Profiles of Courage
This year, Cambodia marks the 30th anniversary of its constitution and the first democratic elections. For a country that has traversed an historical path influenced by colonial power and the Khmer Rouge regime, this year marks an important milestone.
In parallel with this significant constitutional milestone, our foundation initiated its activities in the country in 1993 by supporting civic education projects and dialogue with and among development stakeholders. Since then, hbs has established its presence in the country through partnerships with civil society actors and supporting grassroots stakeholders, fostering dialogue, shared learning, and collaborative action on critical issues in the context of ecology, sustainable development, democracy, human rights, and gender.
The foundation’s work on civic education strives to promote critical thinking skills, enabling citizens to analyze information, make informed decisions, and challenge patriarchal societal norms. It equips individuals with the necessary skills to engage in constructive dialogue and resolve conflicts peacefully. Civic education promotes tolerance, respect for differing opinions, and social cohesion. These skills are essential for maintaining social harmony and preventing the escalation of conflicts that can hinder progress and prosperity, and have become more important than ever in a world marked by geopolitical instabilities, escalating wars, and military conflicts and prevalence of autocratic rule.
The convergence of these milestones offers not only an opportunity for celebration, of great honor and gratitude, it is also a moment to look back, reflect and evaluate on achievements and lessons learned in order to frame our future and a way forward. We wish to do that by portraying 30 remarkable stories from our partners and the communities they work with. These stories are embedded in the main tenets of hbs Cambodia, which build the structure of this magazine: Democracy and Social Inclusion, Feminism and Social Justice, Ecology and Environmental Sustainability, and Active Citizenship.
The foundations' democratic values are underscored by its adherence to equality, human rights and freedom of expression. Despite Cambodia's constitutional commitment to a pluralistic democracy, these principles have eroded in the country. The stories in the first chapter capture the resilient spirit of Cambodia's civil society by depicting the strategies and approaches of young Cambodians standing up for environmental protection, of Indigenous communities confronting powerful corporations and resisting forced evictions, and of LGBTQIA+ people bravely speaking out publicly against discrimination.
The second chapter highlights the realm of feminism and social justice with stories that illustrate the power of collective action to challenge gender hierarchies and advocate for equality and empowerment. These narratives tell of communities working together to dismantle traditional gender roles and combat gender-based violence, fight the sexual abuse of boys and give a voice to women who experienced sexual abuse by the Khmer Rouge.
Our ecological and environmental commitment is outlined in the third chapter. It reflects Cambodia's rich natural resources and the importance of sustainable management of these resources and their ecosystems to protect the environment and livelihoods. These stories demonstrate the power of accessible information, documentation and data transparency for communities advocating for their land rights, the recognition of Indigenous people’s rights or the preservation of marine ecosystems.
The fourth chapter portrays the relevance of informal engagements and networking communities in advancing solutions driven and managed by the affected people. The stories in this section show how courageous and dedicated Cambodians are taking charge and using solutions-driven advocacy solutions to create a more inclusive society and engaged citizenry by giving voice to people and communities that are often pushed to the margins.
In presenting these powerful stories, we acknowledge our partners, their courage and achievements with pride and respect.
However, our work is not just about the outcomes; it is also about the journey.
In producing this publication and the reflection process, we worked with our partners to collect and depict amazing stories of a brave citizenry in Cambodia. Without the unwavering dedication of our valued partners, hbs would not be here. Their commitment is the driving force behind our endeavors, in support of Cambodia development.
As we celebrate the past 30 years, this magazine also serves as a lively reminder of the challenges awaiting us in an ever-changing, globalized and polarized world. We are confident that, through continued collaboration with our partners, we can face these challenges head-on and support the building of a brighter future for the people of Cambodia.
It is our sincere hope that these potent illustrations will serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for all readers to participate collaboratively in the creation of sustainable futures and to advocate for the good of Cambodia and the world.