pray to the Buddha and the other gods to help me have confidence, to succeed. I put my mind to be full, I do not think a lot, just make my feeling to be happy, to make me have a fresh mind, then I can succeed it. When I cry, I ask myself, ‘Why did I not succeed? Why did I not get anything I want?’ and try to find a good opportunity to make my life better. I try to be happy and try to have hope in my mind. God cannot help us when we can do for ourselves, he will help us when we strive to better ourselves. So when I have some difficulties, I always imagine why the situation went bad like that. And I think, ‘Oh, because of my mistakes.’ When we do not have much confidence, we do not know how to do or how to go, so we do everything randomly. So if we want to succeed, we have to prepare a plan and have the confidence to continue. I also ask the older people for advice and read books.” “I only tell people a lot of things that are true about myself and share my difficulties so together we can learn from each other, and forgive each other, and be honest and work together. I do everything that I can do to talk about my character, I want to learn my shortages and show what I want to do, and try to solve problems together so people can get to know each other and be friendly. I especially want the other people to know me. I want to help them. I want to work actively together and do anything to open my mind. I like to be honest. I also like playing jokes. I like laughing a lot. I want other people around me to be happy, so we can all see the beautiful world together. I especially want people that know me to have hope in their mind, because when we have hope and smile a lot, we will be happy and have good luck.”

I asked what advice she would give to the youth of Cambodia and she stated, “I would like to say to them that they are younger and have a lot of opportunities to improve themselves, to learn a lot and gain a lot of knowledge. Learn English or another language to make yourself competitive and learn to show your opinion. Find methods to achieve what you want to do.” She asks them, “to be clever and be good students; no drugs, drive careful on the road…” and encourages them to “do something for themselves, their family, and their community. Be good citizens and don’t take the bad road but improve each other’s lives. Be happy and share knowledge with each other.”

She wants to emphasize to the youth who struggle in school that “you have the same things that other people have. When I have a poor student or a weak student, they think they cannot learn to be intelligent, but I say, ‘You can do it. You have to try hard and figure out [a solution]. Do everything to support yourself to gain knowledge.’ They say, ‘I am weaker.’ And then I ask them how they do their work. When they go home, they do not play a lot of value on their weakness to figure out why they are weak; to be better, you have to learn a lot about yourself and improve [your weaknesses] and catch the opportunity to improve yourself, to gain confidence… By trying hard, they can overcome obstacles and get to where they want to go.”

When asked if she had any advice for the female youth in particular, she suggested that they “do not think about marriage. They have to go through a lot of obstacles and continue their studies and pursue what they love. They should help their family, other students, their community, and protect the culture of Cambodia. Be both soft and strict to help develop the country. Decide what they want to do and don’t let what others want them to do decide for them.” She wants to tell them, “You can do everything that the other people do.” She does not want the female youth to focus too much on the disparities or obstacles they might face, but instead “try to be happy. Don’t think about the bad situation, but you have to try and work hard and share information with each other to improve our society.”

The chickens rustle around our table in search of their next meal, fighting over what looks like extra rice that had fallen to the ground from the morning’s meal. Leakhena’s younger sister swings in the hammock next to us, quietly listening to our conversation. As we sit in silence, contemplating the interview in it’s entirety, I am reminded how different this culture and country is from the one I was born and raised in. I then ask Leakhena what her favorite thing about her country is, and she lists, “Going shopping, reading books, successful books like TEFOL and history. I like the situation of our weather. Cambodian weather is very good. We do not have bad storms or disasters like Cambodia’s past does. I like Cambodian culture too, Cambodian people and Khmer food. I like the temples, very patriotic. I like the art, the customs, traditions; our culture: like the greeting, very respectful. I like going for a walk, going to the beach to get fresh air on the sea, to see the forest. Singing a song.”

Leakhena, I must add, has a beautiful singing voice. I had the opportunity to listen to it once when her team lost in one of our English classroom games (believe me, I have lost plenty of times and had to sing many more times then she has had too). We laugh remembering the entertainment we both have had at the expense of each other’s embarrassment; a perfect end to an eye-opening interview. Her mother, on her way to volunteer at the local community health center, walks towards us and I get a sense of where Leakhena gets her strength and confidence from. “Do you think I will be able to interview your mom next?” I ask with eagerness.

An interview for another time.

Thank you again Leakhena. You are going to impact so many people and have already made an impact and a big difference in your community. Thank you for all of your hard work and for inspiring your students and the youth in Cambodia.
If you have any further questions for Leakhena or any comments, please feel free to email me at ryan.j.mccabe1@gmial.com

The Spotlight is on...ROS Kunthea!

ROS KUNTHEA. Photo courtesy of Our Strength website

Our interviewee today is ROS Kunthea. She is the director of the local development organization Our Strength in Battambang.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

“Your sex is from your body but gender comes from your community’s understanding. Women can be doctors, NGO managers, hard workers just like men; we just have to change our culture and communities.”

- Our Strength founder Ros Kunthea at Camp GLOW in Siem Reap. _____________________________________________________________________________________

Our Strength is a community based organization in Battambang that focuses on reproductive health and relational services for women in Cambodia. The name Our Strength calls upon Cambodian women to focus on the strengths they already have and show every day. It also focuses on utilizing that strength for the empowerment of all and to make the future brighter for Cambodian women. Our Strength has worked with Peace Corps on numerous Camp GLOWs, educational workshops, and nutrition trainings in past years. They have an energetic staff of young women led by Ros Kunthea, better known as Theary. Theary is the co-founder and current director of Our Strength.

Introduction:
My name is Ros Kunthea (Theary), Director at Our Strength NGO, I am 32 years old, I am married and have one son. I am currently four months pregnant. I originally come from Siem Reap province. I work with the women’s health team, and I teach reproductive health to women in the community. I also teach about domestic violence. I want women to know what services are available to them. My goal is for women to understand health. I want to educate them so that they can advocate for themselves. I want women to be able to protect themselves. In the future I also want to be a teacher at a university.


What activities related to Gender Development are you involved in? We have many activities. First we go to the villages to meet the village chiefs. It is important that we all work together. Then we do home visits so that we know how many women in each village have health issues. We plan for meetings with women in villages A village chief will gather women for us and then we prepare a workshop for the women. After, we talk with VHV’s who want training VHVs. The VHV’s help assist in the training with the Our Strength staff. We then offer to take those who are sick to the hospital.  We work in village communities by listening and responding to women’s health and social needs. After attending the workshops women have a better understanding of their health



How did you get to where you are today?
I have been with the program since its inception in 2009. My previous experience in community development and women’s health education includes work with Cambodia Health Education Development, Caritas International, and Siem Reap’s Catholic Church Rural Development Project. I was born and raised in Nong Chan refugee camp on the border of Thailand until I was 11, when I moved to Siem Reap with my adoptive mother and two brothers. Now. I am planning a future for my family, including my husband and son in Battambang. Service to women grows out of my experiences growing up in a refugee camp and resettling in Cambodia.

I observed women suffering disproportionately under the burden of war, displacement, food insecurity, and lack of access to basic health and education services. I am passionate about constantly improving the quality of Our Strength’s work by listening to women so that our programs may better support those without other access to health services or education. My hope is to see women grow in their knowledge, skills, and confidence, so that they can gain strength to protect themselves, their families and communities. I am especially committed to working towards Our Strength’s sustainability, by investing in staff education and capacity building, so that our organization may support itself by providing services to other organizations and groups in Cambodia.


What do you think is the most important issue facing Cambodians today?
I think reproductive health, sexual health, and gender and violence education are the most important issues Cambodia is facing. Many women and men are still shy and don't want to talk about their health problems or to talk other about the problems in their family. Other issues include

- Women’s knowledge of health issues are still limited. 

- Culture and social barriers about value and power are still affecting men and women.

- Many women think they should be submissive to their husbands.

- Many men use violence because they think this will earn money for the family. 

- Many women are afraid to do advocacy with men.


What kind of advice to you want to give the youth of Cambodia?
I want all the youth of Cambodia to try to study hard and not only study in school, but to find and learn more from other forms of information, social media, family, community, or other NGOs about health and other problems. Also, after they know how to help they are able to find a solution and share this with other people in their community.


What is your favorite thing about your country?
My favorite thing is its women and students, even though we have poor families we try to spend time to learn more about health and life.


Finally, I have confidence, even though my NGO is a small program, that we can help many people. Many women talk to me and explain that they were very happy with the workshops. Our Strength educates and shares knowledge to women. It helps give them information that they may have not known about before regarding their health from women of their same age.



Spotlight interview provided by Community Health Education PCV Nicholas Branch

The spotlight is on...KIMHENG PANN!

PCV Jane Campbell and Kimheng penn at a wedding ceremony

Hello Everybody! My name’s KIMHENG PANN.
I’m 31 years old and I live and work in Baray district Kampong Thom province, Cambodia. At the moment I’m a teacher of Moral Civics and English at Baray high school in my community. I also work for an English Access Micro scholarship Program at Cambodian Islamic Women Development Association (CIWODA) supported by the US embassy from 2008 till now and I have another one job at Cambodia Muslim students Association (CAMSA).

All jobs I’m working with the students in Baray high school and the youth in my community to development, I help them to study English languages, moral, computer, enhancement activities, cultures and give opportunities to the students for volunteering working on tree planting, gardening, school environment, and in formal English lesson to the children of their neighbors.

I always dream about my future goals - I’m going to become a good leader to help the youth and share experiences with them...especially girls. I want all the youths in Cambodia to have good habits, practice good culture, have high knowledge, self-confidence, be brave, responsible, and be involved in their community between studies. I hope they will become good youth in our country and have good jobs in their future.


What activities related to Gender Development are you involved in?
I partner with Peace Corps Volunteers to help all students improve in many ways in Baray community especially helping the youth to develop.

Futher more I have been working on these activities:
- I have just completed working with Peace Corps Volunteers and Camp STAR (Students taking active roles) 2013 in Kampong Thom Province; prepared by Peace Corps Volunteers, we had four schools participate and had boys and girls join together.
- In March I completed presentations about “HIV/AIDs/Gender” on the Grand camping at SONTOUK mountain in Kampong Thom.
-On International Women’s Day 2013 I lead the students and prepared a workshop in my community focusing on “Gender, Moral and Law related to women.” I had 347 students from Baray high school participate and it was supported by the Ministry of Tourism.
- June 2012 I presented on the topic “Empower of women in Cambodia” at the first ever boys conference in Kampong Saom Province with Peace Corps Volunteers.
- In March 2012, I worked with Peace Corps volunteer Jane, to organize a workshop in Baray high school focusing on “The youth volunteerism workshop” and helped boys and girls work together to help their community.
- In October 2011, I worked with PCV Jane to bring 12 females students to participant Camp Glow (Girls leading our world) in Kampong Cham Province. I presented on the topic “Goal setting and what the student should do in their community”.
- On Women's Day 2010, I prepared a meeting with 32 students to talk about “Human Trafficking” which included a field trip to Prasat Sombo Prey Kok, a historical site in Kampong Thom Province. The students read a document about “Women in Cambodia” which they practiced reading on the bus ride to the field trip.
- I helped train students to become trainers to give a presentation about “Violence against on women in family” at a public meeting at the Baray district office on Women’s day.



How did you get to where you are today?

The first job I had working for the English Access Microscholarship program at CIWODA, I received the position because I was chosen by Mrs. Mariyas kop secretary general at Ministry of Women’s affairs. Following this job, I worked at CAMSA. I also have been successful by using various activities and good communication with other people as well as partnering with Peace Corps volunteers. Nowadays all jobs I’m working in my hometown, Baray district, Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia.



What do you think is the most important issue facing Cambodians today?

Presently, Cambodia is developed than before but I always think that Cambodia still has problems especially amongst teenagers and youth whose main problems are education, morals, and culture. Most people in Cambodia always say the world's “Youth is the main resource for country development.” Nowadays, is this true or not?! If we look at all their behaviors and their activities, what are they doing now? How about their studies? Do they know they are most important for their country's development in the future? What they should do for themselves, family community and their country? Do they know that their country development in the future is in their hands? Although, everything is running development in Cambodia but I think that have advantages and disadvantages.

Students that study at university now, are also working between their studies because most of them come from poor families and they need money to support themselves during studying. Their studies are going in the same direction must be graduate of university. Some of them are much more energetic than students in High school and they can control themselves more. They try to search everything in order to increase their development. Some of them have scholarships in either public or private schools and also have some students have scholarship to study abroad and some students work in volunteerism between their studies because volunteering is a part of the training. They want work experience when they graduate university so they are more capable of doing better job. So they are marvelous and we should be proud of them. However, If we look back to the students in high school, it is most different. The percentage of high school students is much more than university in Cambodia and the education system is low level. I think that a little bit students try to study hard but most of them like playing more than studying.

Most schools still have some students that are truant, cheat on exams, temperament in their activities, fighting, drinking alcohol and a little bit students taking drugs. Some schools have not yet improved their education system and don’t try to control them. There is also a high percentage of girls that stop school to work in factories in Cambodia or neighboring countries.

In addition, most parents have more concern for their daughter than their son. Some parents do not allow their daughter to study at university after they graduate high school. Some parents worry about their children's behaviors when they leave home too far away from them. They don’t have support from their families all the time.



What kind of advice do you want to give to the youth of Cambodia?
Absolutely! Youth is good to get in touch with our society and it is most important that they attend to our community. The attendance of youth can enhance many activities, especially for gender equality. When youth are involved in the community it can improve the relationship between boys and girls, they can share their experiences, and it can improve education in society. I know that it’s not easy to work with the youth because they have many challenges; they need flexibility and patience, to use good communication, motivation and thanks-giving with them. I want them to get a lot of very good advice from people and to share experiences with them and I’ll try to do everything that I can do for them, try to show them the way to study, how to practice, how to work and live. What should they do when they leave home to study? Do they have goals or not yet for their future? How to get a good job?
Before and now I like working with the youth in my community because I want to help them. I love them because they try to work hard and they have goals in their future and I also give everyone to have opportunity to participate.



What is your favorite thing about your country?

Firstly, Cambodia is an amazing place for tourism everywhere around my country is so beautiful with beaches, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, mountains and especially Angkor Wat. Secondly, the character of Cambodia people are friendly, kind, have good relationships especially the children that are respectful, grateful for their parents and look after them when they are older. Lastly, the traditional and culture is very fascinating. I love the ceremonies, the dress, and the dancing.

Anything else? What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like planning activities and thinking, listening music, chatting with friends, travelling, reading books, watching TV, and I like dancing.


Spotlight interview provided by PCV and fellow WIDGAD leader/founder Jane Campbell

The Spotlight is on...HEN Vanny

HEN Vanny in her element; the classroom

HEM Vanny is an English teacher and exceptional leader in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia.

What activities related to Gender Development are you involved in?

I have been involved in many projects besides my teaching in public school. Firstly, I am an English Club Leader. I lead my team to achieve our goals like; the students can improve their English about how to write, to read, to speak, and to listen with confidence. The students have learned to be a leader by my integrating leadership lessons to them. The students improve their social skills by sending them out to the communities to learn more about different lives of the people in different families.


Second, I am an art club leader. I and my Peace Corps Volunteer counterpart help the students to have a chance to do what they want to do. I and the PCV are responsible to find the resources like the budget for materials, paint, field trips, and guest artist presentations. The goals in our art club are to show that our students are happy to show their talents and are able to reach their dreams in any way. Most of the schools in Cambodia do not have a chance to study art. 
I also like working with Peace Corps activities like Camp GLOW and Camp BUILD every year.



How did you get to where you are today?

I have been teaching in Hun Sen Kor High School for about fourteen years. I love my job because I can help many people, mostly adults in my community. I have a chance to develop my country by sharing my knowledge. I can share my experiences by participating in some workshops that are set up by NGOs or for the youth.



What do you think is the most important issue facing Cambodians today?

I think the most important issue facing Cambodia today are health problems, especially women’s health. Most of the women who do domestic work don’t really have time to get an education about health care. They learn from the older generation but the older generation doesn’t know much about how to keep healthy because Cambodia went through a war in the past, especially for the people who are older than 35 and live in remote areas. Unfortunately, they do not receive a good education about health. 
Most of the people in the countryside don’t get enough information, such as the news about social or world issues because they are poor and they need time to earn money for food every day.
The education needs to improve the qualities in order to reach the international standard to develop human resources.  



What kinds of advice do you want to give to the youth of Cambodia?

The youth should volunteer to share their knowledge to the community. The youth should also be involved with social activities. The youth should have strong abilities and be responsible to develop our country.



What is your favorite thing about your country?

My most favorite thing I like about my country are the people. The people of Cambodia are friendly and generous. By my observation people always help each other when others are in trouble.


Spotlight interview provided by PCV and fellow WIDGAD member Irene Primmer

The Spotlight is on...MOEURN Chantrea

MOEURN CHANTREA on a field trip to Angkor Wat with Camp GLOW in Siem Reap. Chantrea attended Camp GLOW as part of the Royal University of Phnom Penh's Career Services Advising team.

Today's interview is straight from MOEURN Chantrea. His voice is preserved (unedited) in this article. See for yourself how extraordinary he is!

Hi sister!

Sorry for reply you late. Hopefully we can meet soon. I am waiting to help as possible. Thanks so much for coming to help Cambodian youth and Cambodia society.

These are my answers but, I do not know sure it make sense for your questions. Let me know if you have some problem.

1. Please introduce yourself. For example: Name/Profession/Age/Province, future goals, etc.
My name is MOEURN Chantrea. I am male with twenty three years old right now. I am studying at two universities at Phnom Penh include the Royal University of Phnom Penh and University of Cambodia. I was born in Angkor Chey village, Sralop commune, Tboung Khmom district, Kampong Cham province. I want to be the politician in Cambodian because I think that I can work together with national assembly to drafting law to protect people interest and the best one is that improving people lifestyle by given them free and fair in front of the law. Cambodian people need professional law maker to support whole society and well collaboration with foreign partner.


2. What activities related to Gender Development are you involved in?
A. The activities that I enjoy the most to improve Gender Development and I always involve like, thinking positive to women, give values to her, do not look down on her, work group with girl, sharing experience with girl, give her opportunity to participate to workshop or social work, encourage her to be brave, do not violate to woman right, help my sister and mother housework, avoid domestic violent in community by telling villagers, report to police when I saw the domestic violence, love brother and sister the same, well collaboration in study and work with girl.

For instance, I am working with the Human Rights Organization for Transparency and Peace. My colleague also have women and I am well discussion with her so solve what we are concern and need her help. I do not want to think that she is weak and does not have ability to do. The second experience is working with Career Advisory Service. Working this project I always let my women team have the same chance as man even though I am team leader. Women have opportunity to speak what they want because students in workshop also have girl student. The third experience in my house. When I came back school to home, I like helping my mother and sister. I never think that housework is for only women. The last one is in my class. Improving understanding and well classmate I always discuss and share my knowledge to class. For example, in university, students need to do presentation after they have research. All team member have the same chance to present and sometime I choose girl to be team leader because she have well education and strong confident. If they do not have more convenience, I encourage them and want them try because we can learn from experience.


3. How did you get to where you are today?
To be the present act, I need to do some interesting points. First, the beginning point is that choosing university and majoring attend at university. During in grade 12, I need to make sure that which major I have to choose and university is specialize on that major. I tried to ask my teacher and university students to give more information. Then I need to know my ability and activity which I like the most because it could let me easy to catch at university class. As result, I choose the Royal University of Phnom Penh in Khmer Literature major.

Second, the medium point is finding part time job for volunteer. Two years went by, I have work with the Career Advisory Service project to help student at high school to know how to choose major, university, live in Phnom Penh, and pass scholarship in university. We do not need to wait great time to have experience without asking someone or after graduate because it let us waste time and low experience to get job later. After I have volunteer at the Human Rights Organization for Transparency and Peace in translator position. I hope that to get more experiences for improve my knowledge in study and social work.

Finally, the highest point is reading book. Reading book always let me understand more clearly and have more convenience. I have to spend my time to read book everyday even though some book does not relate to my major. I got lots points from it and always use in work and class. In conclusion, student needs to be hard working and well collaboration with other because it boosts us has more knowledge with great point. We also have to read news to know what was happening and had happened up to now.


3. What do you think is the most important issue facing Cambodians today?
The most thing Cambodian youth facing most is unemployment rate increase. Most of youth in Cambodia do not have job yet even though they have graduate. The reason let me know that they did not think the three main points attend university. They do not know clear which major, university and themselves. So, they study at university did not get well score and knowledge. As result, they do not have strong ability to work and experience so, how can another institution need them. I hope when we improve this case, unemployment will be reduced. I do not want to put pressure to government on education because we need to respond together.


4. What kinds of advice to you want to give the youth of Cambodia?
I have some information to give you and it does not mean that I am perfect person. I am just the same you but, I have more experiences than you and I hope we can share together.

- Try to study hard

- Care health

- Avoiding from drug

- Thinking about three main point to attend to university like interest, ability and opportunity.

- Well collaboration in class and social work

- Open mind and waiting feedback to correct to wrong one.

- Self-study and need to think that we the new generation which have to lead Cambodia later.


6. What is your favorite thing about your country?
The most things I like in Cambodia are Angkor Wat and ancient temple because I need to protect them with great proud of that. They always boost me try to study and more glad.


7. Anything else? Weird hobbies or talents?
No more lets me most interesting. What I am concerning when Cambodian youth have well responsible in social development because sometime they do not want to hear the word politic. We live in politic society so, why do not we can know and talking on that. Thanks. I am so sorry for my bad grammar and structure. I am waiting for your feedback.

- Chantrea


Spotlight interview organized by WID/GAD committee associate, Meghan Henshall

The Spotlight is on...Siphen Meas

Siphen Meas and PCV Andrea Doersam at an Art Olympics Event in Phnom Penh

Introduction:
Siphen Meas is a woman of many trades. She works as a local high school English teacher in Angtasom, Takeo while operating a homestay business at her residence amongst the rice paddies. In what little free time this allows her, Siphen holds free private classes for local students at a school she built on her property. She also assists and holds positions with Peace Corps and Books for Cambodia. Siphen is a well known leader throughout her village of Angtasom, she welcomes visitors from many countries to her home and teaches them about Khmer culture, they in turn share their knowledge and culture with the students that attend her school, an invaluable exchange of diversity for some of the poorest students in the community.


What activities related to Gender Development are you involved in?
Siphen serves as a role model for the youth of her community. Not only does she work at the local high school for 20 hours a week, she dedicates at least an hour or two everyday to her students that come to her home. Her evening class serves as a space for students to explore who they are. They are encouraged to be creative through art, writing, music, and dance. An outlet like this for students to utilize is not usually seen within local school systems, especially in the rural areas.

There is no discrimination amongst Siphen’s students, individuality and creative thinking are encouraged in order to provide them with a greater worldview. Many of Siphen’s students obtain a high level of English speaking throughout their time in her class, and many go on to attend Universities in Phnom Penh. This year Siphen is taking on 35 students, she accepts the poorest students within the community as well as students with an exceptionally high dedication and commitment to learning and studying.


How did you get to where you are today?
Siphen’s motivation to get where she is today was all self-driven, she grew up extremely poor in an environment where emphasis was not put on obtaining higher education. She began her career as a biology and chemistry teacher. She was curious to learn English so she could meet and communicate with foreigners, so she enrolled herself in private English classes which she attended part time. Eventually her skills lead her to a job as an English teacher for secondary school.

While working as an English interpreter (in addition to her teaching job), Siphen met a woman named Jennifer Wilson from New Zealand who was working with VSA as an early childhood advisor. This friendship sparked an interest in opening the Meas Family Homestay business after Jennifer’s family came to stay with Siphen at her home. Siphen’s homestay business has been operating since 2002, and is growing by a number of tourists every year, which is increasing the knowledge her students are able to achieve. Many student organizations, such as Pacific Discovery Company have been frequenting her Homestay since it first opened, these groups participate in community projects (such as building latrines, painting murals, creating and improving libraries). When Siphen recognizes a need, she will initiate a community project for visitors to help with. Many of her guests had heard about her homestay through word of mouth, but recently she has been featured in popular travel publications.

These experiences have lead her to where she is today, she will continue to strive to make more improvements within her community, and increase the understanding between foreign and Khmer cultures.


What do you think is the most important issue facing Cambodians today?
“As an educator, I feel very disappointed about the education quality of Cambodia and that it is dropping down, the number of stats in reports show high rates of passing, but the quality is not there.” Compared to when Siphen grew up, she thinks that students don’t care as much about their studies, they are not as responsible and do not want to work hard to study to pass exams and to obtain a higher degree. In general students are starting to value materialism more since the introduction of modern technology in Cambodia. The middle class people especially are very focused on gaining material items, in the past students went to the library to read, now they have the ability to use the telephone to find answers. Many people look up to the wealthy and this discourages people to be interested in working as teachers, it’s hard to find people willing to work hard in an area that will not make a lot of money. Also, corruption makes it so hard to get real work done. There are always people asking for money to do things they should do on their own, it’s a big issue for educators. Every school has it, when they have exams, students do not think they can do it on their own, teachers give answers for money and students cheat all the time. The ministry of education needs to change their attitudes to reflect the written law, it needs to be more strict and more fair.


What kinds of advice to you want to give the youth of Cambodia?
“I would strongly advise that they show respect and are responsible for themselves, this is of such high value. Be responsible for your actions and work in a positive manner.” Siphen became a teacher to share her knowledge, she wants to pass this on to the next generation, to help and support those that don’t have the opportunity to do it on their own. She recommends that the youth should be involved with society and share what they have learned with the community through their actions. For example, if they have a skill of growing a garden, they should help other villagers to learn the same and spread the wealth of knowledge. “Don’t be pessimistic!”


What is your favorite think about your country?
“I love my people. Cambodians are so friendly and open and want to share and help others. I love my country for its nature. We are lucky to be in tropical climate where people can live outside, no snow! People here have the freedom to grow what they want and live off the land.”


Anything else? Weird hobbies or talents?
Siphen likes to read new things, especially about history of different cultures and biographies. She likes to play games, specifically banana grams. Siphen also loves traveling; she has been to New Zealand, America, Japan, Thailand and is looking forward to going to Malaysia in the future!


Spotlight Interview Contributed by PCV Andrea Doersam

The Spotlight is on...Vantharoth OUM

Vantharoth OUM and the beautiful Cambodian landscape

1. Introduction
Vantharoth OUM works for Peace Corps Cambodia as the Education program Manager. She is 30 years old and lives in Phnom Penh with her family.

2. What activities related to Gender Development are you involved in?
I am now part of the WID/GAD committee. So far, I am also a fan of GLOW Camp . I joined this committee because I feel that Cambodian girls/women need to step up from the zone they are in now and do more great things in society. I believe that there are many awesome women out there and they need to be recognized for what they are doing.

3. How did you get to where you are today?
While I was a student, I spent my summers between school years volunteering at NGOs in Phnom Penh. When I finished my studies, I was accepted for my first job as a school health education program officer based in Koh Kong province. Personally, I did not have any Medical background, but I had teaching experience and I was a team leader through my work at university and through my volunteer work. I worked there for a year, and then Peace Corps came to Cambodia. I applied to work for PC through a recommendation of my former boss. Then I was offered a job as program assistant and was promoted to Program Manager in September 2010. That is it, my experience.

4. What do you think is the most important issue facing Cambodians today?
There are many issues for women and girls such as access to higher education, better health care, domestic violence...etc.
There are many opportunities for women in careers and other educational opportunities. I believe if they could step up a little bit by themselves or someone pushed them, I think they will have a bright future. They need to be pushed, because as we know, most Cambodian women were taught to be reserved. They are not used to speaking out for themselves.

5. What kinds of advice to you want to give the youth of Cambodia?
My key words to success as a young woman starting their career are: be smart, have initiative, be proactive, and alway say that "I can do it."

6. What is your favorite thing about your country?
Smiling and how polite the local community are to people.

7. Anything else? Weird hobbies or talents?
Nothing I can think of now.

Gender Empowerment Workshops: For the Boys!

As detailed in our previous post about Camp GLOW, a focus of many projects for Peace Corps Volunteers is gender empowerment. Building awareness about gender is not just something done with young women- a number of Volunteers work with young men to encourage action and change.

Ambitions students from BREW Crew 2012

One such example is a workshop entitled BREW Crew. BREW, standing for Boys Respecting Empowered Women, is a workshop for young men started in 2012.

BREW Crew has a main goal of broadening an understanding of gender for young men in Cambodia. Through this lens, the workshop spends time creating a safe space to discuss relationships with women, and how to engage them in ways that both respect and empower both genders.

Students working together at BREW Crew 2012

Beyond this, BREW Crew provides key knowledge about boys' own sexual health and the realities of engaging in sex with multiple partners, or taking advantage of the large centers for prostitution around Cambodia.

BREW Crew is one of the first workshops to center around gender empowerment and awareness just for men. There have been numerous other workshops that work with young men and women together to build gender empowerment, such as Camp BUILD and Camp Lost Stick.

BREW Crew 2012 - Having a good time!

Last year, BREW Crew was supported by six Peace Corps Volunteers through Takeo, Kampot and Kampong Som provinces. Nearly fifty young men joined the workshop, as did several NGOs such as RACHA.

BREW Crew 2012 ended with a trip to Kep in Kampot province

This year, BREW Crew is raising money to take place in the middle of June. The workshop will bring together five Peace Corps Volunteers, counterparts and nearly fifty young men from Takeo and Kampot provinces.


Article composed by Committee member: Kate Marsh, K5 Education Volunteer

Camp GLOW in Cambodia

Camp G.L.O.W. (Girls Leading Our World) is a popular Peace Corps project done around the world. It began in Romania in 1995 with the purpose of encouraging young women to become active citizens by building their self-esteem and confidence, increasing self-awareness, and developing their skills in goal setting as well as career and life planning. Since that time the project has expanded to include six main topics: gender equality, self-esteem, leadership, health, aspirations, and volunteerism. The number of participants, focus of the camp, topics presented, facilitators involved, number of days, etc, differ from country to country and within countries depending on the participant's needs and the focus of the camp (i.e. different topics and activities). This year in Cambodia, there will be at least seven of these camps ranging from one to four days in different provinces.

Allstar PCVs (Blair, Sally, Trophie, Katie, Neysa, Kateri, and Meghan)

Since January, seven PCVs (Neysa, Katie, Trophie, Blair, Meghan, Kateri, and Sally) in Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey provinces, have been working together to put on a four day Camp G.L.O.W. in Siem Reap town for sixty-two young women and three female teachers or counterparts from seven different high schools. In February, they applied for and received a small grant to fund the hiring of facilitators from three Khmer NGOs to present on topics like puberty, women's health, domestic violence, self-awareness, career planning, goal setting, and how to be an effective community educator. The grant also included food, lodging, and facilities while each community contributed supplies and raised funds to cover transportation costs. Needless to say it was a big undertaking and they are happy to report that the Camp G.L.O.W. successfully ran May 2nd-5th.

PCV Meghan (Siem Reap province) and her students

Roughly nine girls from each of the seven communities were chosen to participate in the camp based on applications and in some cases attendance records from girls clubs or health clubs. The students' ages ranged from 15 to 20 (9th - 12th grade). The first two days focused on sexual health and healthy relationships and included sessions on puberty, menstruation, and domestic violence, all led by three inspiring Khmer women from the Battambang based NGO Our Strength. The Women's Resource Center came in for morning sessions on the last two days to teach about self-awareness, goal-setting, and to help the participants expand their skills as community educators. Additionally, the Royal University of Phnom Penh's Career Advising Service team came for an afternoon session to discuss career planning and future opportunities.

Icebreakers!

PCVs Neysa and Trophie preparing activities

The PCVs led icebreakers which included "find someone who..." human scavenger hunt, a name game (where there are two teams and a person from each team steps up to opposite sides of a bed sheet and when the sheet is dropped and they see each other the first person to shout the other's name wins and the other girl joins the other team), and a balloon game (where you tie a balloon to your ankle and while defending yours you try and pop everyone else's balloon by stomping on them). Evening activities included: a newspaper fashion show (including plastic bags, string and tape), bracelet-making and arts/crafts, and a trip via remorks to Angkor Wat.

Camp GLOW attendees presenting to everyone

Camp GLOW attendees building on teamwork skills

These young women are the next generation of leaders in Cambodia. They formed relationships across communities, gained knowledge, and built upon skills. They will now go out into their respective communities and share that knowledge as community educators teaching 100 community members; roles they might have shied away from less than a week ago. Some of the brave young women got a jump on the education, teaching fellow passengers on the ride home about menstruation and anatomy. These young women are the future and they are glowing like stars!

The whole Camp GLOW Siem Reap Family!

Upcoming Camp GLOWs (and one Camp STAR) in Cambodia:

Camp STAR (boys and girls camp) in Kampong Thom province May 24-26
Camp GLOW Kampong Cham province May 24-26
Camp GLOW Kampot province May 31, June 1-2
Camp GLOW Prey Veng province June 1-2
Camp GLOW Takeo province June 6-8