EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On September 21, 2023, the United States Government (USG) recognized the 30th anniversary of U.S. AmeriCorps, the U.S. federal agency for national service and volunteerism. The agency, created by President Clinton in 1993, provides career pathways for Americans across the United States all while they serve their communities – addressing climate change, mentoring students, preserving native languages, supporting veterans as they transition from military to civilian life, and helping justice-involved adults re-enter society, to name a few examples.
Inspired by the vision, ideas, and impact of the USG’s AmeriCorps, the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) created CamboCorps, which aspires to generate the same spirit of national service and volunteerism for the youth of Cambodia. In 2021, DC-Cam established CamboCorps to connect aspiring young Cambodians with survivors of the Khmer Rouge for purposes of learning from survivors, supporting them in access to health care and services, and building an intergenerational dialogue that contributes to the preservation of Cambodia’s history.
This is the first gathering of our young CamboCorps volunteers who have been supporting our project Advancing the Rights and Improving the Conditions of the Health of the Khmer Rouge Survivors. For this forum, DC-Cam planned to have at least 200 students across the country join this forum where they would travel to 6 different locations to learn leadership skills and the history of the Khmer Rouge period as experienced by survivors. DC-Cam divided up the volunteers into two cohorts. The first cohort of volunteers traveled across Kampot, Pailin, and Pursat-Buntheay Meanchey for their forum. The second cohort of volunteers traveled across Stung Treng, Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri.
Based on their cohort, volunteers visited rural communities in these provinces that they never visited before to listen to the stories of survivors. It was an inspirational experience that allowed our volunteers to observe and acknowledge the geography, culture, diversity, and the history of Cambodia. For the group that traveled to Kampot, CamboCorps visited five different places such as Bak Nim village, Sre Ambel (Salt Field), Mlech Dam, Kampong Kraeng, and a durian farm at Kaun Sat Village, Teuk Chhou District in Kampot province. Each group of volunteers visited villages in other provinces, based on their assigned cohort.
For Kampot, Pailin, and Pursat-Buntheay Meanchey, our CamboCorps traveled by trains and buses whereas for volunteers in Stung Treng, Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri, they traveled by buses. For those travelling by train, we wanted them to reflect on the Khmer Rouge’s forced transfer of people in 1977. Those travelling by bus to northeastern parts of Cambodia would experience how life is like for ethnic minorities and the hill tribe groups-learning about the experience of survivors in these remote areas. Regardless of mode of transportation, all CamboCorps volunteers received important information on the history of genocide and atrocity crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge against ethnic minority groups, especially the Cham and the Vietnamese.
In future sessions, DC-Cam looks forward to expanding and refining the training, focusing on different attributes and dimensions of leadership, civic service, and more specialized training in skills that will empower the leaders of the future.
Some photos and videos on DC-Cam’s CamboCorps.
Activities photos
- Group 1 By Train And Bus: Genocide And Human Rights Study Tour For Cambocorps
- Group 1: Photography and Caption
- Group 2 By Train And Bus: Genocide And Human Rights Study Tour For Cambocorps To Pailin Province
- Group 2 By Train And Bus: Genocide And Human Rights Study Tour For Cambocorps To Pailin Province
- Group 2: Interview and Survivor’ Stories
- Group 3: Interview and Survivors’ Stories: Moul Ham: Where Did You Take My Parents?
- Group 4 By Bus: Genocide And Human Rights Study Tour For Cambocorps To Stung Treng Province
- Group 5 By Bus: Cambocorps To Ratanakiri Province
- Group 5: Book Reading and Summary: Kong Chanthy
- Group 6 By Bus: Cambocorps To Mondulkiri Province
- The Crocodile Star, 1975
Videos links
- Human Rights Study Tour For Dc-cam Volunteers Known As ‘Cambocorps
- Genocide And Human Rights Study Tour For DC-Cam Volunteer Known As ‘CamboCorps
- Genocide And Human Rights Study Tour For DC-Cam Volunteer Known As ‘CamboCorps
- DC-Cam Volunteer, Khin Sinay From Mondulkiri Province
- Genocide And Human Rights Study Tour For DC-Cam Volunteer Known As ‘CamboCorps
- Genocide And Human Rights Study Tour For DC-Cam Volunteer Known As ‘CamboCorps
- DC-Cam Interview with Khmer Rouge Survivor
- CamboCorps Study Tour to Mondulkiri
- Chum Chuon’s Story In Pailin Province
- Story of Leang Saren by Eng Sokmeng, DNews
- Story of Heng Cheangly by Eng Sokmeng, DNews
- Story of Bi Soen by Eng Sokmeng, DNews
- Bet Yin, Volunteer From Ratanakiri Province
- Chan Reth, Survivor From Pailin Province
- Mao Rin: I Lied My Story From Khmer Rouge