BRIDGING THE GAPAn alternative gap experience in Cambodia
Managed by:
www.ayanajourneys.com
WHO
• Are you drawn towards doing good in the world and want to take timetoconsideryouroptions?
• Are you ready to travel, learn and explore but don’t yet want to committoajoborvolunteerexperience?
• Haveyouheardaboutthepossiblenegativeimpactsof“(volun)tourism”andaresearchingforanethical and engagingalternative?
• Areyoulookingfortheknowledgetoreflectonyourselfasatraveler, change-maker, and a member of a global community?
• Areyouinterestedinimmersing yourselfandunderstandingCambodianculture,andpassionateaboutgettingoffthebeatentrackandconnectingwithlocalcommunities?
• Isimportanttoyoutotravelethicallyandresponsibly,and“give back”alongtheway?
Thisexperienceisdesignedforthosewhowantthesafety,convenience,andthefast-formingfriendshipsthatcomewitha‘gap’stylegroupexperience,butarealsolookingforrichlearningopportunities,reflectivequestions,immersiveadventures,andatripthatmaximizespositiveimpacttohostcommunities.Oh,andabucketloadoffun!
WHAT
AfantasticinductiontothestunningandcomplexcountryofCambodia,thedevelopmentissuesitfacesandthekeyplayerswhoaremakingpositivechangesintheircommunity.
BytravelingwithPEPYToursyouwillnotonlyhaveanimmersive and adventurous experience,butyouwillgetthechancetodive into Cambodian history and culture,andalsospendtimelearningabouttheissuesthatcontinuetoaffectthisbeautifulcountry,andindeedourworld.Bymeeting with a diverse range of community members, NGOs, social entrepreneurs, and change-makers,youwillbeabletoexploreCambodian‘hottopics’,discovermodelsofdevelopment work and their complexities,andlearnaboutbothchallengesandstoriesofsuccess.TheselearningexperienceswillbefacilitatedbyPEPYTours’experiencedinstructorsthroughacombinationofreadings,groupactivities,discussions,meetingswithlocalinnovators,debates,andreflections.
WHERE
Cambodia,the“KingdomofWonder”,aplaceknownforitstemplesandrememberedforitspeople.We’llexploremanylocationsacrossthecountry,fromwell-knownsitessuchastheAngkorUNESCOPark,tocommunityhomestaysinrurallocationsofftheusualtouristmap.
www.pepytours.com
Siem Reap
Battambang
OudongKampong Cham
Sen MonoromKratie
Phnom Penh
Kampot
www.ayanajourneys.com
WHY
Therearemanypeopleexcitedandpassionateabouttacklingtheworld’schallengesandmakingapositivechange–butknowingwhattodoandhowtodoitiscomplicated!Insteadofdivingstraightintoavolunteertripordevelopmentproject,weoffera learning trip that has the added benefit of also contributing to good causes around thecountry.
AportionofourfeeischanneleddirectlytooursisterNGO–PEPYEmpoweringYouth–andintoprojectsandorganizationsvisitedonthetrip.InthiswayparticipantswillbeabletoseehowtheimpactoftheirjourneywilllastfarbeyondtheirtimeinCambodia.Inadditiontothisfundingsupport,weencourageyoutorecognizeyourabilitytoeffectthepositivechangesyouwanttoseeintheworldthroughthechangesyoumakeinyourownlives,includingthewaysyougive,travel,live,andworkinthefuture.
WHEN
Thisisa‘signup’tourforindividualslookingtojoinagroup.Wehavescheduledthefollowingdeparturedate:
• August22nd,2016• January9th,2017• July31st,2017
Tripminimumnumberofparticipants: 6Tripmaximumnumberofparticipants: 12
Note–this1monthexperiencecaneitherbeanadventureinitself,orcouldformthestart,middle,orendofyourownindependenttravels.
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“I have truly never learned so
much on an overseas trip until now
and it is so refreshing to know that I
have been educated through an ethical
and responsible tour operator”
- Hayley, May 2015
www.ayanajourneys.comwww.pepytours.com
Day Location Activity Learning topics1 >PhnomPenh Arrival*2 PhnomPenh Orientation Cambodianculture3 PhnomPenh Orientation KhmerRouge4 PhnomPenh FREEDAY5 >Mondulkiri TraveltoSenMonorom6 Mondulkiri Exploringlocallandscape&meeting
developmentorganizationsIndigenouspeople,environment,conservation,wildlife
7 Mondulkiri Exploringlocallandscape&meetingdevelopmentorganizations
8 >Kratie TraveltoKratie Environment9 >KohP'dao TraveltoMekongislandandmeet
homestayfamiliesRurallife
10 KohP'dao Serviceproject,exploringisland,afternoondiscussions
Livelihoods,voluntourism,ruraldevelopment,agriculture,renewableenergy
11 KohP'dao12 KohP'dao13 >KampongCham TraveltoKampongCham14 KampongCham Meetingdevelopmentorganizations Education,religion15 >SiemReap TraveltoSiemReap
16 SiemReap FREEDAY17 SiemReap FREEDAY18 SiemReap DayexploringthemightyTemplesof
Angkor!19 SiemReap Culturalactivitiesandmeetingwith
developmentorganizationsWomen,education,poverty,socialenterprise
20 >Battambang TraveltoBattambang21 Battambang Meetingwithdevelopmentorganizations Education,orphanages22 Battambang FREEDAY23 >Oudong TraveltoOudong,night’sstayatapagoda Buddhism24 >PhnomPenh TraveltoPhnomPenh25 PhnomPenh Meetingwithdevelopmentorganizations Humanrights,empowerment,health,
socialenterprise26 PhnomPenh Meetingwithdevelopmentorganizations27 PhnomPenh FREEDAY28 >Kampot TraveltoKampot29 Kampot Meetingswithlocaldevelopment
organizationsDisabilities
30 Kampot Exploringthelocallandscape;Reflectionsandtransference
Ecotourism
31 >PhnomPenh
OR
>Beach (additional)
ConclusionoftourReturntoPhnomPenhtocatchdepartingflight*ORTransfer to Sihanoukville to access beaches & islands can be arranged at an additional cost
ITINERARY OVERVIEW
*Activitiesonthesedaysdependonarrivalanddeparturetimes.
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DIVE INTO KHMER CULTURE
Throw yourself into local life and learn what makes this fascinating country tick. Whatdopeopleeatforbreakfast?Whydomonkswearorangerobes?Whatdoes‘jolmoi’mean?WhatisthelegacyoftheKhmerRougeonmodernCambodia?Findoutasyouspendamonthwrappingyourtonguearoundnewwords,yourmoutharoundnewflavors,andyourmindaroundnewstories,superstitions,andwaysoflife…
S.21 and the Killing Fields – importantsitesofremembranceandidealplacestolearnaboutKhmerRougehistory
Food and cooking classes – Khmercuisineisdeliciousanddiverse,withinterestingregionalvariations.Embracinglocalfood(andlearninghowtocookit!)isoftenoneofourparticipants’favouriteactivities
Market visits and bartering – marketsarecentraltodailylifeinCambodia,andtakinginthesights,smells,andsoundsisagreattasteoflocallife
The Temples of Angkor –Cambodia’sproudestachievement!Exploringthesetrulymagnificenttemplesisamust
Pagodas and monks –BuddhismformsanintegralpartofCambodiancultureformostKhmerpeople.Studentswillvisitthesesacredplaces,meetmonks,andlearnabouttheirwayoflife.TherewillbeanopportunityforaBuddhistblessingforthoseinterested
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Mastering traditional skills – Fishing,basketweaving,playingKhmerinstrumentsandBokator(Cambodia’straditionalmartialart)arejustsomeoftheskillsstudentsmaygettotrytheirhandat!
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT
WhileCambodiaisconsideredtobea‘developingcountry’,itischangingquickly.Thereislargepopulationofyoungpeoplekeentomoveonfromthetraumasofthe20thcenturytoanexcitingnewfuture,andmanyincredible initiatives and individuals focused on creating positive change.
Thistripwillgiveyouarareopportunitytoreallydigbeneaththesurfaceofwhatitmeanstobea‘developingcountry’;toexploreandunderstandthecomplexitiesofissueslikeeducation,environmentalconservations,genderissues,andhumanrights,andmostimportantlymeetthepeoplewhoarefightingforimprovements.Inspiringstuffindeed!
Visiting development projects – Thistripofferstheopportunitytoexploreandunderstanddevelopmentprojectsworkingonavarietyofissuesacrossthecountry
Supporting social enterprise -Webelieveinprovidingandadvocatingresponsibletourism.Asoneoftheworld’slargestindustries,travelcanplayacrucialroleindevelopment.Youwillexperiencefirst-handinitiativesestablishedtobenefitlocalcommunitiesandthenaturalenvironment,bystayingatlocallyownedaccommodationandeatingatsocialenterpriserestaurants
Interviewing change-makers –Thetripoffersauniqueopportunitytomeetwithvisionaryandinspiringlocalpeoplewhoareactivelymakingchangeintheirowncommunities
Reflection, debate and discussion! -Yourtripinstructorswillenableyoutoprocesswhatyouhavebeenlearningbyfacilitatinglivelyandengagingdiscussionsthroughoutthetrip
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EXPLORING LANDSCAPES
Youwillvisitvarying landscapes and environmentsthroughoutyourjourney.Toconnectwiththeuniquebeautyofdifferentsites,youcantrydifferentactivitiesthatgetyouupcloseandpersonalwithnature.Belowareexamplesofactivitiesyoumaytakepartinduringyouradventure:
Trekking –EasternCambodiaisgeographicallyquitedifferentfromtherestofthecountry,withacoolerclimateandmanymorehills!Byspendingadayortwotrekkingwithalocalguide,studentswillalsobeabletolearnmoreabouttheminoritytribesthatliveinthisarea,allofwhomarefacingmanychallengesasCambodiaquicklymodernises
Bike rides –Whatbetterwaytoexplorethecountrysideandgetoffthebeatentrackthanonatwo-wheeledadventure?Onanumberofstopsalongthejourneythegroupwilltaketimetotakeintheirsurroundingsatthelocalpace
Boat rides –Exploremangroveforestsanddiscoverinspirationalcommunitybasedecotourisminitiativestopromoteenvironmentalbestpracticeandplantingprograms
Elephants –Elephantridingisacurrenthottopicinthetravelmedia;torideornottoride?Webelieveamuchmoreethicalapproachtoexperiencingthesebeautifulcreaturesistoseetheminamorenaturalsetting,andthroughthefacilitationofexperiencedconservationistsdedicatedtotheirwelfare.LearnaboutelephantsinCambodia,andthechallengesfacingtheirhabitats
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KOH P’DAO
Stayingwithalocalfamily(homestay)offersauniqueinsightintolifeinruralCambodia,andthecontextinwhichmanydevelopmentprojectstakeplace.OntheislandofKohP’daoyouwillstaywithalocalfamilyingroupsof2or3.
WhilestayingontheislandofKohP’dao,youcanopttoassistonprojectsthathavebeenidentifiedbyislandersasintegraltothedevelopmentoftheirsmallcommunity.Thisisanopportunitytolearnaboutlifeinaremoteruralarea,exploresomeofthecomplexitiesofdevelopmentworkintheseareas,andoffertohelpinasmallway.Itwillalsoprovideinsightintoavoluntourismmodelthathasbeendevelopedinpartnershipwiththecommunityitaimstoserve.
Inthepastthishasincludedthefollowingactivities.• Levelingland• Buildingfences• Buildinganimalshelters• Building‘homegardens’• Plantingrice• Helpingtobuildrainwatercollectors• Helpingtoinstallbio-digesters• Helpingtobuildsanitationfacilities
Mostimportantly,wewilltakethetimetolearnaboutandcriticallyanalyzecurrentmodelsofservicetoreflectonwhatitmeansandhowitwillimpactyourlifegoingforward.
LEARNING JOURNEY
Webelieveinthepoweroftraveltotransformandrevitalize.Tosupportyouthroughyourownjourneyofdiscovery,yourtripleaderwillsuggestreadings,facilitatediscussions,andencouragegroupreflections.Belowisanoutlineofthetopicsthisadventuremaytouchupon,andquestionsitmayraise…
Personal Journeys• Personaldevelopment–Goals,comfortandchallengezones?• Globalcitizenship–WhatdoesitmeanandhowcanIbeanactive/empatheticglobalcitizen?• Transference–Lessonslearnedandtheimpactonmyfuture
Country Context• Cultureandculturaldifferences–Definitions,communicationchallenges,andtheimportanceinthecontextof
development• Cambodianculture–Traditions,norms,andchangesinthefuture• Khmervs.Cambodian–Languageandculture• Buddhismandreligion–TheravadaBuddhism,faith,religion,andculture• AncientCambodianhistory–Khmerempire• TwentiethcenturyCambodianhistory–Goldendays(1960s),KhmerRouge,andtheimpacttoday
Development• Foreignaid–NGOS,localvsinternational,hand-outs,andcomparingmodels• NGOmarketingandcommunications–‘Povertyporn’,sensationalismvssimplification• Sustainabilityandimpact–Monitoring,evaluating,andtransparency• Donatingandresponsiblegiving–Donating,givingthingsaway,andbegging• Socialenterprise–Purpose,models,businessvscharity
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Travel and tourism• Voluntourism–Motivations,impacts,criticism,alternatives,orphanagetourism• Communitydevelopment-Communitybasedtourism,povertyalleviation• Conservation-Protectedareas,ecotourism• Education-Trainingneeds,initiativesandinstitutions;fundingcharitableprojects• Heritage-ImpactsatAngkorWat,aUNESCOWorldHeritagesite
COSTS
Price per person (USD) $4,950
RequireddonationtoPEPYNGO(perperson):$200**
Inclusions:• Pre-departureSkypeQ&Asessions• Allaccommodation(clean,basic,locally-runguesthousesorhomestays)• Allmealsanddrinkingwater,withtheexceptionof5lunchesanddinners• Entrancefees,guides,andtransportationforalllistedactivities• TrainedandexperiencedPEPYToursinstructorstoleadthetrip,facilitatediscussionsandreflections,andprovide
24-hoursupport• In-depthorientationandreadingmaterialsprovidedthroughoutthetrip• A$100USDdonationtoallNGOsandsocialbusinessesvisited• VAT(10%)
Exclusions:• Cambodianvisa($30USD,availableonarrivalformostnationalities)• Travelinsurance(mustincludeemergencymedicalevacuation)• Travelto/fromCambodia• Snacksanddrinksotherthanwater• Singlerooms
**We strongly recommend that participants fundraise this amount, and can offer fundraising guidance and support
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“Not only have I
learned more about development
during one month in Cambodia than two
years at university, I have learned to critically
analyze and dig deeper in
to every theme and issue”
- Sara, April 2015