Leadership and Community Engagement in Cambodia

Explore Phnom Penh on a guided sightseeing tour through Cambodia’s historic capital. Visit the Royal Palace, where students learn about Cambodia’s monarchy and tour the Throne Hall. At the Silver Pagoda, discover Buddhist traditions and sacred artifacts. At the National Museum of Cambodia, explore Khmer art and architecture while learning how cultural heritage is preserved today.

Visit the Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre, known as the Killing Fields, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. This site offers a powerful look at the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime through a guided audio tour that provides historical context and personal accounts.

We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience - John Dewey

Camp Beng Mealea is a rural camp on the outskirts of Teuk Lich village in Beng Mealea commune. Students stay in traditional Khmer stilted longhouses set among banana and papaya trees, with three meals provided daily. The camp is surrounded by rice paddy fields with views of the Kulen National Park ridgeline. A short walk away are the ancient Beng Mealea Temple and a local pagoda, offering an authentic Cambodian experience.

Known for breeding tarantulas for generations, Spider Town is famous for this traditional local food source. Students may choose to try this delicacy or, if preferred, experience the visit by holding a tarantula instead.

Upon arrival at Camp Beng Mealea, the team is welcomed by camp staff with local refreshments. After settling into traditional accommodations, students receive a full safety and orientation briefing, including a walking tour of the community and project sites, as well as a traditional water blessing by a monk. Building on the earlier service briefing, students take part in a guided, student-led discussion to reflect on community needs, explore project goals, propose solutions, and begin shaping shared objectives for the week ahead.

Upon arrival at Camp Beng Mealea, the team is welcomed by camp staff with local refreshments. After settling into traditional accommodations, students receive a full safety and orientation briefing, including a walking tour of the community and project sites, as well as a traditional water blessing by a monk. Building on the earlier service briefing, students take part in a guided, student-led discussion to reflect on community needs, explore project goals, propose solutions, and begin shaping shared objectives for the week ahead.

Evenings at camp are relaxed and community-focused. Students enjoy dinner prepared by local staff, then take part in group discussions, reflection time, journaling, and team-led activities. Camp staff are always available to support the group and create a welcoming environment.

Students continue working toward shared service goals, including hands-on projects like tree planting to support forest restoration in Beng Mealea. Groups may also visit a nearby permaculture farm to learn about sustainable, organic agriculture and closed-loop systems.

During rest time, students may make traditional Khmer lanterns and learn a few words of the Khmer language. Later in the day, when temperatures cool, groups often take part in friendly sports with the local community, such as volleyball or soccer, creating meaningful cultural exchange and opportunities for local children to practice English.

Evenings at camp are relaxed and community-focused. Students enjoy dinner prepared by local staff, then take part in group discussions, reflection time, journaling, and team-led activities. Camp staff are always available to support the group and create a welcoming environment.

Siem Reap, a resort town in northwestern Cambodia, is the gateway to Angkor, the former seat of the Khmer kingdom from the 9th to 15th centuries. Angkor’s vast complex includes the iconic Angkor Wat, featured on Cambodia’s flag, and the Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom, known for its towering stone faces.

More than just a circus, Phare delivers an unforgettable blend of dance, theater, live music, and breathtaking acrobatics to tell uniquely Cambodian stories drawn from history, folklore, and modern life. Its performers are graduates of Phare Ponleu Selpak, an NGO arts school and training centre in Battambang, Cambodia.

Each evening, time is set aside to update your Reflection Journal and share the thoughts and insights from the day.

The Angkor complex is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over 4000 square feet, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the glorious remains of the capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. Explore the famed Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations.

Throughout the programme, time is set aside for discussion, guided reflection, and writing about self-discovery and lessons learned. As John Dewey said, “We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.”