Lesson #2: Give people a chance and goals and ambitions will quickly follow

A blog about lessons learned from operating an international micro-charity in Cambodia, which is intended to help others considering establishing a similar organization.

 

There is no difference between people in the first or third world other than one of opportunity. By starting your micro-charity, you will immediately give people hope and allow them to dream of a better future that few in their economic conditions can.

I was told by a human rights lawyer working in Cambodia that it was the sense of hope that our students have that differentiates them from other young Cambodian women. This was a surprise to me but I guess it should not have been. All of our students have dreams and goals for their futures and our graduates are beginning to achieve them.

The goals that our students develop were captured by Kalyanee Mam, an award-winning film producer of films about Cambodia including A River Changes Course and the Fight for Areng Valley. You should watch these films if you want to understand the problems and unfairness that Cambodians and their families experience during this period of rapid and unrestrained development.

From time to time, Kalyanee has gone to the CLEW dorm to meet and talk with our students. She is such a wonderful role model for them. She recently wrote the following Facebook post after one of her visits capturing in our students’ own words some of the goals that they have:

‘I recently visited a group of young women who will become Cambodia’s future leaders. Instead of sending their daughters to the garment factories, their parents chose to send them to law school at the Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE), supported by a scholarship from the Cambodian Legal Education for Women (CLEW). As we sat on the cool stone floor, we talked about the significance of the law in Cambodia today. We talked about the struggles in Boeung Kak and Areng Valley, about domestic violence, women’s rights, the environment and the rights of ethnic minorities. Following our discussion, we circled around the room and I asked each one of them to explain why they chose to study the law:

 “I want to study law because not many people in my village are studying law. There is no respect for the law. The powerful abuse the poor and the poor have no rights. I want to study law so that I can help the people in my village seek justice, live with peace and happiness, and not be exploited by the powerful.” – Chantha Meng’chou

 “I want to study law because few people in my village are able to obtain a higher education. They don’t understand the law and their personal rights and how they can use their rights in their daily life. I want to work with an organization that focuses on women’s rights. I also want to appeal to the international community to provide training for high school students on women’s rights and the law.” – Phearath Toem

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“I want to study law because I see that in my province there are many problems related to land seizures and human rights. As a Kreung ethnic minority I have also experienced abuse. When I graduate, I want to return to my village to develop and educate my people about the law. Our village is located in a remote area so many people have been abused and exploited by large companies and have been forced to print their thumbprints and sign their land away. They don’t understand what rights they have and that they have the right to object and protest. They are so afraid. When I finish school I want to return to my village and teach my people about the law and their rights.” – Ang Kea

“I want to study law because I see that people in my village still don’t know what the law is and what their rights are. Many parents in my village feel that it is enough for their daughters to study up until high school. This is enough. They don’t need to study anymore. If they work in a factory they can make the same amount of money. But when they see that I’ve come here to study the law, they now also want their children to study and receive a higher education” – Sreynou Keom Rule

These young, strong, powerful, and compassionate women are the future leaders of Cambodia.”  © Kalyanee Mam, blog post and pictures used with permission.

 

Our students want to help others in their communities and to educate people about the law and their rights. They want to help women improve their lives. They want to bring an understanding of the law to the remote areas of Cambodia. They want to help stop corporate abuse and exploitation. They want to help stop the theft of land. They want to promote education particularly among young women.

The lesson is that if you start an international micro-charity, you will encourage the individuals you help to set goals and dream about their future in a way that will help others in their communities. International micro-charities are a powerful mechanism for change at the grassroots level.

We are very grateful to Kalyanee Mam for taking such an interest in our students and being such an important role model for them.

Chuck G.

 

Contact CLEW with any feedback or comments!