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Diving with Purpose – Koh Rong Sanloem

Posted by Courtney Ridgel on (Updated: )  |  1 Comment
Photo Credit: Jay Austin

By Jay Austin

Koh Rong is one of the more popular Cambodian islands off the coast of Sihanoukville, but as with most popular island locations in Southeast Asia, they can be easily overrun by tourists for simply this reason. Koh Rong Sanloem, on the other hand, is only in the early stages of tourism and offers a quieter, more relaxed version of the traditional beach holiday. The island is dotted with resorts which you can only move between by boat as there are no proper roads on the island. The sand is white, the waters are clear and here you have the opportunity to join in the early stages of actually growing a coral reef!

Photo Credit: Jay Austin

The most populated village on Koh Rong Sanloem is M’Pai Bei Village and although the accommodations on offer are still quite basic, there is a decent array of Western and Cambodian restaurants, all within easy walking distance of one another. A visit to M’Pai Bei is not complete without spending some time with the team at Save Cambodian Marine Life, a not-for-profit organization which is dedicated to cleaning and maintaining the waters of M’Pai Bei Bay.

Photo Credit: Jay Austin

The scuba diving in M’Pai Bei is not world class by any means, but a visit to this area of the world allows you to dive for a wonderful purpose, assisting Australian couple Chris & Dianne Martyn in maintaining and growing their coral nursery. This kind of delicate work calls for more accomplished divers (PADI advanced level or higher) who have solid buoyancy control so as not to damage anything in the nursery, but if you are already an Open Water certified diver you can participate in an Advanced Open Water Course through this organization.

Photo Credit: Jay Austin

If you are not a certified scuba diver, never fear, you can still assist in the great work these people do. A number of snorkel reef cleans and beach cleans are scheduled every week as part of the PADI Dive Against Debris program, calling for volunteers to assist the team in keeping the waters around the village clean and free from harmful debris such as fishing nets and plastic.

Photo Credit: Jay Austin

If you are looking to spend some time on the beach in Cambodia, this is a wonderful way to support a community based project whilst enjoying the tropical waters!

Photo Credit: Jay Austin

For those who are seeking more established, resort style accommodations, Saracen Bay located 20 minutes away by boat offers beachfront villas on a 4km stretch of sensational white sand that can be experienced for less than half the cost of other beach resorts in Southeast Asia. Koh Rong Sanloem is one of those places you need to see before the rest of the world discovers it!  (Ask National Geographic who just featured our hotel partner Lazy Beach and Koh Rong Samloem Island among the 21 Best Beaches in the World!)

Photo Credit: Jay Austin
Photo Credit: Jay Austin
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Giving Back ​and Respecting ​a Country’s Values and Traditions

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  Leave a comment

Jill Higson is a guest who traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia with Journeys Within over the holidays (you can see her itinerary here) and has blogged about her experiences to share with family, friends and future visitors.  Here she discusses what it means to be respectful while traveling and ​how travelling with Journeys Within helped her give back…

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In my global travels, it has always been a priority to ​give back ​to the people I encounter while respecting their values and traditions.

​ Beginning with the language, ​I tried to speak Vietnamese and Cambodian/Khmer saying “hello”, “good by”, “thank you” and “please” whenever possible.  Unfortunately, my American pronunciation​ion​ got in the way, especially ​when ​saying “Aw-kaun” ​- thank you in Khmer!

I ​am grateful for each country’s ​people who tried to help me say the words right with patience and a smile on their face.

local ladies
Befriending locales is the key to learning in a new country.

Shopping was another way to ​give back and I did plenty of that in both countries!

It was important for me on this trip to buy unique and handmade products that told a story and support​ed​ organizations that invest in the community and local businesses whenever possible​.

Although was hard to resist the incredible shopping in the Twain Airport, with a Hello Kitty store and matching bathroom, I feel like the products I chose were more than souvenirs, but also a small way for me to support local endeavours.

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Pisey is our source for all things silk and textiles in Siem Reap.

​In Siem Riep​, I had​ a wonderful time meeting and buying silk scarves from Pisey at stall 14 at the Old ​Market to negotiating ​and buying ​a ​ local artist’s beautiful ​elephant painting from​ 1​2 year old girls at the night market(those youngsters drove a hard bargain!)​ to ​finding ​beauty ​and home ​gems at NGO​ based stores.

In Hanoi​, with the help of my wonderful guide and new girlfriend, Linh,​I supported family business, as I bought lacquer paintings of a farm land scene I had just experienced biking in the morning from two brothers at their gallery and then hand embroidered lotus flower and peacock napkins from two sisters.

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Tom, Jill and Seng head out to see the Journeys Within Clean Water Project.

My last day in Siem Riep I experienced truly giving back to the people of Cambodia through the JWOC (Journeys Within Our Community) non-profit organization, started by Andrea and Brandon Davis 10 years ago.​  Tom, the Communications Director and Seng, Clean Water Program Manager took me out to see the wells JWOC had been repaired and built in a village by students, who had received scholarships to university for their work with JWOC.

There is still more work needed, with ​only ​40​% of Cambodia​’s rural areas having access to clean water. From evaluating need to building wells to  water safety training and follow up visits, the JWOC project I visited is a vital part of the long-term goal of universal clean water access.  The Cambodian people’s health, economy and well-being depend on these wells and their clean water.

Jwoc Village
In Cambodia, villagers use the same water source for many purposed.

Seeing the wells and how people were using them first hand f​rom​ cleaning fish, ​to ​making rice sake and more was eye opening​ and rewarding​.

I finished the day at the JWOC Art Class, singing songs, playing games and making paper fish with 30 young students.  They were quite the dancers and artistss!  The JWOC staff and volunteers were kind and helpful with the children, as well as welcoming to me.

I left them with some beach balls, stickers and other fun goodies to enjoy at another ​time and hopefully remember me with the same fondness I will remember them.

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Making a difference in Luang Prabang

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  3 Comments

Just this last January, two Journeys Within guests, Joanne and David Lockman traveled around SE Asia with a stop in Luang Prabang, Laos. Here Nicole tells us about how they turned one philanthropic tour into so much more …

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While the Lockman’s were in Luang Prabang, they went on a JW custom made tour to lesser visited villages and learned firsthand about some of the culture and traditions that are inherently Lao.

Along with visiting ancient temples, they observed clay pottery artisans and learned local fishing methods from villagers on the Mekong River. They concluded the day with a stop at Ban Xing, a 16th century village on the banks of the Mekong, for a blessing ceremony from the elders of the village. After the ceremony, with the help of their guide, Phaeng, the Lockman’s handed out notebooks and writing utensils purchased in town to the 65 students at Ban Xing Primary School. Even though they had already given items to the school and knew a portion of their tour fees went to a village fund, they felt they could do more.

They inquired what the school needed most and were told that the installation of electricity for lights and fans in the classroom was at the top of the list. The teachers of the school expressed how during the winter and rainy seasons the classrooms would become too dark for the students to see the blackboard, making them incapable of staying focused. In addition to the dark classrooms, the sweltering heat from February to June would also serve as a major distraction for the students.

After returning home, the Lockman’s felt so moved by the gentle and gracious spirit of the village and its residents that they decided to raise funds in order to install electricity at the school. The Lockman’s reached out to friends and family about their experience and asked for help in order to put 2 ceiling fans and lights into each of the 5 rooms as well as to light the outside walkway and the 4 bathrooms. In just one quick week the Lockman’s were able to reach their goal of $1,200 USD, which meant that the entire project could be completed all at once!

Electricity Installation at Ban Xing 010

They made their donation to Journeys Within Our Community’s Village School Sponsorship program and installation was quickly underway at Ban Xing Primary School. The week before last, Phaeng and I went to the school to oversee the electrical team’s installation of the lights and fans until its completion. It was a long day with the electricians working from 7:30 until 5:30, but luckily just as the sun was setting behind the mountains of Luang Prabang, all was complete and we had electricity!

Just today the Director of Ban Xing Primary, Mr. Siphanh, contacted Phaeng to express, on behalf of the students and teachers, their sincere gratitude for the Lockman’s efforts in raising funds needed for the installation. He said, The electricity was very important to the school so that the fan could make the room cool and lights made it helpful when rainy or cloudy. The students seem to have fun and more energy to learn than before. The class doesn’t waste time to wait for the rain to stop because of it being dark.

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Most importantly, the teachers and kids are so happy with the cool fans also. All of us at the village would like to say a big thanks to all the donors that supported the Lockman’s goal and made this rural school in Laos cooler and brighter. It makes it easier to encourage the students to continue to pursue their education. The JW teams hope to welcome our friends the Lockmans when they come back in the future. We want to highlight the Lockman’s efforts and thank them along with their friends and family who allowed Journeys Within and Journeys Within Our Community to help give back to the local community. We would not be able to make a difference without the support of these donations. If you would like to join the Lockman’s in supporting projects like this please visit www.journeyswithinourcommunity.org and find out how you can benefit the lives of others.… Read more »

A JWOC success story: Sophin Sophary

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Journeys Within Our Community supports giving 74 students access to higher education each year. Sophin Sophary was one of those students and one of only 2 women from her village to ever go to university. Here she shares a little about life since graduation …

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Name: Sophy Sophary

Age: 27

Hometown: Kor Koh village

Date of graduation: July 27, 2010 from Build Bright University

A former waitress at a Chinese Restaurant near the night market, Sophy is now the operations manager of Cambodian Self Help De-mining (CDHD). As a scholarship student, she volunteered a as a teacher in a free school program during her studies. Her current job role entails her helping people in the very poor communities and rural areas by helping to make them safe, educating the villagers and providing health care.

In her own words …

As I am a country side woman , I would like to share that in 2010 I am the second women in my village to graduate from university. Because women rights and roles are so strict, plus cultural conditions especially in the country side area, women are not encouraged to go to school.

Most parents think that their daughter don’t need to study because it’s useless. Women are taught to stay home and take care of children. This idea causes very, very bad violence in the family. I am the one who face that problem so I won’t have to see it anymore .

Now I am a de-miner and bomb disposer at my charity. I would like to advocate and to advise women that you don’t give up. Try to catch an opportunity to go to school, and you can do same thing as the men ….

How has the JWOC scholarship helped you:      

  •   I could eat good food — JWOC always called all scholarship for dinner meeting. Before I would just stay in my small room and eat 1 egg in a day with Fish source.
  • I could finished my school which pushed me to see the challenges in our society.
  • Showed me how huge the world is.
  • Make me stronger and more confident
  • Show me the direction of my life and the way I should go
  • Teach me about how to work and help people in community

What is your advice to our current JWOC scholarship students:     

  • Try your best in school — you will no regret in the future!
  • Study the subject you like and within your own ability.
  • Try to get involved in community activities by volunteering — it is a good practice and you will use that experience in your future job.
  • Keep your good attitude.
  • Keep your Scholarship Opportunity in your hand till you graduate.

What have been your notable achievements since leaving JWOC:

  • Raise my payroll.
  • Continue master degree.
  • my attitude has changed — I am more responsible.
  • support 3 poor kids in my home village
  • have sent 1 of my young brother, 1 of my young sister and 4 of my cousins to school in Siem Reap.

Congratulations Sophy from the JW team on all your success and on your undoubtedly bright future!

 … Read more »