Cambodia Youth Consultation
November 18, 2006
In November of 2006 The Global Peace Initiative of Women in partnership with Buddhists for the Environment organized a consultation in Phnom Pehn with about 20 young professional Cambodians. This consultation was an initial planning session to prepare for an upcoming Summit to be held in Cambodia in September of 2007:
“Creating a Vision for Cambodia's Future”—A Dialogue Among Young Cambodian Leaders.
A luncheon and afternoon meeting was organized to discuss what tools and resources young leaders need in Cambodia to help them assume greater leadership in their communities. Presenters included: Ven. Hiek Sopheap, Director of Association of Buddhists for the Environment (ABE), Marianne Marstrand, Executive Director of The Global Peace Initiative of Women, Ms. Asha Sehgal, GPIW Director for the UN Youth Summit Series, Asia and the Pacific.
Young representatives came from varying sectors including, the United Nations, the monastic communities of monks and nuns, and NGO’s focused on the environment, poverty eradication and development, street children, HIV/AIDS and education. Participating organizations included: Association of Nuns, Children’s Peace Center, Mith Samlanh (Streetfriends), Emerging Markets Consulting, The Buddhist University, Sante Sena, DMFD, Environmental Beauty (EB), PHD Association, Vanda Institute, PHD Association.
This gathering was an opportunity to meet with young people there and to listen to their ideas and thoughts and to hear about the significant challenges they face as the next generation of leaders. Their insights were valuable and are now being used to develop our program for the upcoming Summit to be held in Siem Reap in September of 2007. 
Venerable Sopheap, Marianne Marstrand and Asha Sehgal welcomed the 20 or so young guests, many of whom had not had an opportunity to meet before. Each provided a brief overview of their organization and their work. Marianne and Asha spoke about the Global Peace Initiative of Women and its commitment to young leaders by promoting greater involvement for them in peacebuilding and reconciliation and providing this next generation a global platform from which they can be heard. We realize the significant challenges that their generation will unquestionably face. Asha Sehgal covered some of the history of GPIW’s experience in partnering with the United Nations and convening four Youth Leadership summits in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. These Summits recently culminated with the UN Global Youth Leadership Summit that took place at United Nations Headquarters in NYC in October of 2006. As an independent, women led NGO, GPIW has had considerable freedom of movement to bring many varied partners to the table including governments, the United Nations, various faith communities, and the private sector. We have gained much experience in working with young people and have established an impressive international network of talented young leaders, some of whom will be coming to Cambodia to meet with their counterparts there and further build on this strong and united family of future leaders. 
We listened carefully to the concerns of the participants at the meeting. Our young participants spoke with great clarity and sense of commitment to their country:
“All young people living and having grown up in this country know very well the key issues that Cambodia is facing and what needs to be done. So for the Summit, rather than focusing on a list of what needs to be changed in Cambodia I would like to work at a higher level that addresses vision, commitment, selflessness, compassion and human rights. I was grateful to attend our planning meeting as it was the first time that I could participate in a meeting that brought together young people from different backgrounds that were well educated and had professional experience.
—Cambodian Delegate to 2006 Planning Session
“In Thailand where I studied for a while I saw that young people there were encouraged to plan for their life. One of the difficulties we experience in Cambodia is this lack of vision or planning. Our parents are struggling to make a living and are not able to help us set goals or teach us to plan for the future. I hope this Summit will help us to train and teach other young people to set goals for their lives.”
—Cambodian Delegate
“We also need to understand the situation of the young people living in the villages and rural areas who do not have the same opportunities as those living in the bigger cities.”
—Cambodian Delegate
A steering committee of young Cambodians has now been put in place to help with the preparation of this Summit. This committee will help in the selection of delegates as well as give input on the agenda and related activities. Mr. Long Sarou of ABE who had kindly organized the event and Venerable Sopheap closed the meeting as all the participants sat in a circle. Each was asked what was their dream and hope for Cambodia. There is great enthusiasm from everyone as we move forward to make the Summit happen.
For further detail on the upcoming Summit or if you wish to provide support please contact:
Marianne Marstrand
Executive Director
The Global Peace Initiative of Women
301 East 57th Street
New York, New York 10022
(212) 593-5877
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