Contributing to Change, one Community at a Time

Youthlinc Service Year 2025 has been a huge success for team Cambodia! During our two week trip, we learned about Cambodia’s history under the rule of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970’s and how the effects of the genocide are still being felt today. We spent most of our days in a small village near Pursat, where we worked on several community projects. Some of these included building a fence and garden beds at a school, teaching English and science lessons, sewing aprons and bags with local shop owners, and collaborating with students on a Cambodia-U.S. cultural mural. Leaving the village after seeing the progress we made in just five days was very rewarding. But beyond the physical projects, what impacted us most were the connections we formed with the community.

From the beginning stages of project planning and up until the end of our trip, we have partnered with Sustainable Cambodia, a local nonprofit, to address and respond to the needs of the village we visited. We also worked with KBFC, a private school supported by Sustainable Cambodia serving children from low-income families. The staff we worked with at these organizations played a big part in the successful completion of our projects, while creating a safe and welcoming environment where cultural exchange could take place.

As our team has reflected on our experience at KBFC school, the theme of human connection

has stood out. Throughout the trip, many of us shared how easy it was to feel like the foreigners that we are - mixing up simple Khmer phrases like “hello” and “thank you”, searching for toilet paper in the bathrooms, looking for a breakfast that doesn’t include rice, and adjusting to the constant feeling of being wet (just to scratch the surface). In the early moments of our trip, it was easy to feel like these differences set us apart. But as we settled in, we began to notice how much we have in common with the Cambodians.

For many, the word “humanitarian” paints a picture of extreme poverty, forming images of desperate living conditions in third world countries where starving populations wait to be saved. In the beginning, I was afraid of being associated with the common cliche of “helping the less fortunate”, but I am grateful to return home with a different story. The story I am privileged to share is about the Cambodian people who are the most joyful, resourceful, and welcoming individuals I’ve ever met. They live in practical multigenerational homes, and many make a living by selling their own produce and beautiful handmade creations. They are a curious community with endless love to give, supporting each other in everything they do. While this experience falls under the umbrella of a “service trip”, what I wish for people to know is that we weren’t there to fix anything. Beyond service, this was a cultural collaboration involving mutual growth and learning.

The most empowering part of this experience was letting go of my expectations and embracing the unknown. Learning about Cambodia’s history and seeing first hand the resilience and development of this community since the genocide is truly inspiring. I have always been a believer in the power of one, emphasizing the grand potential that even our smallest actions hold. When the future looks bleak, hope is fading, and the weight of the world seems to rest on our shoulders, I like to remind myself that small scale impact is the gateway to large scale change - and I can choose to be a part of that progress.