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.

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

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