Drug Prevention

Youth Peace Camps "Solidarity in community, Sangha"

The Youth Peace Camps were organized in 5 target provinces. The camps held in August at Svay Rieng, Takeo, Kompong Cham, and Prey Veng province. Siem Reap province organized Youth Peace Camp in the end of August early of September.

The young participants came from different villages of communes in the target provinces. Each camp had 60 participants, 50% was women. They were age from 16 to 35 years old.

Youth gathering discussed about the obstacles of solidarity and how to overcome those obstacles in their community. Young people showed off their abilities for building team spiritual, solidarity and peace in community.

The Camps lasted for 4 nights and 5days under supported of The Institute of Foreign Cultural Relations (IFA), Germany .

The Goal:

Improve self understanding, self confidence by practicing solidarity.

What were topics being discussed?

- team building
- Buddhist philosophy to young Cambodians
- Friendship
- Listening skills
- Constructive criticism
- Partnership
- Leadership
- Tolerance
- Meditation
- Understanding the impact of solidarity.
- What's the obstacle of solidarity?
- How to overcome those obstacles?
- How to live together with tolerance.

The camp venues:

The venues will be in traditional, spiritual places- in pagodas in the target provinces.

During the camps:

- Youth participants rotated teams responsibility such as cooking, cleaning, security, preparing daily meetings, going to the market, cultural performance .
- Learning from monks about Sangha.
- Solidarity night with campfire, roasting fish and vegetables, singing songs, dancing, telling stories, and individual talent.

The expectations:

Youth participant will be able:

• to understand about Sangha.
• to participate in thinking, self-understanding, and participating in building solidarity in their communities
• to understand the obstacles for solidarity and how to overcome those obstacles.
• to know how to live together with tolerance in the community.