If most people who have power in that regime [Khmer Rouge] had thought about peace truly in its meaning, there would not be any of the regretful stories left behind in Cambodia. If you are living in this world, even if you have everything that you want, you may still need peace to fulfill your life.

We are living in a period of Globalization, where people have freedom to move from one place to another, to seek a better future for themselves and their families. Vietnamese does not only move to Cambodia, but they are living at almost everywhere in the world. I have a notion, that as Cambodian, we should preserve our identity, our cultures, but at the same time, we should also learn to accept, and adapt with the society we are living in, and embrace the fact that, no matter who you are, we all are human being.

This is the final entry of a four-part series of Sarus stories written by Madeleine Chaisson, MA Candidate from the Clinton School of Public Service. She spent the last three months interviewing 45 Sarus alumni, staff, and board members and recording their stories. This second story is with Su Myat Mon, also known as Su Chay (Bangladesh-Myanmar Exchange Program 2016).

This is the third entry of a four-part series of Sarus stories written by Madeleine Chaisson, MA Candidate from the Clinton School of Public Service. She spent the last three months interviewing 45 Sarus alumni, staff, and board members and recording their stories. This second story is with Phan Uyen Nghi (Sarus Exchange Program 2011 & Former Board Member of Sarus USA).

This is the second entry of a series of Sarus stories written by Madeleine Chaisson, MA Candidate from the Clinton School. She spent the last three months interviewing 45 Sarus alumni, staff, and board members and recording their stories. This second story is with Seng Porchhay (Sarus Exchange Program 2014).

Since graduating the Sarus Exchange Program of 2014, Seng Porchhay has trained as a monk, moved to Bangkok to spread inner peace with Peace Revolution and returned to Phnom Penh to work on a project combining theatre and meditation. I got to know Porchhay over steamed snails, witnessing his motorbike (almost) disappear and hearing ghost stories from his childhood. Having just arrived in Phnom Penh as a social media intern for Sarus, I was very grateful to befriend an incredibly kind, calmly disposed and humorous member of the Sarus family. Porchhay, Vithiea, Thuy (old friends) and myself got together for multiple food tours and recce trips to Prek Chrey before SFSC2016. Here are some snapshots from our conversations, written as one interview.

If people have heard about Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Rohingya issue will likely be the first thing that will come to mind, which is controversial between the two countries. People would likely think about the conflict and tension between two the countries.  However, there is a different story, one between a Myanmar girl and a Bangladeshi girl.

When we challenge ourselves, often time we learn the different stories than the ones we were told, and most of the time we overcome our fear of taking action. The further I step out of my comfort zone, the more I realize how much power I have to pursue things I believe in.