ICA’s Food Program

This story about MCC’s partner, Initiatives of Change Association (ICA), was published in DMCpost. DMCpost is a local magazine that often publishes useful information about youth and society.

ICA’s Food Program

Rice, BBQ pork and one fried egg packed in a package is a normal breakfast for many Cambodia people but it’s a very delicious and expensive meal for kids and older people who live on the street that never have enough and often dig for food from the recycle bin.

Food Program is a program of Initiatives of Change Cambodia formed by high school and university students from many schools and colleges who are willing to help street kids and poor people from the small things they have. They often meet the last Sunday of the month at ICA office cooking rice and food and then go from place to place to distribute these food to hopeless people and children who live on the street.

“When I received this package full with rice, pork and egg, I was very happy. This food tastes very good to me” exclaimed by a 14 years old girl named Khut Srey Kak. She is one of the kids who received package of rice from ICA volunteers.

Mr. Chem Thornin who is 30 years old and one of the formers of ICA explained that ICA has been created by 6 to 7 people back in 2004. He quoted that “the reason we created ICA because we want to see the unity among youth to care for their society by give what they have to the society.”

Miss Soeum Hoeung who is 23 years old and one of the organizers of Food Program said that “This program was organized by youth and the fund we have to cook this food we received from those who attend the program. This program has changed according to the people who attend it whether we want to contribute rice, pork and egg or we want to contribute noodles and some other things instead. We organized this program almost every month except when it is too busy at ICA”. She continued “we do not force these youth that they have to give the exactly amount, whatever they can give little of money or just strength to help is good. Some people do not have anything to give but they participate and volunteer to contribute the food to the kids. We run this program according to what we have.”

Food Program does not only provide food to poor people and street kids but it brings positive thinking to youth and inspire them to care about their society.

Mr. Ear Bun Rey who is 22 years old and has participated in this program said that “This program does not only bring me joyful but it helps me to know the needs of the society that I’m living in as well as building friendship with many people.” He continued that “I found out about this program through my friends who have known ICA and been to this program many times. Also, I found out more details on ICA facebook and decided to help with this program.” He ended that “Through this program, I have learned how to give and be part of my society with the small things I have.”

Learn more at ICA’s website.

Mr. Teng’s story: ICA’s Youth Camp

As a continuation of last week’s blog post about ICA, below is a story from Mr. Teng Koytry – one of the participants from ICA’s 3rd Annual Youth Camp – expressing his feelings and life changes after attended this ICA event:

29^th October to 2^nd November, 2009 were the most meaningful days in my life, since I was provided with the golden opportunity to join in the 3^rd Youth Camp in Pailin under the theme “Youth and Social Engagement” organized by the Initiatives of Change Association (ICA).  It was a priceless time for me because I learned many useful things from the five-day camp.  After attending this youth camp, I realized how much I have changed from who I was to who I am now.  This youth camp has directly and indirectly brought me to three important changes in my life, which I have found very crucial for my daily life.

Firstly, I – of course – got to know clearly about the theme “Youth and Social Engagement.”  Formerly, I really did not know what the term “social work” really means.  More importantly, I never thought of having the passion to involve in any social work, since I believed that I could not have enough capacity to help the society.  However, the Youth Camp did explain to me what social work really is.

In addition, it inspired me to know the significant role of the individual as a Cambodian citizen to contribute to the development of Cambodia.  Since then, I have started to acknowledge that with my ten fingers, I can do many things to help many people who are waiting to be assisted.  All of my previous stereotypes were all eliminated.  I was touched by a phrase from the committee stated that “a single person can make a change, so what happens if 14 million people make a better change to the society by involving in social work?” Therefore, I have involved in many ICA activities in order to play a part in changing Cambodia to a better place.

Second, the importance of family is another thing I learned from the Youth Camp.  Since I am an orphan, I was never able to feel how warm having real parents is supposed to be like.  In my family, I live with my aunt and uncle whom I address as mum and dad.  Nevertheless, I never got close to them since my heart always regarded them as my foster parents.  So, I never gave them a very warm love and most of the time I did not involved in the family’s activities.  In other word, I usually stayed apart from the family. Life in this condition was so miserable for me.

Fortunately, Family Group – one of the programs in the Youth Camp – showed me the way on how to deal with this situation.  I was suggested to write a letter to them (my aunt and uncle) by expressing all my feeling towards them, as well as the whole family. I did it, but when I got back home, I was not confident enough to deliver the letter. However, I encouraged myself to do it.  Finally, my letter was delivered to them.  Once they read my letter, they were so shocked because in the letter I included all my regret and apology for not being very close to the family and entertaining the family environment.  Since then, I can feel how comfortable having parents is like, although they are not my real parents. They have been giving me a very affectionate love, which I never experienced before.  Even now, my relationship with my family is very close to each other, unlike before.  This is a great achievement in my life which I never expect that it will come to me any time in my life.  However, the Youth Camp could realize my dream.

Last – but not least – I got a deeper understanding of the four absolute standards: love, honesty, purity and unselfishness.  Before the Youth Camp, I did not really understand what these standards were, yet the Youth Camp gave me a clear picture of these four absolute principles.  After getting to know in detail about these words, I started to feel that we as human beings must live with these four standards.  If we lack any of the four, our life is not considered as a peaceful life on earth.  Hence, I have been gradually trying to apply these four standards into practice in my life, so that I can have a peaceful and joyful life.  Although, until now, I have not been able to reach the “Absolute” level, I am still trying to adopt these principles until reaching the “Absolute” level.

To sum up, my participation in the 3^rd Youth Camp conducted by the Initiatives of Change Association, was the greatest benefit to me.  It was not a waste of time to join in this program.  I can frankly say that if I had not participated in this Youth Camp, my life would not have been changed this much.  I am very thankful to ICA for conducting such a great program for Cambodian youth to develop themselves for the sake of tomorrow.

For more information on ICA’s work in Cambodia, please visit their website at www.icacambodia.org.

Initiatives of Change Association (ICA)

Written by Seiha Rath

Cambodian Thai Exchange Program (2011)

ICA is a volunteer association working with youth to seek for peace and promoting opportunities for them to volunteer their time and resources for a better Cambodia by changes in individual’s attitudes and mindset.

Because of the war during 1975-1979, that caused the death for many older people and left so many young children, presently, about 60%-75% of Cambodia’s population is youth (18-30 years old).  Many of them lack education because of previous civil war and insecurity in society.  Although, some of them have lots of talents and potential, but they are not aware of them and not able to use them.

Also, the endless debate on Cambodian-Thai border dispute over Preah Vihear temple currently has brought people’s attention back to the history of wars between Cambodia and Thailand after the Angkorean period, as well as the burning of the Thai Embassy in Cambodia in 2003.

Likewise, Cambodia and Vietnam has a harmful history over territory for a century.  Huge amounts of Vietnamese migrations into Cambodia, nowadays, is another source of prejudice, dislike, and mis-understandings of Cambodians toward Vietnamese.  Vietnamese presence, during 1979-1986, on Cambodian land has still not been clearly defined whether it was a humanitarian intervention or an invasion.  This difference in interpretations has added to the hatred among its people.  Discrimination causes lots of harm among us.  It causes lack of communication, escalates conflict on a personal level, which sometimes leads to unaware political manipulation. 

ICA believes that youth are the leaders of today and tomorrow.  They need to be trained well in order to make themselves good leaders.  Great potential within youth can really make lots of difference in Cambodia, and even with their neighboring countries, when youth themselves understand their roles and responsibilities to the community.  ICA’s vision states: “ICA wants to see Cambodia developed in a manner that allows the Cambodian people to live in peace and harmony in a country where human rights are respected and there is no discrimination.”

ICA was started and registered with the Ministry of Interior on January 21st, 2005 with two offices: the main one is in Phnom Penh and the other one in Battambong province.

To meet ICA’s vision, mission and goal, ICA runs several activities based on their four core values: Honesty, Purity, Unselfishness and Love. These activities are:

1. Cambodian Vietnam Exchange Program
2. Cambodian Thai Exchange Program
3. Youth Camp
4. Food Program
5. Book Distribution

Cambodian Thai Exchange Program

1 & 2. Cambodia Vietnam Exchange Program and Cambodian Thai Exchange Program is the program to promote a relationship built on mutual trust, understanding, cooperation and historical healing and to build a peace network between the countries.

3. Youth Camp is to create an opportunity for youth to meet up, to share, to make friends and to be inspired to do volunteer things beyond self interest for their society.

Food Program

4. Food Program is to offer a delicious food to those who are not able to get good food such as beggars, street kids and cyclo drivers.  Also, it is to create a unity of students/youth and to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.

5. Book Distribution is to create opportunities for youth/students in the city to provide their resources, as well as to open their eyes to see the needs of students in the rural area. Also, it’s to encourage the community in the rural area to send their children to school.

For more information, please go to ICA’s website: www.icacambodia.org

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Meet MCCer, Rath Phanseiha

Name: Rath Phanseiha (Seiha)
Currently Living In: Phnom Penh
Where were you born?: Phnom Penh

How long have you been with MCC? since January 2003 (8 years)

Job Title: Partner Advisor and Exchange Program Coordinator
What do you do? I assist a local organization, Initiatives of Change Association (ICA), with organization development such as doing financial report, creating policy and structure.  I assist Cambodian young people participating in MCC’s IVEP (International Volunteer Exchange Program) with embassy interviews and help prepare them for a great experience in North America. Also, I manage money for the whole MCC Cambodia organization plus other necessary work within the organization.

What are the favorite parts of your job? Helping exchange candidates to go to North America, writing stories, and helping foreigners to learn about Cambodia.
What do you like the least? doing reports 😦
What do you like the most about Cambodia? I can buy street food everywhere and speak my own language 🙂

Seiha with her husband, Pisit

Which countries would you like to visit?: China and Egypt

Anything else to share with the readers? MCC is where my life has changed. Working at MCC has taught me to be a strong, mature, brave and humble person. Also MCC is where my ability, knowledge and experience has improved. MCC is also a place to connect me to the world.

ICA Food Program – June 26th

Initiatives of Change Association (ICA) invites all to join their monthly Food Program on June 26th.

ICA is a volunteer organization focused on creating opportunities for Cambodian youth, particularly high school and university students, to volunteer their time and resources toward improving relationships damaged by nationalism and racism, and providing inter-ethnic dialogues for peace and harmony. ICA’s programs include the Cambodia Vietnam Exchange Program, Cambodia Thai Exchange Program, Youth Camp, Food Distribution, Book Contribution, Environmental Awareness, and other opportunities for capacity-building.

Visit www.icacambodia.org for more information.