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.

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! ;)

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

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...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

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