IT'S HERE - THE RESOURCES PAGE!

Dearest Peace Corps Volunteers and PCV Supporters:

The Gender & Development Committee is committed to promoting secondary projects, especially those that empower youth and encourage students to think outside the box. That is why we created this RESOURCES PAGE; which will continue to grow as a resource for all volunteers looking for information on youth camps and other helpful documents from successful PCV secondary projects.

We hope this resource page can become a "one-stop-shop" for volunteers looking for a guide and inspiration for secondary projects at their sites.

Please send any new resources, questions, or concerns to the GAD email: pccambodia.widgad@gmail.com

And again: VISIT THE RESOURCES PAGE!

The Spotlight is on...HAYLEY KNICELY!

Hayley paired up with another PCV, Amanda Arand to teach a health lesson at Camp GLOW in Kampot


Our blog has focused on Spotlighting exceptional Khmer people. Today we're switching things up and Spotlighting our first Peace Corps Volunteer!

Hi there, my name is Hayley Knicely and I am a K6 CHE volunteer. I am currently starting my second year as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cambodia and am getting started with all sorts of fun projects. I live in Kampot Province not far from beautiful Kampot town. Currently, I work at the health center in the mornings 5 days a week. However, this previous school year I also taught health education classes to grade 12 students two days per week. In the afternoons, I fill my days with chores, reading, playing with my siblings, and planning secondary projects.

My current project is helping to develop the library at my school alongside students and faculty. We have already cleaned out the room, arranged the tables, chairs, and the librarian’s desk; and started painting some of the walls. This week we will begin drawing the mural for the library on the outside of the room and painting that as well. The only thing the library is lacking is books! Please help and make a donation so the students at Hun Sen Trosek Korng can expand their knowledge through reading!


To donate to Hayley's Library Development project CLICK THIS LINK!!!


Another secondary project that I am working on is a program called PD Hearth. This was originally set up in PC Mali, but has taken off here in Cambodia as well. Essentially, I have been meeting with two different villages, Phnom Doic and Tuk Graham, to discuss the need for young child and infant nutrition lessons. Initially, myself alongside the village chiefs and health volunteers weighed a sample of children in both villages and found that upwards of 30% of them were underweight. We then decided to apply for the grant and will eventually hold trainings and bor-bor (rice porridge) feeding sessions. Our hope is that the children who are currently underweight will gain weight and mothers will be educated on better ways to keep their children healthy.

What activities related to Gender Development are you involved in?
This past June my province-mates and I put on a Camp GLOW at our provincial town which is a camp designed to empower and educate girls on leadership, teamwork, and even some health lessons. I invited 11 young ladies from my grade 12 classes to spend the 3-day weekend with close to 50 other girls from around the province. Not only did they get to make new friends, but they also had the opportunity to prove to themselves and others, that they are strong and beautiful and can do whatever they set their minds to. One of my favorite moments was when we hosted a yoga session and the female Khmer instructor said:

“Most Khmer women are scared of exercising because they think if they get strong they will not be able to have children. I explained to these girls that I am a woman, I am strong, and I just gave birth to a healthy son 6 months ago.”

I feel like moments like this show women in Cambodia that they can do just as much, if not more, than men!


How did you get to where you are today?
I joined Peace Corps almost immediately after graduating from college at Elon University in North Carolina. I majored in Exercise Sport Science and triple-minored in Public Health, Sport and Event Management, and International Studies. During my senior year I kept tossing around ideas of going to grad school for Physical/Occupational Therapy, Public Health, or doing volunteer work. I eventually decided grad school can always wait, but an experience like the Peace Corps can’t. So here I am!


What kind of advice do you want to give the youth of Cambodia?
Never stop dreaming, creating, and working hard!


What is your favorite thing about your country?
My favorite thing about the USA would have to be the season: fall. I love when the air starts to get chilly and you can bundle up with hot tea and a good book. I also love anything and everything pumpkin! Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin carving, the list can go on!


Anything else? Weird hobbies or talents?
I used to play competitive table tennis with my dad and brother and would travel to different states to compete. I was in a step-dancing competition my sophomore year of college with the brothers of Sigma Phi Beta and we won first place!



Spotlight interview provided by Hayley Knicely - She's so nice! ;)

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

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