I am writing this blog to write some tales down from my travels across Southeast Asia. I am leaving at the end of November and I start volunteering in Cambodia in December. I am going to be working with an NGO called the Cambodian Women's Development Agency in Phnom Penh, which aims to empower women through advancing their economic and social rights. http://www.pub22.net/cwda/ I will give you updates on this agency, the work they do and any experiences I have from working with them.
Cambodia has had a tumultuous past, unable to escape the terror of the Vietnam War. In the 1970's a Civil War ensued, whilst US forces bombed the country targeting the Viet Cong and Khmer Rouge based in Cambodia. The Communist Khmer Rouge took power in Phnom Penh in 1975 and caused severe destruction, some referring to it as a genocide. Over a million people lost their lives and the killing fields became a chilling reality. I am currently reading a very powerful book about one women's struggles through this period; In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner. I would thoroughly recommend this book, which has many poetic accompaniments, my favourite of which is; Knowing comes from learning, finding from seeking. (p.69) I hope to discover more about the history of this beautiful country and how things have improved since the peace agreement of 1991 and i'll let you know what I find.
Thankfully I am not going out alone, Marine Boy Dan is going out with me to work with a marine conservation NGO called Shallow Waters, on one of the amazing collection of Cambodian Islands in the south of the country. After our stay in Cambodia we plan to travel through Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Malaysia, I have shown this on the map, as a rough guide of the route.
I hope you will enjoy reading my blog and I plan to upload plenty of photos and interesting links!
Love Jet Girl x
