by Sardar Rohail Khan, Security Operations Assistant, CARE Pakistan

My friends say I can appear expressionless, even cold at times. It’s an occupational hazard ofsecurity training, where we learn not to show too much emotion on the job. But one glance from a small village girl, and I was lost. As her eyes pinned me, sparking fiercely with anxiety, I found myself wondering almost aloud: What are we doing here? How can any amount of humanitarian aid make a difference in this poor girl’s life?

She was staring at me, reciting her lessons while looking uneasily at the guests, intruders in her world. (Photo: CARE/Khan)

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by Channy Chheng

Up to 50 students in one classroom – it is hard to concentrate (photo: CARE)

It is already two months that I have been working for CARE in Germany. The time has gone by really fast. (more…)

by Channy Chheng

A visitor in the Pergamon Museum (photo: Channy Chheng)

Going to Berlin is what I was looking forward to since I arrived in Germany. I come from Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia with over one million inhabitants. (more…)

by Channy Chheng

Motorbikes are the main transportation in Cambodia (photo: Sabine Wilke)

My mother told me to be highly careful while travelling in Germany, especially whenever I want to cross the road. She doesn’t know how admiringly safe the traffic in Germany is. (more…)

by Channy Chheng

People gathering to listen to Angela Merkel during the election campaign in Bonn (photo: Channy Chheng)

Half an hour had been gone, and the sound of people murmuring to each other vanished. A voice bursts out loudly, announcing the arrival of the German chancellor. (more…)

by Channy Chheng

One of Phnom Penh’s main streets, uncharacteristically empty (photo: Prum Seila)

Welcome to Cambodia, says a small-rectangular billboard, standing handsomely on the right hand side of the road heading east to the city centre of Phnom Penh from the airport. You will smell the air of the kingdom of wonder with thousand of ancient temples waiting for you. (more…)

by Channy Chheng

Channy and his friend in front of the university building in Bonn (photo: private)

Pretending to overlook, speeding up with a blushing face, asking me to hurriedly follow her – this is what my Cambodian friend, a 20-year old girl, always does when we pass by people kissing on the street. (more…)

Channy Chheng is 27 and a student of journalism at Royal University of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. For the last seven years, he has also been a teacher for history and geography. He works with CARE Germany-Luxemburg in August and September 2009 as an intern in the press department. In his blog, Channy describes his impressions of Germany and working for an NGO.

by Channy Chheng

From Phnom Penh to Bonn: Channy Chheng in the CARE office (photo: CARE/Bulling)

When I first stepped into the dormitory where I was going stay for two months during my summer internship at CARE in Bonn, Germany, I saw the different coloured skins of many students inside. One question came into my mind: What do they do here during summer? (more…)

Soratha Chan from Cambodia has worked at the press department of CARE Deutschland-Luxemburg for two months in summer 2008. The 22 years old journalism student wrote weekly comments about his country into his Cambodian diary. He reported about the problems of the Asian kingdom and the challenges the Cambodians have to face. Every year CARE Deutschland-Luxemburg allows one student of the degree programme Media Management at the Royal University of Phnom Penh to work within the press office.