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 CAMBODIA
Tentative Trip Dates: June 15 – 29, 2012
Meet the Cambodia Team and Alum Leaders
Youthlinc’s first trip to Cambodia was a tremendous success, thanks to the amazing work that the team put into their trip, as well as the positive partnership that was developed with the Cambodian village and Angkor. With stellar guidance from team leader Britnie Powell, the team raised almost $20,000 for various projects in Cambodia—setting a record for Youthlinc trips! Additionally, the team spent countless hours ensuring the sustainability of their efforts prior to, and while working in the humble village of Peak Sneng. The 2011 Cambodia Team truly changed many lives for the better, and demonstrated just how much a small team of people can accomplish. Here are just the highlights of their trip:
Seeing how much hard work the community put into preparing for our visit made me cry. They were so welcoming. So thankful. They affected us all in such a positive way, and in the end, they may have done more for me than I did for them.
-- Ashley Gish, University of Utah
Construction
 Installed 100 water filtration units into different homes of the villagers.
- It was a humbling experience to see the living conditions of the different families and to know that the biosand filters we were installing would bring them clean water.
--Gregory Miller, Cambodia Team mentor
- Through a generous donation from the Michel Foundation, the team built a gargantuan fence around the school (with 150 concrete posts!), built 4 new bathroom stalls, and renovated 3 others, as well as filled a ravine full of dirt so that the community would have land to build much needed classrooms.
- When we arrived the school had no functioning bathrooms. We decided that not only would we build the new set which included 4 new stalls but that we would also repair the old ones. It was a huge undertaking but we were able to get it done.
–Gregory Miller, Cambodia Team mentor
Education & Vocational
- Taught English and math courses
- With the knowledge that 1 in 12 children in Cambodia dies before the age 5, the team prepared lessons on diet and nutrition, protection from mosquitoes, hand washing, etc.
- Education and continual reminders about the importance of these tasks, coupled with some donated supplies, may make a great difference in the area.
-- Jill Whitney; Cambodia Team mentor
- Donated hundreds of pounds of school supplies, including over 700 books for the library
- Families in the village of Peak Sneng struggle to feed their families. To address this problem, the team created a demonstration/training garden that was used to teach the community about gardening techniques and nutrition.
- The space we were given to do the garden was a huge overgrown piece of land. It was overwhelming at first. We dug in and began the work anyway. Suddenly, a group of women stepped in and helped us clear the land and create the beds. This was such a powerful experience to be working alongside the locals. It didn't matter that we didn't have a common language; we learned that the power of a smile will take you miles in communication. -- Vivian Shell; Cambodia Team mentor
- Engaged in meaningful cultural exchanges, and taught maturation and anti-dating violence courses for junior high students
 Medical
- With sustainability as the ultimate goal, the committee focused on education, teaching the community about dental and basic hygiene, and providing every student with a toothbrush, toothpaste and bar of soap.
- Offered medical clinic workers OB and CPR trainings, providing clinic with the appropriate medical supplies
- Taught maturation courses in the junior high, providing all of the girls with feminine hygiene kits that included reusable pads
- Donated hundreds of dollars for medical supplies for medical clinic
My experiences with Youthlinc have re-affirmed my belief that humans can support each other across cultures and continents, that we are all in this together and that we can build relationships on profound levels by working together. Service is the path to true human connection.
–Vivian Shell, 2011 Cambodia Team mentor
 Microenterprise
- To grow the village economy in a sustainable way, the microenterprise committee created a livestock exchange program, presenting families with over $7,000 worth of cows, pigs and chickens. The additional income that the animals will bring will be used to improve living conditions for each family, and then recycled into the community. Offspring of the animals will be distributed among other community members.
- Rather than giving them money that could be spent in a matter of hours, we gave them something that can continually progress. --Colton Matheson, University of Utah
- Offered lessons on best practices for raising animals.
- It touched me when we were teaching the adults about budgeting and accounting with the income their livestock produced, even though they weren’t able to read or write, they still put so much effort into understanding. They wanted the help of Youthlinc. It demonstrated that they have the will-power to create a better life for their family and I am honored that I got to help Youthlinc give them this opportunity. – Alex Holden, Juan Diego Catholic High
- Taught participating community members about dental hygiene, first aid/CPR, nutrition, AIDS education and basic ways to keep their family healthy, providing participants with supplies from their lessons to take home to their families.
- The people that attended these trainings were so excited to be there. When asked why they had chosen to come to this they explained that they wanted a better life for their children. Some were so enthusiastic that after the first day of learning how to care for the animal they immediately started creating the shelter their animal would need. – Britnie Anderson, Cambodia Team leader
Cultural
- Organized the Mondo Art Exchange project, where Cambodian children draw pictures of their lives to be shared with children of other countries
- Organized a meaningful team panel discussion with the junior high students
- Put on “the most organized” fun fair in Youthlinc history for the kids in the community
- Donated shoes and clothing to the Hope and Life Orphanage
This program has been life changing. I have always been grateful for what I have, but this adds a whole new meaning. The life I lead and opportunities I have are amazing, and I want to spend my life doing what I can do make this a reality for others.
--Carly Poth, Bountiful High School
2012
For our upcoming trip, we are happy to announce Youthlinc’s new partnership with Sustainable Cambodia (www.sustainablecambodia.org). Sustainable Cambodia is a grass-roots, volunteer-based, Rotary-supported not-for-profit organization working with the residents of rural Cambodian villages to help them achieve sustainability and self-sufficiency through wells, irrigation systems, schools, training and empowerment. Together, we will be working in the remote village of Chungruk on the following projects:
Livestock Exchange/Microfinance Projects:
- Thanks to our 2011 Cambodia Microenterprise Committee, we now have a curriculum for a livestock exchange to improve the local economy of Chong Ruk. We will be supplying 10 families with livestock, as well as teaching them tips on how to best take care of their animals, tracking finances, and improving the general health and well-being of their families.
Construction Projects:
- Access to drinking water is critical for villagers in Chong Ruk. As such, the Cambodia team will install water filters which will give 40 families access to clean water. Also, we expect to work on rain water harvesting, which could allow for the village to store up to 1,000 gallons of water to sustain them through the dry season.
- We will be making much needed improvements to the preschool and library, as well as building a fence and gate with the community.
Educational, Vocational and Medical Projects:
- Education is key to the sustainability of all our projects. To promote education, in all our educational lessons, we will emphasize the important of staying in school. Also, we will be fundraising to purchase school uniforms for children in the area, which improves school attendance, particularly for girls. Additionally, as requested by the village, we will be giving trainings on:
- Making compost fertilizer, natural pesticide and other agricultural techniques
- Health, nutrition & the impacts of cigarette and alcohol use
- Social issues such as domestic violence, environmental education & human rights
- Hygiene, sanitation, CPR & first aid
- Dengue and malaria prevention
- Prenatal care
Cultural Projects:
- We are excited to be partnering with Sustainable Cambodia, which gives us many opportunities to have meaningful cultural panels, dialogues, and even volleyball competitions!
- In addition to working in Chong Ruk, the team will be visiting historical museums and sites like Angkor Wat to learn more about the history and culture of Cambodia.
2012 Cambodia Team Leader:
Kelly Mattingly
Kelly can’t begin to express how excited she is to be the Team Leader for Cambodia this year! She had the chance to go to Kenya in 2009 and was sucked into the Youthlinc Volunteer Vortex and hasn't been able to get out since (not that she would want to-- says Kelly!). She is currently working as a school counselor and has worked with youth for the last 22 years in various psychiatric settings.
Kelly caught the traveling bug a few years back and has enjoyed a fishing trip to Alaska, a cruise to Hawaii and the Caribbean. Kelly's husband and her are now empty-nesters which has been difficult but fun to get used to. Kelly's oldest is 27 and has been married a year and her youngest is a sophomore at Utah State University. In her free time, Kelly loves spending it with a book or the tomatoes in her garden. Fall is a traumatic time of year for Kelly because she loves being outside fishing and boating and the cold just always seems to get in the way. Kelly wants everyone to know that you will not be sorry if you choose to join the Youthlinc team. Come spend 2 weeks with us in Cambodia! It will be an excellent adventure!
 2012 Cambodia Alumni Leader:
Stephanie Chard
Stephanie's participation in the 2006 Youthlinc trip to Peru was an incredible life changing experience for her. She recalls that the trip opened her eyes and heart to serving others. She also recalls the wonderful memories and friendships that evolved on her trip. Stephanie hopes to inspire others through her amazing experience. Over the years, Stephanie has continued her involvement with international humanitarian missions and local volunteer service. Stephanie recently graduated from the University of San Diego, and is currently working full time in Salt Lake City. She volunteers at Shriner’s Hospital for Children every week.
Stephanie is thrilled about the upcoming Service Year with Youthlinc. For her, it is an honor to serve as an Alumni Leader, and she looks forward to inspire young individuals to reach out to their communities-- both locally and globally.
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