Cambodia --The Forgotten Country

Nestled between Thailand and Vietnam is the country of Cambodia, the forgotten country. Cambodia has many beautiful features, such as the beautiful mountains, rivers, large rice fields, and amazing green forests. Traveling into Phnom Penh (the Capital), you will find a fast moving, growing city that still keeps its old style. Cambodia is also home to one of the eight wonders of the world, Angkor Wat, the oldest and biggest temple in the world. Yet many people either have not heard of this country or are scared to go there. Why?

Well you have to go back almost thirty years ago to determine why. With the Vietnam War coming to an end, Cambodia was at its weakest point. One reason being that the U.S had dropped 9 billion pounds of bombs on them. At this time, Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge, decided that his attack would begin. He wanted the past erased and declared it was year zero. To accomplish this, he first killed all of the intellectuals. Teachers, lawyers, government workers, those who wore glasses, were killed. The entire city of Phnom Penh was evacuated, forcing citizens into the countryside to work in the fields. Millions were killed, and if not killed, you were forced to work in the fields. Many were worked to death and starved. Others were sent to the killing fields where you were blindfolded and killed, most likely by someone breaking your neck.

Thousands who were not sent to work in the killing fields were arrested and sent for interrogation at Tuol Sleng. A high school which had been taken over and used for interrogation and torture. Those who were brought to this S-21 prison stayed in small brick rooms where they were chained up to the wall. They stayed there from 1-6 months where they were interrogated and torture. All but 7of the 18, 000 prisoners were killed!

The killing and torture continued for almost 4 years when Vietnam came in and was able to get Pol Pot and his troops out. Still for many years thereafter, members of the Khmer Rouge lurked in Cambodia ambushing cars and doing other violent actions. And still many land mines remained in the area. During the 4 years of the Khmer Rouge between 2-3 million people were killed or forced out of the country. This was about 1/3 of the population.

While Cambodia is continually growing, they are having a major problem of poverty and lack of medical care. Most families survive on just one dollar a day. They need help from other countries. One in particular is the U.S.

Over the summer, my family and I had the unique opportunity to visit this country. We not only visited for vacation, but because we had donated some money to build a school. While to some it might just seem like a school, to them it seemed like the best thing that had never happened.

While we were in the village, we handed out school packages, which included 2 notebooks, a pencil, pen, eraser, sharpener and ruler. To us it may seem like nothing, but to them it seemed like everything. To see their eyes light up and bow as they got one made me feel so good. Like I was saying, it made a big difference in these kids lives.

Later at the village as we sat around eating, people spoke their emotions, explaining how grateful they were. One even called my dad, “a god” They all wished for us to come back and visit. It meant so much to them.

While Cambodia is a country of poverty, it certainly, does not keep the people form smiling. If you are reading this or listening to it being read and you want to make a difference too, you can. There is a great organization called American Assistance for Cambodia. Even if you don’t donate much it still makes a huge difference. Wouldn’t you like to make a difference in someone’s life? Well you can! By donating money you can help build a school, help kids buy school supplies, help kids escape from child prostitution and many more opportunities. Your money will go a long way and make an amazing difference in someone’s life.