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!

If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all

Today's story comes from Peace Corps volunteer, Samantha Weiss, who is an English teacher trainer in Prey Veng Province, Cambodia.

Read more about her Peace Corps experience at her blog "I hope this cambodes well"
Host sister and I; I'm only 5'5'' yet I look like a giant next to your average Khmer woman
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When I arrived in Cambodia, during training, we had many sessions that touched on “being a female volunteer” and its ramifications. Throughout my travels, specifically during my time studying abroad in Morocco, I have experienced a variety of cultures’ perceptions of women, foreign and native. In Morocco, I stood out a lot, even when wearing the traditional djellaba (long cloak with hood) and it was uncomfortable for me to say the least. I have continued to be acutely aware of the way my gender affects the way others treat me as soon as I set foot in my new home for two years. Although women have more visible freedom here than I experienced in Morocco, I still find a quieter and culturally engrained stifling of women in Cambodian culture. That being said, about a year into my service, the way I perceived men reacting to me, was not my biggest frustration I faced day to day. The biggest affront I faced had to do with the way other women reacted to my presence.

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”
– from cambodes.blogspot.com
published June 24, 2013

Most of us were taught this when we were young. We feel fairly safe entering the world every day without brutal honesty and judgment hitting us in the face. We do our best to project ourselves confidently through our actions, speech and appearance, and hope to receive mostly positive responses. Most of us desire critical feedback, but only when requested, in order to grow and make improvements. I was working on a post about the things in my current life that I have become accustomed to living in a foreign culture that would still sound rather strange to others, but I put those thoughts on hold to address one of my biggest challenges I still face living here. This is something that I have not been able to get used to as merely a cultural difference. It’s often on my mind and I believe my thoughts on the issue to be evolving the longer I am here.

I realized recently that I have become more self-conscious when it comes to my physical appearance than I remember being in the last 8 or so years of my life. This has become more dominant in the past month or so, whereas at the beginning of my time in Cambodia and at site the constant comments about appearance didn’t quite penetrate my subconscious. When I first arrived, entering the market meant comments on my pointy nose and white skin (highly desirable traits) were coming from every which way contributing to how sa-at (beautiful) I was considered. While this got tiring and I even complained about constantly hearing how beautiful I was, it never quite bothered me the way it does when I’m told I am toe-at (fat). Other than being a rather unfortunate sounding word in Khmer, the labeling and judgment I assume comes with this comment is troublesome. Here being called fat is not the same as if a stranger were to do so in America, but coming from American culture, it doesn’t hurt any less when this word is slung at me. At first, I would always explain that I’m just bigger than Khmer people and I’m normal sized in other cultures, but when you hear this word often enough, it makes you wonder. I should explain that it’s not meant as an insult here; people would prefer to not be so skinny but their childhood nourishment of mostly rice stunts their growth quite a bit. Another thing to note is one day you may be fat, but the next you could be skinny again. I even start to believe that it’s possible I visibly gained 5 pounds from one day to the next.

When people are constantly commenting on my appearance or clearly sizing me up with their eyes, my gaze turns inward more than ever. Comments like these have felt more noticeable as of late because the receiving line of housewives and yeays (grandmas) that keep my host sister company as she works have become more vocal. The front of my house is my host sister’s tailoring business. She sits at all hours of the day at her sewing machine working. The front of our house thus serves as a gathering point for women, babies, yeays and anyone else who’s looking for a place to gossip and ongui lang (sit-play). Anytime I exit the house, I am subject to their comments which used to be more asking where I was going and at this point are strictly regarding my appearance. This can get old quick and obviously kind of frustrating. My host sister is very understanding of difference and Western culture in a way that most Khmer people aren’t, so she is not one to launch these comments at me. However, this doesn’t lessen the onslaught from the others. Fellow PCVs and I have expressed concern that we will also lack the filter expected in American culture upon returning home and will blurt out blunt judgments as we have become accustomed to receiving here.

I started to think back on the last year before I moved to Cambodia and how my perception of my body image could have changed so drastically in this transition. Prior to this, my vanity was under my own control. I was never big into mirrors and didn’t spend too much time in front of them. I would spend 5-10 minutes getting ready every morning; I would dress myself without a mirror (maybe a bad choice), put up my hair and add some jewelry. I used clothing and jewelry to express myself and my individuality to my students, within the limits of business casual, who were my audience every day. I would spend the next 12ish hours focused on my work, my students, my lessons, my co-workers, coffee runs for a break/meetings, and daily tasks. My own appearance didn’t enter those 12 hours as I wouldn’t hear comments (aside from the occasional 7th grader pointing out a zit on your face) about my looks and my mind and body were completely consumed by my job. Besides, in American culture, friends and co-workers are expected to compliment rather than insult.

This weekend on a bike ride, I was listening to a TED talk titled “What is beauty?” where a model was giving her thoughts on the modeling industry’s standard of beauty. She remarked on how the public is unaware that models are in actuality the most insecure women on the planet. She said she feels insecure because she has to think about what she looks like everyday. This comment resonated with my current situation because I effectively have to put on armor before exiting my room each day in preparation for what someone might say about me. Their looks and opinions, whether or not they are founded in truth, are the reality of my life as a strange foreigner in a superficially homogenous culture. My difference draws attention and interest everywhere I go; I’m still trying to figure out how to accept that.

I just returned from some time away from my site spent in America, other areas of Cambodia, and Thailand traveling with my family. During that time I got some perspective on the way image is conceived of in Khmer culture. I learned to not take it all so personally, but it also reminded me of the reality of living in the Cambodian countryside. As many PCVs say, I may be the first and only foreigner some Cambodians I meet will encounter. When I can zoom out and see the larger context, I realize that it’s really not about me. I try every chance to use these comments as teaching moments, especially when it comes to the 40 young girls I work with at the nearby orphanage who are struggling with their own ideas of beauty.

Sam and her students at Camp GLOW
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By Samantha Weiss, K6 volunteer

In The Land of Women

Today's story comes from Peace Corps volunteer, Kinsey Spears, who is currently teaching English in Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia.

Read more about her Peace Corps experience at her blog "Let the Wild Rumpus Start."
Kinsey Spears teaching during Pre-service training practicum
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Being a woman in Peace Corps has it’s own unique set of challenges in every country, but worldwide we face many of the same difficulties. Most female Peace Corps volunteers will experience some level of sexual harassment, and some level of discrimination. We will have to prove ourselves in ways that male volunteers won’t always have to. Explaining why we want to be here working, and not at home poppin’ out babes can be a daily occurrence. That’s not to say that men don’t have their unique set of problems, but I can’t speak for them. That’s not to say that I can speak for all women either.

Despite all these boundaries we have to overcome, we are granted something special, something exceptional. We get invited with open arms into the land of women. The land of women in a developing country is a magical place. Whether it’s behind the Hijabs, or in the kitchen while women while away, we get to be invited freely and without doubt or reserve. Men can break into these realms but it takes perseverance and trust.

We, as female peace corps volunteers, are swept away into this realm and we get to see something that is entirely different than what the public might perceive it to be. I get to go sit with the women who do my nails a few times a month and it’s like all men in the market disappear. They are no longer part of the conversation. These women and girls let down their barriers ingrained in them from patriarchy and discuss everything. From the simplest of conversations – which color will go the best with my white skin – to more difficult ones – the differences between marrying a western man versus a Khmer man and what it means for their future. These girls, that I have gotten to know over the past year, talk about things with me that would never be appropriate in front of a man.

Being able to see women open up in the private sphere is a treat. It allows you to see past the clearly defined gender roles of a country deeply steeped in patriarchy. Male volunteers can sit around with the yay’s (grandmothers) and mings (older women 40s-50s) and it can be completely natural and enjoyable, but they will still be treated as a male for the most part. They can develop meaningful and informative friendships with women their own age, but there will always be a gender divide.

However, as a foreign female, I am allowed a bit more lee-way in terms of interactions with men in my community. Most of the people I work with on a professional basis are males and it would not be overly frowned upon for me to sit down and have a beer with them. Many female volunteers do cross that gender divide and are glad to share a beer on a hot afternoon. I tend to err on the side of caution here, only drinking when the women around me partake or when I’m lost in an anonymous crowd of westerners. But, I could. Male counterparts are quick to ask me about politics or discuss which I like more Angkor or Anchor (types of beer).

This ability to float between the two worlds is why I love being a female Peace Corps volunteer. I get to talk politics with the men and discuss relationships with girls my age in my neighborhood. I get to take cooking lessons with my host mom and talk about campaigning with my host dad. I get to sit with the women from my school and talk about their children and why I don’t have any, and enjoy a beer with the men talking about the popularity of sports in America. But my favorite is being invited into the land of women.

Kinsey Spears with her host brother

By Kinsey Spears, K6 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