Arrive in Phnom Penh. Orientation activities focused on health, safety, and cultural considerations. Blessing ceremony to officially begin the program. Visit a Western-style mall to see a side of modern Cambodia. Visit the S21 Genocide Museum.
A Hopeful Future Build on a Powerful Past
Cambodia is a country that is often essentialized by its past: a montage of ancient jungle temples, horrific persecution and genocide, and images of poverty used to evoke sympathy and international aid. While these realities in Cambodia constitute a powerful global perspective of the country, today Cambodia is a country determined to rewrite its own story for itself and the world.
This program begins in the booming capital of Phnom Penh before moving to the artistic and cultural hub of Battambang, spending time in homestays in Banteay Chmar, and ending with the temples of Angkor Wat. Throughout our time in Cambodia, we meet with inspiring youth who are choosing to define themselves by an optimistic future rather than a tumultuous past. We learn how art and traditions are integrated into a new way of life, and we observe how Cambodian youth engage with modern issues, such as mental health and economic instability, through reliance on Buddhist traditions and spiritual guidance. The heart of the program is a multi-day homestay where students learn through relationship-building and cohabitation.
