This was my first time to join Youth Camp organized by Cambodian Youth Network (CYN). When I first saw the announcement through CYN Facebook page, I was really interested in and wanted to apply for the camp since the location was held on Areng area. The important reason pushed me to join this camp is that it held on Areng area since it is my dream place to visit and see how beautiful it is. Also, wanted to realize the problems that happened throughout a few years, community activities to deal with, current problems, and way forward to protect the amazing area on the Earth. The content of “young collective leadership” was also interesting to me I saw it in the announcement. In addition to this, joining such an event would allow me to learn more from the organizer, the other youth, community, as well as keep building network.

When I was sitting on the bus and it arrived the street that turned in to Thmor Bang district, Areng; it already amazed me of how beautiful it is. The water along the street is clean, the trees are green, and the mountains are beautiful. Many kinds of the tree could find on the way to Mrech Kongkeb mountain and it could describe that Areng is the mother of nature. In addition to this, I can see that waterfall is falling down from the mountain, the sky view from the top mountain is like paradise, and the bird sound seems like a beautiful song in the fresh morning. Local people are friendly, kindly, and persistently. All of them are playing an important role as activists who protect their village for their community, their culture, lifestyle, and environment for the world as well. They challenged with many obstacles throughout the years in order to protect their beautiful world. Of course, it does not benefit for them only but also for everyone in this world. Last but not least, I can see that local people can live peacefully based on non-timber forest products, raising animal, traditional fishing, and traditional farming as well.

Five days and four nights of Youth Camp, I can learn beyond my pre-expectation. First of all, youths who join the camp are so friendly and kindly. We played together, learned together, shared with each other, and respected each other. Through these activities, I could learn a lot both knowledge and skills from them. Second, organizers of the camp are so well prepared and advanced on his/her job. They did a very great job to bring almost 30 youths to get Areng without any problem. They took care and helped every individual participant in order to reach the goal together. Third, topics and way of sharing knowledge are really interesting. Topics are correlated to the situation of Areng and most of them are never taught in class. However, these topics are really useful for everyone of being a good citizen. Moderator mostly did a participatory approach of teaching to share the lesson with participants. Many educational games were used in order to make participants learn. That is a really awesome approach which is included in 21^st-century learning style. Lastly, the thing that I will never forget is that memories of that time with amazing people including new friends, organizers, as well as local people. I am sure that I will always remember these memories.

For me, I want to visit Areng again and again. I want to see Areng keeps the same beautiful landscape, local people live peacefully, and it would become an ecotourism place that can generate income for local people. Meanwhile, the nation as a whole can also develop its economy through increasing number of tourism. And an important thing is that I want to see “local people’s voice must be heard, and nature must be protected”. As an educator, I will keep sharing what I have learned to the other, keep doing good things for the environment, I am going to integrate what I have learned from Youth Camp into what my working.

Text By: Mr. Srou Lihol