One Year in Cambodia...

Today is  One Year since I said goodbye to my dear people in the UK and boarded a plane at Heathrow Airport on a cold, drizzly morning. I am moving to Cambodia- for real, I thought to myself. This is really happening, after years of interest in this region and months of planning.

My heart was swelled with anticipation and excitement for the new season ahead. As I watched  the changing landscape from my air plane window, comparing it with the map on the seat screen (flying over places like Caspian Sea, Iran and Pakistan) I knew that I am flying very far and into a different setting. What will it be like? Anything similar to the places I travelled in China and Thailand? Anything like the movies I've watched since young age-Platoon or The Killing Fields?

It's been a full on year for sure. Apart from the heat shock and occasional sickness, the beauty and raw energy of Cambodia, and the friendliness and kindness of its people have made me be very thankful to be here.
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"The forests of Mondulkiri in the north-east, near Vietnam border."

But apart from the experiencing  life in this beautiful yet still a rebuilding postwar/post genocide country, I came here to continue work against exploitation and human trafficking. I have been involved in social work, community development and counter-trafficking for four years in the UK and coming to Cambodia was the next step in this journey.

I have the great privilege of working alongside very inspiring people here, both Khmer and international and I continue to learn daily about the anti-trafficking movement and how to work with a long term, sustainable development mindset, as opposed to short term "rescue" mindset. That includes working with ethos of preserving dignity, building best practice among practitioners and building of capacity and impact across the globe through collaboration. Check out my next post to find out more...