10 years of Chab Dai - Our women leaders

In the week that Cambodia welcomes First Lady Michelle Obama and her ‘Let Girls Learn’ education project, we could do no better than reflecting on our own women leaders within Chab Dai. Here, we talk to Finance & Operations Director Orng Muylen, about her experience at Chab Dai and opportunities for women in Cambodia today.

After an internship at World Vision, Muylen joined Chab Dai in 2007, during her second year studying Accountancy at Phnom Penh International University. She later gained her Masters of Finance from the National University of Management, and quickly progressed from administrator to director within 5 years, now responsible for the Finance department in Chab Dai Coalition Cambodia, monitoring finances for Chab Dai overseas and overseeing operations in the organization.

As the first woman in her family to attend university, Muylen’s story is an encouraging one, though she told me this has meant many challenges along the way:

“In Cambodian culture, as in many parts of the world, men’s opinions are often respected more than women’s, whether they are right or not. If women are strong, it is said that our head is ruled by our heart, like we don't have respect. I feel like it is not appropriate for this attitude in the workplace or in society. We need to respect each other’s opinions, regardless of the person’s gender.”

“But I feel proud that I am the one daughter in my family that has studied at university and I can live in Phnom Penh by myself. Now I am confident about this and that's why I think women can do anything they set their mind to.”

Signs of change in Cambodia

With or without Michelle Obama’s historical visit (the only time an incumbent US First Lady has come to Cambodia), gender is an issue firmly on the agenda in Cambodia right now and even in Muylen’s home province of Kampong Thom, she sees signs of change:

“I think that, like with the Cambodia culture, in my community they thought that if they talk about human trafficking or rape, that is not a good word to say. Especially for the woman, they feel shame or that it's not appropriate to talk about sexual matters.

But right now, it's not like that. Everybody can say and can report, it's better than not saying, better to talk to the police. Right now, we can talk about what is true.”

Muylen also spoke with great enthusiasm about development agency The FIELD Collaborative's recent training program, 'The Seeds of Leadership' which she attended in February 2015.

Over three days of training and dialogue, 'Seeds of Leadership' aimed to increase capacity-building amongst working women in Cambodia through four tier focuses – self-improvement, leading a team, influencing your organisation and training other leaders.

Speaking on the FIELD Collaborative blog, Vice President Karen Petersen found much to inspire in the women who contribute to today's Cambodian workforce:

‘In the bustling, often chaotic capital of Phnom Penh, we are visiting several NGO’s to gain insight into the work they are doing and meet with those who are bringing change to the gender imbalance here. We have met wonderful, courageous women leaders who work in project management, operations, finance, education, legal advocacy, social work and research.'

Looking to the future, Muylen’s thoughts are overwhelmingly positive, not only in working towards ending human trafficking, but for the future of women, equality and Cambodia.

“I have never before experienced the joy and satisfaction that I now have in my work. I am grateful that God has called me here, and I have great confidence in his plan for my life. I think that I have a golden chance to serve God by helping vulnerable women see that they have the same worth as men.”*

*(Taken from Orng. M., 'Washed Clean', Issue: Autumn 2013, Mutuality magazine, Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE))

Retracing the Vision

I am still learning that the journey of life and vision passes in seasons.. Sometimes the sun shines and other times it's hard to see a way through the darkness.

My most recent season has certainly consisted of more darkness than sunshine and a friend reminded me the importance of reflecting on the beginning of the vision to remember the start of the journey and why I took this path.

Last month we had the delight of having our daughter visit from university.  While she was here we had a sort out (one of the things my kids dread about me entering their rooms!) and she decided to clear out some of her childhood soft toys. While she was sorting them, she was explaining to me the ones that she would never get rid of as they had significant emotional memories and attachment.

As she was pulling them out of the bag, she set aside the ones she wanted to keep and among them I saw a familiar small doll hand made out of pink wool.  I asked her why she kept that doll and she explained that she wanted to keep it because the girl gave it to me for her and she always wanted to remember how a little girl who had nothing but this doll and had gone through so much wanted to give it to her. Seeing the doll took me back to an event more than 15 years ago that was a catalyst for the beginning of a vision and the work I am now doing.

The event involved both a physical and metaphorical journey that was instrumental in the immediate project work I was involved in and unknown to me at the time, planted the vision for founding Chab Dai.

The physical journey involved a few hopeful (and naive) expats and Cambodians who were disturbed by the increasing events and stories of children being traded and transited through the Cambodia/Thai border in Poipet.  At the time we didn't understand that this was indeed trafficking but knew that this was something that could not be ignored and so set out to research the issues and to see if other organisations were seeing the same as us and were trying to address it.

The more than ten hour journey (which today would take about two!) on roads that had potholes the depth of a car, in an old Toyota land cruiser with very little in the way of suspension was pretty brutal to say the least!  On more than one occasion did I wonder what I was doing on this journey!

During our time in Poipet I met a young girl of about five years old who had been trafficked to Bangkok with her baby brother to beg on the streets.  She had been separated from her family and had no idea where they were or where her home village was.  I talked to her and explained that I had a daughter her age and a son her brothers age.  As we talked she showed me a doll she had made out of wool in the shelter she was in.. And as I was about to leave, she gave me the doll and asked me to give it as a gift of friendship to my daughter.  I was deeply touched by her generosity and selflessness.  This was my first interaction with a survivor and one I have never forgot.

I have no idea where that girl or her brother are today, which is one of the agonies of working with survivors.

However, that meeting forever changed the course of my vision and of my life journey and my hope is that in turn it has touched and changed the lives of many others.

A fellow pilgrim,

Helen

Cambodian Inspiration Leads to a Global Model of Collaboration

I am sitting in a hot dilapidated meeting room with our local team right now in Cambodia. I am listening to the amazing hopes and plans that they have committed themselves to, in order to see the vision of collaboration and working together become a reality. I can also see their passion for partnership and how critical it is to addressing trafficking and abuse.  These young Cambodians are setting an example for the rest of us right now, and here is why...

Most NGOs in Cambodia (as well as in other developing nations, no doubt) are used to being the recipients of external assistance in the form of monetary aid, foreign experts as well as in program frameworks and development theories from ‘westerners’ and other developed nations. 

Of course, these elements have assisted Cambodian society move on from its post-civil war environment and have helped established both frameworks and infrastructure for many aspects of the nation’s growth. However, the result of this has been two-fold in brief: those bringing to Cambodia, although with good intentions, develop a sense of entitlement and superiority with little true accountability and collaboration with others. Secondly, Cambodians are now saying that they are through with being regarded as a ‘victim’ nation, viewed as having little capability to become responsible for the future of their society.

This makes the scaling up of a locally ran coalition to a global learning community, even more than just a replication of a successful model.

It means that Cambodians are now innovators. When they export their grassroots practice of collaboration to the developed world, it empowers and encourages their national population to see themselves as more than just recipients and more as contributing counterparts within the international anti-human trafficking movement.

Sometimes I wonder if I am too optimistic in thinking that we can make a difference through partnership, even though I have been committed to this for more than ten years. But as I listen to our team, I believe the dream is still alive and worth pursuing.

One hopeful pilgrim....

Ten Insights from the Chab Dai Team

Ten Personal Insights

As believers in collaboration and building team rapport, the Chab Dai team read together the book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” by Stephen Covey. We had weekly discussions on the knowledge gained from the chapters and how we wanted to implement them personally and professionally. At the end, we collaborated and put our core shared insights together, which we’d like to share with you now.

Take RESPONSIBILITY: Be Proactive

"Proactive people carry their own weather with them."

↬ 10% of life is made up of what happens to us and the other 90% is decided and determined by our reactions to a situation or environment. It is amazing what potential we have to expand our circle of influence from our circle of concern. – Helen Sworn (Founder)

↬ We can usually find something worthwhile underneath the mundane if we're willing to dig. That's a concept I believe reaches into most areas of life. – Amanda Bray (Communications Assistant)

Invest in Yourself, So You Can Invest in Others

"Encouragement changes everything."

 

↬ Begin with the end in mind. 'Self-discover and clarify your deeply important character values and life goals. Envision the ideal characteristics for each of your various roles.’ – Siobhan Miles (Chab Dai Researcher)

↬ There are four dimensions of renewal and in order for us to preserve and improve ourselves we have to constantly exercise these four dimensions. The dimensions are physical, mental, social/emotional and spiritual. We must exercise all four dimensions ‘regularly and consistently’ to lead a proactive life. ‘The single most powerful investment we can ever make in life is the investment in ourselves, in the only instrument we have with which to deal with life and to contribute.’ – Summer Iqbal (Program Assistant)

↬ Examine our worldview and the subconscious behaviours and paradigms we live by. Begin with the end in mind and align our life with that end goal. But first, we must face the things that block us from really living in harmony with our deepest values (such as our own thoughts and past experiences, or lessons we were taught). – Kristina Novak (International Project and Personal Assistant)

↬ It is important to differentiate between developing one's character, focusing on our inner victories first from a principle-based perspective, versus developing one's personality, which is more focused on external perceptions and can be manipulative of others. – Julia Smith-Brake (Research Consultant)

Creating a COLLABORATIVE style

"Trust is the highest form of human motivation. It brings out the very best in people."

↬ We need synergy and the exploration of a 'third or middle way' in finding solutions and outcomes that move beyond consensus (the 'c' word!). – Helen Sworn (Founder)

↬ Principled decisions and synergy are so important to our work where we collaborate with various stakeholders on multiple levels.  These become even more important as we add an international angle to our work and continue to expand Freedom Collaborative globally. – Luke Weatherson (Freedom Registry Expansion Coordinator; Freedom Registry Cambodia Technical Advisor)

↬ Think about the relationship between private and public victories, and how I can strengthen my private life in a way that will create success in my public life. – Charlie Smith-Brake (Human Resources Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator – Cambodia)

↬ As we grow and mature, we become increasingly aware that all of nature is interdependent (including society). That interdependence is the paradigm of we — we can cooperate; we can combine our talents and abilities and create something greater together. – Taylor Poe (Freedom Collaborative Manager)

In the End….

“I am over the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It's a sort of splendid torch which I've got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

The True Celebrities of the Movement

By Helen Sworn

With the vast amount of media coverage on celebrities in relation to issues on human trafficking, poverty and human rights, I thought it was time to raise the profile of the true celebrities of the movement. However, it is unlikely you have ever heard of them. They have never written a book or been featured in a glossy magazine, attended a Hollywood award ceremony or had the paparazzi follow them. Their work is not glamorous, and in most cases, it is undertaken in dirty and humid communities and sometimes hostile situations. It is in these situations where they believe they can have the most impact on the most vulnerable. They do not see themselves as heroes or deserving of features and ceremonies highlighting their work, nor does the public see them as such - but I do.  I am talking about the true heroes of the movement, our Khmer Leaders.

While raising funds for organizations are important, their impact goes beyond the organization. In their current projects and communities, our leaders are explaining the need for protection and valuing of a child's dignity and ways in which to protect these rights. Some of our leaders are traveling the dirt roads of Cambodian provinces to listen to the experiences of 128 survivors of sex trafficking. This way we can understand how to assist survivors more efficiently within our programs and help support them in the reintegration process with their families and communities. Our leaders have been doing this for almost 5 years now and are committed to these amazing participants for a total of 10 years.

Many of our Khmer Leaders are supporting counselors and social workers that are often overwhelmed by the daily stories and trauma they hear from survivors. They work tirelessly with the Cambodian anti-human trafficking police to help close cases and find justice for these survivors. Others are meeting key community officials, such as teachers, village chiefs and religious leaders to show them how in their positions of influence, they can protect the most vulnerable populations within their communities. Last year alone they educated more than 11,000 people.

I could go on and on about the true dedication and efforts of our Khmer Leaders but I hope I have proved my point. Let's not forget who the true celebrities of the movement are!

Academics vs. Practitioners: A Partnership w/Dr. Monti Datta

In the past few weeks, Chab Dai has hosted quite a few artistic, highly skilled, and extremely insightful volunteers and collaborators. We are eager to see how partnerships and projects will grow in the future. One specific partner we are most excited to work with is Dr. Monti Datta, PhD. Assistant Professor in the department of Political Science at the University of Richmond.

After studying human rights for his undergrad, Monti went abroad to see the world. While teaching in Korea and Japan, he noticed two things: first, a strong anti-American sentiment and second, a strong presence of the sex trade. He became more passionate about this issue of human trafficking after realizing just how lucrative of a business it had been for groups like the Japanese mafia.

Last October, when Dr. Kevin Bales visited the University of Richmond to speak about bonded labor, Dr. Datta heard of the need for someone in the university setting to collect factual statistics from  practitioners on the field. To those not in the field of human trafficking this may seem an easy task, however there has been a historical tug of war between academics and practitioners. Academics have long debated whether statistics used by nonprofits and other practitioners have come from factual or rather emotional foundations. And yet here was this well versed academic, Dr. Bales, talking about how important it is to have solid facts and getting them straight from the source. While attending the Human Trafficking Conference at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln last October, Dr. Datta saw the tension between the academics and the practitioners once again. Only this time he decided to become a catalyst for change, and sought out Helen Sworn, founder and director of Chab Dai. Mrs. Sworn was immediately drawn to the idea of doing a practitioner-academic partnership. She knew this could be a chance to build bridges rather then break them down.

The rest is history. Dr. Datta has just finished up working at Chab Dai's Cambodia office interpreting and helping analyze qualitative and empirical work from our Butterfly Project. I'm certain the findings he has gathered over the course of his time in Cambodia will also encourage his next round of students to find their own data, directly from the source and to give credit to both practitioners and academics for the hard work that they do.

To learn more about Dr. Monti Datta, check out his personal website.

Celebrating the Architects of Society

Women are the real architects of society. Harriet Beecher Stowe

In 1910, over 100 women delegates from 17 countries came together in Copenhagen for the second International Conference of Working Women. Here, Women's Activist Clara Zetkin is known to have proposed the idea for an annual International Women's Day. The following year, meetings and rallies were held across Europe where more than 1 million men and women called for an end to discrimination against women. International Women's Day has been held annually ever since, and was officially commemorated by the UN beginning in 1975.

To commemorate this special day today, I took some time out of my busy schedule to ponder the efforts and achievements of three women who inspire me. While my list can in no way represent all the women who inspire me (whether directly or indirectly), taking the time to appreciate the work of even a select few - chosen in a very impromptu, unsystematic fashion - each of these women, each representing a different period in history since 1911, motivates me to keep going - even on those days when things seem dire and/or hopeless ::

DOROTHY DAY
Story :: (1897-1980) Born in Brooklyn, Day was an American journalist who, in her efforts to found a newspaper, ended up founding an entire movement. For its first 6 months, Day's publication - The Catholic Worker - was a publication expressing dissatisfaction with the social order. Often attributed to its immediate success is that the publication was both radical and religious. The article authors didn't just complain, but called their readers to direct action. Articles called for the renewal of Christian hospitality, especially toward the homeless; and over time, the convictions of both Day and readers alike resulted in the development of "homes of hospitality" where the homeless population could receive food and shelter. Day is also known for her pacifist stance on war.

Why she inspires me :: In comparison to what may be considered "mainstream expectations"of your average religious worker,  Dorothy Day was a person of contradiction. She was theologically conservative and politically radical at the same time. Day put her deep faith and conviction in God into direct action, even in times of opposition from other believers. Day was also extremely honest about her own depravity. In her autobiography, she gives insight into her personal struggles. When others referred to her as a 'saint' she politely declined the title saying the only reason she had achieved anything was because she was not "embarrassed to talk about God" in her own life.

Quoted :: The greatest challenge of the day is how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us.

GRAÇA MACHEL
Story :: Born in Mozambique in 1945, Machel has had the unique experience of being first lady in two different countries (Mozambique & South Africa). She is an international advocate for women's and children's rights, including an increase in primary school enrollment in Mozambique; advocating against gender-based violence in regions across Africa; and being a voice against child marriage. Alongside Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, and her husband Nelson Mandela, she is a founding member of the Global Elders.

Why she inspires me :: Machel is a freedom fighter in the true sense of the word. Though she has faced much adversity throughout her life (limited opportunities as a child, the mysterious death of her first husband, facing serious challenges in countries where she served in political office), she has nonetheless maintained a sense of hope while advocating for good governance, equality and human rights.

Quoted :: It is the meaning of what my life has been since a youth - to try to fight for the dignity and freedom of my own people.

RACHEL LLOYD
Story :: Born in the UK in 1975, Lloyd is an advocate for young women who have been trafficked and prostituted in the United States. A survivor herself, she moved to the U.S. in 1997 and founded Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS),  now one of the largest organizations offering direct services to American survivors of child sex trafficking. Lloyd has had tremendous influence on the current movement to address sex trafficking of minors in the United States, including a direct role in the successful passage of New York's Safe Harbor Act for Sexually Exploited Youth; and has spoken out on several occasions about the influence of mainstream society on the commodification of sex and youth in our culture.

Why she inspires me :: While there is certainly no shortage of anti-trafficking advocates within the current movement, Lloyd's life and work is especially inspirational due to her passion and conviction surrounding the development of a survivor-led reform movement. GEMS' strong focus on empowering survivors to express their experiences, observations and desires - done in a way that does not appear to be re-exploitative, but rather focused on recovering self-respect, strength and resilience - is unique. It seems Lloyd has faced many obstacles in life, but regardless of these obstacles she has found the strength to overcome them and use her energy to invest in the lives of others.

Quoted :: There have been experiences I would rather not have had and pain I wish I hadn't felt - but every experience, every tear, every hardship has equipped me for the work I do now... It puts all past hurts into perspective.

FUTURE ARCHITECTS
In her speech on behalf of UNWomen today, Michelle Bachelet (another on my personal list of inspiring women) closed with these words:

"Today on International Women's Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to women's rights and move forward with courage and determination. Let us defend human rights, the inherent dignity and worth of the human person, and the equal rights of men and women." [UNWomen]

Well said.

--
Tania is Chab Dai's International Communications Director, and is based in Phnom Penh. Follow her on Twitter at @tania_chabdai.

The Paradox of the Leadership Lens

Chab Dai Cambodia Leadership Team
(Left to Right: Dara, Muylen, Sithy, Helen, Yeng)

One of the greatest privileges of my life has been to lead the amazing team and work of Chab Dai.

It has been a source of some of my life's greatest highs and most extreme lows, it has inspired me with the many amazing people I have come to know and admire, and broken my heart by showing me the impact of those who perpetrate horrendous crimes against the vulnerable.

I have to admit that reflection has never been one of my strengths - it is something that, for me, requires discipline and space; neither of which i have a lot of! My leadership preference has always been in the vision, future possibilities and strategies of the organisation, but I have had to learn how to balance the extremes of many other aspects within the leadership experience.

I remember when I first entered a leadership role and was told that 'it is lonely at the top'. At the time it seemed strange when I was surrounded by so many people for much of the time. However, I soon realised that it was apparent that decision-making and holding ultimate responsibility for the organisation can in fact be - well - lonely.

Another interesting extreme is the tension and partnership of being focused on the strategy and vision of the organisation and at the same time, keeping myself informed of its activities, challenges and successes, the new ideas being discussed, and how the team are doing.

Perhaps some of the greatest extremes exist in my mind - the need to look at a situation or issue through three mindsets simultaneously. The first is looking and assessing the facts of the present situation. The second, to reflect on past experiences to see if there are any lessons I have learned to apply to the present situation, and finally to look at the implications and inspirations from the present, on the future.

I see leadership as a journey rather than as a destination which means I still have a lot to learn even after many miles of travelling!

A fellow traveller,

Helen

Partnerships – really, what are they?

I love my drive into work - even in the chaos of Phnom Penh traffic, it gives me time to think about my day, what is possible, what didn't work, why I think what I think and numerous other random thoughts that pass through my mind!

                            

My latest discovery in the car is my voice memo app on my iPhone. I know that many people have been using this app for years but I am a little behind technology in general. The great thing about this app is that I can now record these random thoughts rather than risk injury to my fellow road companions!

This week my thoughts, among other things, have been around 'What is Partnership?'

This phrase has become a part of the politically correct terminology we are expected to use in our work, church and communities. My worry is that it has become so normal in our vocabulary that we may have missed the point of it entirely or not even considered it's challenges and possibilities.

The US State Department, Trafficking in Persons office have even added the word to the existing 3 P's of Prevention, Protection and Prosecution - so we now officially have 4 P's to include Partnership. I guess my worry is that we often drift into partnerships knowing that this is how we should work rather than being deliberate and strategic and asking 'why'.

We all have our own frameworks for the word - for some it provokes a nice, warm feeling of how great it is to work in partnership - for some there is tension in how to balance this with the natural competitiveness among organisations and individuals?

If we become more deliberate and 'purpose driven' (to coin the phrase from Rick Warren's bestseller) in partnerships, looking at how we can, dare I say it, 'measure' them, are we degrading the relational essence of partnership and collaboration. Does this make them less desirable if we are focusing on outputs and not just our input?

Chab Dai is an organisation whose very soul and ethos is about collaboration and partnership. We are not immune to these issues and need to challenge ourselves at every level of our partnerships..

I guess for me, as I wrestle with this, it comes down to a basic question that I need to continually consider - What is the most effective way to develop deliberate partnerships to end global trafficking and abuse - and how do I measure them?

I think I need a few more car journeys for this one..

A fellow pilgrim,

Helen

Our Road Trip Across Cambodia!

Last week our Senior Management Team visited our members’ projects across Cambodia to personally present the new Chab Dai Charter with each of them. The Charter is a tool we hope will positively improve projects and raise the standard of care for children, communities, & staff. The overall response we received from the Charter was positive, and we heard many ‘yes!’ statements. It was most of all inspiring to hear project updates from 44 teams working to end trafficking in Cambodia!

In the following months Chab Dai will be working alongside our member organizations & staff to support implementing higher standards via group trainings, policy sharing, and facilitating best practice sharing between members.

“Inspired & motivated by our faith we commit ourselves to raising the standards as we work alongside communities, victims, & survivors; as we work with staff, donors & the government; and as we seek to model best practice.”

[from the Chab Dai Charter Prologue]

Take a look at our Road Trip Journal:

[Day 1: Road Trip] Today we drove across Cambodia, a total of 8 hours, and met with our first member. They agreed to sign up to Chab Dai's Charter committing to excellence (and stamped their approval!). We will continue meeting members all week (50 total!)…

‎[Day 2: Road Trip] Today we have had meetings in 3 different provinces and our car is covered with lots of dirt from driving through muddy potholes. This afternoon we had the opportunity to present certificates to 3 local commune leaders who have committed to protecting the children in their villages from trafficking & abuse!

[Day 3: Road Trip] We’ve now been to 5 provinces, spent 16 hours in the car, had 12 meetings… and … now we are back home in Phnom Penh! Over dinner tonight we all shared how much we are really enjoying one-on-one meetings with members this week. And we are encouraged by the positive feedback we have heard- that thisCharter is a great step forward to raising the standards of care for children and staff in Cambodia. Two more full days of meetings in the city!

[Day 4: Road Trip] Today we spent time sharing about the Chab Dai Charter with 15 members around Phnom Penh. What is the Charter exactly? It's both a set of principles and an implementation tool, that by signing up to, members state their commitment to excellence while working to address sexual exploitation & trafficking in Cambodia!

‎[Day 5: Road Trip] Today was the last day of our road trip and we enjoyed meeting 16 more member organizations! To wrap up the road trip we spent time sharing & praying for our members and the Charter follow-up, and finally… celebrated with a team dinner!

A summary of our week on the road:

5 Days

8 Chab Dai Leaders

869 Kilometers (540 miles) across Cambodia

15 Hours driving in the car

5 Provinces

44 Meetings with Member Organizations

11 Members already committed to the Charter (and many more yes’s!)

Thanks for everyone who followed our live updates on Facebook & Twitter (#50roadtrip). To learn more about Chab Dai visit our website: www.chabdai.org

Next Week: Road Trip Across Cambodia to Visit 50 Members

Next week in Cambodia, Chab Dai will be traveling across the country to meet with each of our member organizations’ leadership team to launch the Chab Dai Charter and its accompanying Commitment to Excellence Implementation Tool.

Here’s a quick look at our itinerary:

[5 Days, 4 Cities, 2 Cars + 3 Motos, 8 Chab Dai Leaders, and 50 Meetings]

Day 1: We’re starting early on Monday and driving (literally) across the country – to the Northwest region of Cambodia. Meeting #1.

Day 2: After rice & coffee for breakfast, we will join meetings #2 & #3 and then move again- this time to the tourist city of Siem Reap. Meetings #4 & #5.

Day 3: Wake up & join a few early morning meetings (#6, 7, 8, & 9), and then the long 5+ hour drive back to Phnom Penh by evening. (Also today, Meeting #10, 11, & 12!)

Day 4: With a coffee in one hand & the Charter in the other, the team will divide into pairs and cover the city, following a schedule of stacked meetings all day. If each group meets with nearly 5 organizations, let’s do the math: that brings us to Meeting #13-30.

Day 5: Today will be the last day of back-to-back meetings. This will finish the road trip, and Meetings #31-50! We did it!

What is the Chab Dai Charter?

The Chab Dai Charter is a set of principles that aim to raise the standard of care, focusing on the areas of protection, collaboration, participation, and transparency. We believe these four areas best summarize our framework for working together to protect & restore the lives of children & communities in Cambodia. The Commitment to Excellence Implementation Tool outlines action points that reflect these principles in tangible & measurable ways, and are a guide for organizations committed to best practices in working with all stakeholders (children & communities, member organizations, staff & organizational development, donors, and the government).

Follow us next week [20-24 June 2011] across Cambodia!

Every day next week we will be posting photos along the way, and quotes & stories about our journey & meetings with members. You can follow us on our first-ever road trip via Twitter or Facebook:

Twitter: @chabdai (use hashtag #50roadtrip to tweet!)

To learn more about Chab Dai visit our website: www.chabdai.org

Building National Leaders

Chab Dai believes in building leaders. This year we are focusing on supporting and empowering directors & managers through forums, trainings, discussion groups, and reading lists. Books are always being passed & traded across our desks!

Our team is currently studying 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey, and say they appreciate the wisdom of John Maxwell too. In Siem Reap we facilitate a monthly directors and managers peer group with our member staff; this week we talked about good communication skills.

We acknowledge that great leadership and management skills enable staff to implement great projects and therefore better serve & protect children.

As a team we have created a mini-reading list of leadership books we like:

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey
• Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman
• First Things First , Stephen Covey
• Good to Great, Jim Collins
• 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, John Maxwell
• 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, John Maxwell
• Servant Leadership , Robert Greenleaf

(Photo above of our Directors & Senior Management Team in Cambodia.)

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A Day in the Life of 3 Abolitionists: It All Starts with Coffee!

A day in the life of Chab Dai directors around the globe – with or without coffee? By Frida Westerling, Chab Dai Intern

Yeng (Cambodia Director) says his habit of drinking coffee started at Chab Dai.

When I ask Yeng about his workday and say, “It all starts with a coffee, right?” he smiles and begins telling me about his day not mentioning coffee even once.

Yeng wakes up at 4.30 a.m., goes for a run (!), helps his kids get ready for school and goes off to work. Being the Country Director, Yeng has a lot of work in his hands. He’s working with local donors, the government, Chab Dai members as well as helping with provincial prevention projects. After work he studies until 8 p.m. and in the evening he helps his wife with her business. When Yeng started working at Chab Dai he wasn’t a coffee drinker. According to his colleagues he now sometimes has two coffees in the mornings. I don’t blame him.

Working at Chab Dai further encouraged Julia (Canada Director) to continue her coffee habits.

Julia was already a coffee drinker when she started working at Chab Dai and she’s still going strong, imbibing this poisonous drink. Her naturopathe is telling her to quit but she always finds herself having coffee after struggling without it for a couple of days. When Julia and her husband started working with Chab Dai heconsequently became a coffee drinker.

After her morning cup of coffee, Julia keeps up-to-date with the human trafficking situation in Canada, networking and doing contractual work. Her work entails meeting a lot of people and introducing them to Chab Dai.

Helen (International Director & Founder) has always been a coffee lover herself, and is passing on her ‘coffee-loving-legacy’ at Chab Dai!

Waking up to 60+ e-mails a day and numerous meetings and visitors a week, Helen and coffee are practically one. As Founder of Chab Dai, Helen spends a lot of her time discussing, talking and brainstorming with people with oh so often a cup of coffee in her hands.

“Relationships come first. It’s where we’re able to make a difference. It means, I guess, my days might look chaotic from the outside," Helen says. Her role is also to ensure the well-being of the expatriate staff in US, Canada & the UK, and supporting their direct projects.

Part of Helens daily framework is looking strategically on the impact our work is having in the future. “We need to have big dreams and big visions and if something seems impossible, we strive creatively to bring about change”, she adds.

About her staff’s relationship with coffee she says with a laugh: “It’s my legacy to the staff. I guess it’s one of the less positive aspects of my influence on them.”