Wednesday, July 14, 2010

2009 Exchange: A Powerful and Meaningful Experience



The 2009 Cambodia Exchange was a success with many professional collaborations as well as personal experiences of connection and friendship. The Exchange offered 5 days of lectures and interactive leaning experiences in the graduate program at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) on topics such as trauma effects and recovery, domestic violence intervention, international issues in counseling, clinical service delivery systems, play therapy, and family therapy interventions . The training was well attended (standing room only) and included many Khmer professionals, graduate students, and a few monks from the nearby monestaries. Later the group worked with the staff and children at the Little Sprouts orphanage for HIV effected children and one of the members of the exchange presented the leader (Father Kevin) with a donation to support the work with the children. Project Against Domestic Vilolence (PADV) was another NGO we met with during our stay in Phnom Penh. This agency has undergone many changes over the last few years, and gave our group a tour of the updated and modernized facilities including training classrooms, shelter facilities, and outreach services. Other important events for the exchange included a journey to the Killing Fields and Tol Sleng (Khymer prison camp 21) where the events of the Khmer Rouge regime are documented. The Exchange concluded with a flight to Siem Reap, the ancient Khymer capitol where we visited the many cultural relics, temples, and palace complexes, including the famous Angkor Wat. Our group concluded with a celebratory dinner and group discussion regarding our shared and individual experiences during this powerful and meaningful exchange to the Khymer kingdom.