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…)
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.
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.
Copy right; Right to copy
 Monks in Angkor Wat. Picture: Sandra Bulling |
I feel that I’ve just arrived in Germany a few days ago; however, it is nearly two months. I started my life here without any knowledge. I have to learn new things like I did when I was a child raised by my mother. But my mother is not here—she is in Cambodia. So I decided to explore this world by myself. I didn’t understand the bus and train system, culture, lifestyle and language. I was guided a lot by my friends and CARE colleagues. Now, I understood what my friend told me—“Enjoy your great adventure.” Two months in Bonn is not only for internship, but also for trying new things and making new friends. I really don’t know how to describe my feeling right now when talking about going back home. (more…)
Look back, look ahead
 The graves of the 14 inmates killed when the Khmer Rouge collapses in January, 7, 1979. Photo: Sovannara Chan |
I had to queue with a lot of people. I was about to give up my aspiration before I finally could reach my destination: Anne Frank house, in Netherland. I really wondered what was inside. After waiting for 80 minutes, I could get into the house. I walked slowly with other tourists. We observed and read everything carefully. I did not want to lose any information in this house. There were photos and description hung on the wall. (more…)
Child Labour
 Two boys are selling cakes and sweet at Wat Phnom, Hill Temple Photo: Kounila Keo |
Kunthea told me that he has just finished high school and wanted to be an engineer because he liked construction job. These words remind about a young boy, Nou Veasna, who I met earlier this year in Phnom Penh because he told me that he want to be a garment factory worker, instead of getting an education and a better job. So far, his words are remaining in my mind. (more…)
It will haunt you, if not solved
 Mr.Nass, 79 and Ms. Zahlmann, 59 are walking around Beethoven Statue in Bonn. Photo: S.Chan |
Germans are really healthy people. They can walk very swiftly; even old people can travel on foot quicker than I do. They are truly healthier than old people in Cambodia that I had seen. The life expectancy of Germans is far greater than that of Cambodians. In Germany, lifespan today is approximately 79.1 years of age while in Cambodia it is around 61.69 years. Pension can make Germans enjoy their retirement peacefully. I did not see such a reliable service available in my country at all. (more…)
Give me a chance
The members of CPP Party are waving the party flags for the final campaign day, 25th July. Picture: Sovannara Chan
The 27th of July was the national Election Day in Cambodia. It was the fourth mandate election after the 1st UN-backed election in 1993. However, I could not join the election this year. Now, I am in Germany to work on my two-month internship with CARE. I am a Cambodian. I want to have the leader that can reduce poverty and cement democracy. (more…)
