Youth Education in Kratie: Anh Chanh and Kan Tuot
Written by: WFWP Cambodia
On January 20, 2023, Women’s Federation for World Peace Cambodia (WFWP Cambodia) conducted a youth leadership and character education program for secondary school students from Anh Chanh as well as secondary and high school students from Kan Tuot.
The program was conducted throughout a duration of three days. On the first day, WFWP Cambodia visited 250 secondary school students in Anh Chanh and on the second and third day, they visited a total 777 students in Kan Tuot. At both places, they spoke on the topic of the value of life, how to manage life to achieve one’s goal and the value of family.
In the first topic, WFWP Cambodia encouraged students to have a goal or purpose in their lives. In the second topic, they asked the students how they can manage their life practically so that they can move forward to their goals. In the last topic, the students were asked to reflect back on their own family bonds and to rethink how to be a responsible individual in society. The lecturers also combined Buddhist teachings that Cambodian people and these students are familiar with into their talks.
After the lectures, they divided students into smaller groups and gave each group a specific topic to think of. For example, “What is the value in your own lives?” “Why is family important?” “What kind of role can you play in society?” It was very nice for WFWP Cambodia to see students enthusiastically exchange their thoughts within their groups. In Anh Chanh, some groups gathered in the newly-built library to summarize their ideas. In Kan Tuot, teachers were also actively involved as well as guiding students to firm up their ideas.
After their ideas were brainstormed, WFWP Cambodia asked them to write them down on a big piece of paper and all groups presented their opinions. Through this activity, they understood all topics were connected. They recognized that their lives have a meaning and that it’s valuable to set a goal to make their lives more fulfilling and to grow better. They understood that individuals cannot grow only by eating or having clothes to wear but also they should raise their mentality, which they can learn from parents and teachers to enhance morality, sociality and intelligence.
All groups did their best by thinking hard, expressing their opinions and preparing how to speak effectively. High school students especially did well by presenting while interacting with the listeners and giving more examples, not just reading what they wrote. Some younger students who were not in the program were also gathering around the site to listen. It must have been a good stimulus for them, too.
WFWP Cambodia can see there was even a sense of achievement among students after the whole program completed. They hope that ideas and philosophy they shared and thoughts that they reached by themselves will help direct their future lives well.
