By:
• Elise Roy

• November 10, 2024 , 3:20 PM

STRASBOURG — Since May 2024 Sroeurn Theara has been in France as a volunteer involved in the REVER project led by France-Volontaires.

Based in the city of Strasbourg in northeastern France, the 24-year-old teacher who has volunteered in numerous fields in Cambodia is working with GESCOD. This French NGO focuses on raising awareness regarding the Sustainable Development Goals and climate change as well as on issues of water resource management, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. “In Cambodia, GESCOD supports a project to improve access to drinking water and sanitation in the Stung Sen Basin,” Theara said during an interview at the University of Strasbourg. 

Born in Takeo province, Theara completed his early education locally before moving to Phnom Penh to attend the Human Resource University. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in English and education, he taught English in private schools for three years.  Believing that, he said, “empowering young people and promoting democracy are very important,” he also served as secretary of the Takeo Provincial Committee for Free and Fair Elections (COMFREL) for two years.

At the same time, Theara worked with the Youth Coalition for Unity and Development whose aim is to encourage youths’ initiatives at both provincial and national levels and their participation in social affairs. He also took part in the memory and archive work of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam). He was involved in DC-Cam’s project “Advancing the Rights and Improving Conditions of Khmer Rouge Survivors,” conducting interviews with survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime to help record their stories in archives and also help them get access to medical care when needed.

Then in January 2004, Theara took part in a consultative workshop organized by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport in cooperation with France Volontaires Cambodia and several NGOs.  During the workshop, he learned about the REVER project Strengthening the Ecosystem of Volunteering, Commitment, and Recognition in Cambodia. This project, which is supported by the French Embassy and France-Volontaires, aims to promote volunteer exchanges.

This led Theara to apply to join this project. “I wanted to challenge myself,” he said during the interview. Though deeply rooted in his home country, he had long dreamed of exploring the world and discovering other cultures.

So in May 2024, he left for France and started working fort the French development and cooperation network GESCOD. “In Cambodia, GESCOD supports a project to improve access to drinking water and sanitation in the Stung Sen Basin,” Theara said, as part of efforts to raise awareness on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly regarding water resource management, drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, and climate change.
 

Prepared for life in France through the program, Theara found it easy to adapt, he said. “I was a little bit worried, but not too much, because I was well-prepared by France Volontaires,” he said. “They explained to me what the benefits of going to France are.

"What surprised me in Strasbourg has been the good [natural] environment,” Theara said. “There are a lot of trees along the streets and a good flow of traffic with public transportation. The city is green and clean, reflecting a strong commitment to the environment. The French people demonstrate a deep respect for the values of time, safety, human rights, and equality, contributing to an exceptional quality of life.” When he returns home, he said, he hopes to bring this French "green vibe" to Phnom Penh where he lives.

“Something that also surprised me a lot when I arrived was the huge number of bicycles in the city,” Theara said. “Here in Strasbourg, almost everyone has one. In Cambodia, if you want to display your wealth or status, you buy a big car. Here, people opt for luxury bicycles, which can even be electric. My boss rides her bicycle to the office every day. You don’t see that in Cambodia.”

While Theara did not feel homesick when he first arrived, he did miss going to a Buddhist pagoda. So he was really happy to discover that people of Cambodian origin in the region had actually converted a house into a pagoda, which was overseen by Buddhist monks. “Now, every week I go there to help the monks,” he said.

His contribution is appreciated by members of the Cambodian community. “We are grateful for the hard work and commitment of Theara,” said Henri Ouk, director of the association Les amis de la civilisation cambodgienne (friends of the Cambodian civilization) that set up the pagoda, during an interview at Watt Strasbourg. “At first, he came looking for Khmer food and a sense of belonging. We welcomed him without hesitation. He's a dedicated, hardworking young man…and, now, he is part of our family.”

Happy to have found friends 10,000 kilometers from home with whom he can speak Khmer, celebrate, and pray at a Buddhist pagoda, Thera is in no hurry to leave, he said. On the contrary, he hopes to spend even more time with those he now sees as family.
 

However, in December 2024, Theara will return to Cambodia. Although he is not in a hurry to say goodbye, he feels good about going home. "I have learned a lot from GESCOD and want to use that new knowledge to help my country," he said, adding that he looks forward to "engaging in any activities that would bring positive changes in Cambodia.

“I have gained valuable experience, improved my French, and connected with diverse people,” Theara said “I encourage young people to actively engage in community activities…volunteering is a pathway that can lead to great opportunities in the future.”