The CFF International staff and CFF camp directors were dispatched to Cambodia for a Study Research and Camp Directors Training on October 28 to Nov. 3, 2024. Aimed at finding possible locations and partner organizations or institutions in collaborating with the CFFI’s plan of conducting a study tour and camps for 2025 and onwards, the team headed by CFFI Secretary General Abe Mitsuhiko visited a number of identified areas and meet with leaders of private and civic organizations in Phnom Pehn and nearby cities in Cambodia. These said locations, areas and organizations are expected to provide learning experiences and trainings to young people who will participate in the said study tours and camps.
Among the initial partners visited were nestled at the heart of Cambodia’s National Park. One of them is the Kirirom Institute Technology, a tertiary institution that provide free education to local College students and managed by a Japanese educator and entrepreneur. The other one is the Coconut School, a foundation that provide a holistic curriculum in academics combined with environmental educations to local marginalized children with focus on recycling junks. The team also visited the Cram School in Prey Veng Province which is run by a former CFF camper and offers IT and Language lessons to poor village grade and high school students. Further, the Phnom Pehn Baptist Church also welcomed the team where they engaged themselves with conversation and brief educational activities with the poor children of the dumpsite which is supported by the church.
Planned as other components of the said study tour and camp would be a homestay/immersion and peace education. Relative to this, the team explored the Chambok Village where there is an existing government approved-homestay program and community-based ecotourism activities. There were meetings made with the community leaders, stakeholders and tourist-guides. They also had a glimpsed and a chilling learning experience about the historical sufferings of the Khmer when they visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung EK Genocidal Center. This will become part of the peace learning as component of the Study Tour.
They also explored the possibility of partnering with Mlup Baitong, a Cambodian NGO working to increase environmental awareness and conservation through training, education, advocacy, community based natural management, and eco-tourism activities. It is expected that collaborating with them would enhanced those participants who will join the said planned study camps in the future.
As an additional input and training to the team and partners from Kirirom Institute Technology, a lecture was presented by Mr. Pablito Tabucol, new CFFI executive staff who discussed on the topic: “The Servant Leader – Transforming your heart, head, hands and habits” where he talked more on the models of Jesus Christ as a servant leader.
A fellowship gathering and business meeting were also conducted with the leaders of Kirirom Institute of Technology and Pines View Resort, CFFI Major partner where the forging of a MOU between the two organization was discussed and considered. As future endeavor, the pioneer and 1st Study Camp in Cambodia will be held in February of 2025.
Among the staff composing the study team to Cambodia were: Abe Mitsuhiko, Pablito Tabucol, Misa Kimura (CFFI); Kenji Ichiumi (CFFJapan); and Jonathan Chin (CFFMalaysia).
