now, for cambodia...

ANGKOR WAT...

Like many who go to Cambodia, I followed the tourist trail and visited the famous Angkor Wat temples. Their trees that have penetrated the ancient temple walls are known to many, even angelina jolie and her movie 'tomb raider'.

PHNOM PENH....

My mind is buzzing. Ive been here since last Friday and its been great to catch up with my dear friend Kara, meet with various organizations, and learn more about the history and culture of Cambodia. Kara is volunteering as a leadership resident for an organization called Harpswell, which provides girls from rural villages the opportunity to go to university. Their passion and dedication to learn is very inspiring! She is also teaching at a university, attending mainly by students from wealthy privileged families. Wednesday I will teach 3 of her social studies classes, on sex trafficking!


Phnom Penh is a city that has been in the process of restoring itself from being a 'ghost town' during the years of the Khmer Rouge (1975-1979) to around 2 million people! Unfortunately in the past years, the booming construction projects have meant eviction notices for thousands living in slums, some coming home to their whole community being burned down. I witnessed one of these former sites on Monday, as I walked around with Steve from Servants of Asia's Urban Poor. He pointed out to me the new buildings that are constructed, as well as empty plots where families used to live under tarp roofs supported by bamboo poles. Around the corner is their Justees store where guys in recovery from drugs are silk-screening t-shirts with social justice quotes. Click on the link to see more & order t-shirts!

Since 1/4 of the population was either killed or died due to malnutrition or disease during the terrible genocide led by Pol Pot, there is no one in Cambodia left unaffected. Near the center of town, is Tuol Seng, or S-21, the Phnom Penh High School turned prison by the Khmer Rouge. It is a horrific and eery place, with makeshift brick cells constructed in old classrooms, chalkboards still lining the walls. Former torture devices are left on broken beds, and pictures of inmates stare hauntily back at you. Between 17,000-20,000 people were jailed and brutally tortured here in the 4 years of the Khmer Rouge.

Now, PP is a bustling city with motorcycles and tuks tuks packing the streets. It is said that Cambodia has more NGO's then any other country in the world (for better & worse). Fair trade opportunities seem to be all around, with quite a few income generating projects from t-shirt companies, to salons, to coffee shops (Ive been enjoying the food & coffee from as many as I can!)

However, corruption & bribery still abound. I met with International Justice Mission today, who told me that after the Khmer Rouge, only 7 lawyers remained in the entire country, since so many professionals were killed. Now, government officials, police, teachers, etc get paid an average of $40/month. Bribery is thus quite the temptation, if not common practice. Enforcing justice is a problem to say the least. However, IJM persistently trains police and speaks with government officials, in addition to rescuing victims and connecting them to aftercare services.

I also got to visit Daughters of Cambodia today, eat in their delicious cafe, get another pedicure at their salon, buy some beautiful organic naturally-died & fair trade clothing made by the girls, and talk for a couple hours with one of their staff! It is another very impressive and holistic enterprise that opens its door to people who choose to leave the sex industry. Right now they have about 90 girls and 10 guys working in their various businesses.

This week I will also meet with:

• Hagar International (thursday)
  
• World Vision (friday)
  

I am quite excited to learn from these organizations--ideas are already popping in my brain! I have admired what they are doing from afar, and it is a privilege to meet with their staff and learn first hand.