{"id":4830,"date":"2023-09-07T20:34:56","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T01:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.charlesconklin.com\/4cambodia\/?p=4830"},"modified":"2023-09-07T20:34:56","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T01:34:56","slug":"mcc-u-s-board-learning-tour-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.charlesconklin.com\/4cambodia\/2023\/mcc-u-s-board-learning-tour-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"MCC U.S. Board Learning Tour 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In June 2023, the MCC U.S. Board of Directors<\/a> spent eight days in Cambodia for a Learning Tour. There were 26 visitors in all, including Board members and MCC staff. We were quite a crowd when the MCC Cambodia team met up with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MCC US Executive Director, Ann Graber Hershberger, meeting Esther at her church in Phnom Penh.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday morning, the Learning Tour split up into two groups with one attending church at Phnom Penh Mennonite Church<\/a> and Calvary Chapel<\/a>. It was wonderful for them to meet with Esther at her home church<\/a> before she traveled to the US to start her IVEP term. In afternoon, I presented on MCC Cambodia context, history, and programming. For dinner, they split up into small groups that were each hosted by a SALT\/YAMEN participant<\/a>. So, for instance, Sondobi took a group to a Nigerian restaurant in Phnom Penh. In the past, we’ve had trouble conveying the YAMEN\/SALT experience to visitors and this opportunity for direct person-to-person connection seemed like the best way to bridge the gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MCC Cambodia MER Coordinator, Aim Mok, leading morning devotional on 1st Corinthians 12.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Board had meetings together on Monday but Aim Mok lead morning devotion for them and we planned dinner with the Learning Tour and the MCC Cambodia team on a boat. But then the downpour started and we had to adjust plans to have dinner together at the hotel instead. This, too, was a learning experience. Our plans often change here in Cambodia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The MCC U.S. Board had another half day of meetings on Tuesday but then joined the MCC Cambodia team for lunch at the office. This included giving the MCC Cambodia new shirts and recognizing national staff who – like Pou Cheang – who had reached milestone years of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the afternoon, the Learning Tour visited the Toul Sleng genocide museum<\/a> along with our new MCC Cambodia service workers.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Then they got in a quick boat ride on the Mekong and Sap rivers before dinner, so that they didn’t completely miss out on that experience. That evening they had dinner at the Sumatra Indonesian restaurant near Russian Market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sar Ann catches two fish from his neighbor’s fishpond to show how fast this season’s fingerlings are growing during a MCC U.S. Board Learning Tour to Cambodia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I believe that it’s critical for visitors to get out of Phnom Penh and into the countryside if at all possible. It’s important to see how the vast majority of Cambodians live, not think that Phnom Penh is the Cambodian experience. So, early on Wednesday morning, the Learning Tour loaded up into three vans and we headed out to Mesang district, Prey Veng province<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Executive Directors of MCC U.S. and Organization to Develop Our Villages (ODOV) take a photo together at the ODOV office in rural Mesang district, Prey Veng province.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The leaders of an Agricultural Cooperative in Kor Khchork commune, Kampong Trabaek district introduce themselves while MCC Cambodia Representative Charles Conklin interprets.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lim Thouen, who runs a model chicken farm for agricultural cooperative members and advises them on how to raise chickens, demonstrates how to make chicken feed at home using rice husks, cooked rice, and leftovers from vegetable gardening (stalks and stems).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Stopping for lunch at a local restaurant in Kampong Trabaek district during a June 2023 MCC U.S. Board learning tour to Cambodia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Visiting the vegetable garden of Yan Sokha and Thy Thouen in Prey Thom village during a June 2023 MCC U.S. Board learning tour to Cambodia. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The three groups met at the ODOV office in Mesang town and then split up to visit various ODOV project sites, accompanied by ODOV staff. My group traveled the furthest afield – to Kampong Trabaek district – while the luckiest group got to have lunch at Isaac’s host family and see his home of eleven months<\/a>. We had originally planned to meet up with Jon and Debbie Coats – MCC Cambodia alumni, now with Eastern Mennonite Missions<\/a>, who have been living in Mesang since the 1990s – while we were in Mesang but they out of province visiting Gordon, another MCC alumni from the 1990s living in Cambodia. That night the Learning Tour stayed in Mesang, taking up all three of the guesthouses there. Staying at rural guesthouses in a least developed country was another learning experience. I remember sleeping on the concrete floor of the ODOV office when I would visit Mesang during my first term so the fact that there are actually guesthouses now seems quite comfortable to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MCC U.S. Board members and MCC U.S. staff observe a Peace Club lesson for the 6th Grade Class at Svay Chor Primary School in rural Mesang district, Prey Veng province.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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While enjoying traditional Khmer snacks, MCC U.S. Board members and MCC U.S. staff meet with Mr. Lay Yim, the Principal of Svay Chor Primary School, to learn about Primary Education in Cambodia, MCC’s partnership with the school, and the Peace Club pilot program.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Elementary School Principals from different continents talk with each other about primary education. MCC US Board member, Dr. Hugo Saucedo, is the Principal of Ester Perez Carvajal Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Lay Yim is the Principal of Svay Chor Primary School in Mesang District, Prey Veng province, Cambodia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday morning, we headed to a local Primary School to observe a Peace Club lesson<\/a>, learn about the MCC’s Rural Education project, and hear directly from the Teachers\/Principal about education in rural Cambodia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Having hot pot for lunch in Krong Prey Veng during a June 2023 MCC U.S. Board Learning Tour to Cambodia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We traveled to the provincial capital – Prey Veng town – for lunch with the MCC team there. It was the first time many of the Learning Tour had had ‘hot pot’ and it was a fun experience. We’ve learned that it’s also a great meal for allergies and dietary needs, just put what works into the soup and leave the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MCC Cambodia Rural Education Coordinator, Chhourn Maly, presents about the Peace Club pilot in rural Primary Schools at the MCC Prey Veng field office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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MCC U.S. visitors pray over the MCC Prey Veng team during a June 2023 MCC U.S. Board Learning Tour to Cambodia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After lunch, we met at the MCC Prey Veng field office at the Prey Veng Christian Center<\/a> and the team there shared about their work. The Learning Tour prayed over the team before we loaded back into our vans and headed back into Phnom Penh in the late afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kry Suyheang, Executive Director of Women Peace Makers, presents about the Cambodian context and her work.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Or Channy shares about MCC Cambodia partner Cambodian Rural Development Team’s environmentally sustainable approach over lunch at the Khmer Surin Guesthouse in Phnom Penh.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Representatives from Rajana Association, a Fair Trade artisan group that works with Ten Thousand Villages, share about the current situation for local artisans now that COVID has normalized in the country.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Som Chanmony, Executive Director of Peace Bridges Organization, shares his work over lunch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next day I presented on MCC’s partnership model and the the Learning Tour met with the partner directors whose projects we had not been able to visit; either due to the project sites being too far away or too sensitive to visit in the lead-up to national elections. This included a time for presentations followed by a meal together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Max Ediger tells stories from his decades of MCC service and peacebuilding in the region.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the afternoon, the Learning Tour split into two groups with one visiting the Returnee Reintegration program at the Khmer Vulnerability Aid Organization<\/a> and the other meeting with MCC alumni Max Ediger. The groups then rotated activities so everyone got to visit KVAO and meet with Max. KVAO works with Cambodian childhood refugees who have been deported to Cambodia to the US. Due to the sensitivity nature of their work no photos were taken of the Learning Tour visit but they did get to meet directly with returnees and learn from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ly Rattanak shares about the AEOS program over dinner with MCC U.S. Board members and MCC U.S. staff.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Bee shares his story and peacebuilding journey over dinner.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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MCC U.S. Board Treasurer, Ed Diller, asks Meng Srean about her story and peacebuilding journey over dinner.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Learning Tour had dinner with alumni of Women Peace Maker’s interethnic peacebuilding program. This gave them a chance to learn about the situation for ethnic minorities in Cambodia and about each participant’s peacebuilding journey, even though they were not able to visit vulnerable ethnic minorities community in person during their time in Cambodia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In closing, the MCC U.S. Board Learning Tour participants reflected on MCC’s Eight Core Operating Principles and how they had seen them at work in Cambodia. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In closing, the MCC U.S. Board Learning Tour participants reflected on MCC’s Eight Core Operating Principles and how they had seen them at work in Cambodia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In closing, the MCC U.S. Board Learning Tour participants reflected on MCC’s Eight Core Operating Principles and how they had seen them at work in Cambodia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In closing, the MCC U.S. Board Learning Tour participants reflected on MCC’s Eight Core Operating Principles and how they had seen them at work in Cambodia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday morning, we organized a debrief session for the Learning Tour based around MCC’s Eight Core Operating Principles and how they had seen them being practiced in Cambodia. MCC Cambodia service workers joined the Learning Tour participants during this to answer questions and help facilitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mennonite Central Committee’s work around the world is guided by 8 core Operating Principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 – Serve in the Name of Christ<\/strong>
MCC responds to human needs as part of its witness to God\u2019s love and its commitment to follow Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 – Work with Churches and Organizations<\/strong>
MCC wants relationships with partners to be real and honest. We want to be responsible to each other and we want to learn from each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 – Be Sustainable<\/strong>
MCC believe we should live simply and take care of God\u2019s creation. We want our activities to have long-term results that are good for the environment, good for society and good for the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 – Make Society More Fair Economically<\/strong>
MCC knows that God\u2019s ways can be the opposite of human ways. God has a special care for the poor. We will always work with poor and less-valued communities to support human rights and reduce poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 – Bring People Together<\/strong>
The Bible tells us to love God, our neighbors, and our enemies. MCC uses community to bring people together from different cultures, politics, religions, and economic classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 – End Discrimination<\/strong>
We believe in making God\u2019s ways real on earth. MCC wants to end discrimination based on race, gender or economic status. We want all kinds of people to help plan programs and make decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 – Be Nonviolent<\/strong>
The Bible tells us to be peacemakers. MCC wants to find non-violent solutions to conflict and oppression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 – Find Justice-Based Peace<\/strong>
All people are created in God\u2019s image and have dignity. MCC makes long-term partnerships that try to build peace. This peace allows all people to have justice. This peace does not accept violence even when others say violence is okay.<\/p>\nMCC Operating Principles in Simple English<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Max Ediger leading a closing devotion on Ezekiel 37:1-4 for the MCC US Board of Directors Learning Tour to Cambodia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Max Ediger closed the Learning Tour with a devotion that related Ezekiel 37:1-4 to peacebuilding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The MCC Cambodia team loves to host and was so excited to have the MCC U.S. Board visit. I was glad that we were able to facilitate opportunities for person to person connection. If people are coming all the way to Cambodia for a visit we want to do more than just tell them about the projects. We want them to see themselves, talk to the people directly. It was great to host them despite the added workload involved and I hope the experience enriches their service as MCC leaders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In June 2023, the MCC U.S. Board of Directors spent eight days in Cambodia for a Learning Tour. There were 26 visitors in all, including Board members and MCC staff. We were quite a crowd when the MCC Cambodia team met up with them. On Sunday morning, the Learning Tour split up into two groups… <\/p>\n

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