What to Call the Cambodian People?

As we near Thanksgiving, I wish express to Team Cambodia 2011 the gratitude of the local Khmi community. Since Youthlinc's Cambodia Benefit, I have been contacted repeatedly by individuals who have shared a past desire to do more for their people in Cambodia, but have felt powerless to do so...until Youthlinc. You have become their hands and their hope!

There has been some question concerning the use of the word Khmi (kah-my) when relating to the Cambodian people. Khmi is the word they use when speaking of themselves and of their language. A much more commonly used word is Khmer (kah-mer). In fact, were you to do a Google search with the word Khmi, you would find yourself empty-handed. Please allow me to share a very short explanation of why we have chosen to use Khmi, and why the Cambodian people are known to the world as Khmer.

The history of Cambodia is the stuff of fantasy and intrigue. Its rich twists and turns have taken it from one of the world's highest civilizations to one of the lowest. In 1863, due to Thai and Vietnamese tensions, Cambodia became a "protectorate" of France. During this time, the Khmi people lost a lot of their pride and identity. Gold tiles were removed from their temples, and, among other changes, the French began referring to them as Khmer. This would be much like another country coming into the U.S. to "save us", changing our name and the name of our language, and having the rest of the world follow suit...until no one could Google American and figure out what it meant.

Obviously, Khmer and Khmi are both important terms to know and understand. As you study Cambodia and its people in preparation for your trip next year, I would suggest using the words "Cambodia", "Cambodian" and "Khmer". But, as you personally get to know the Cambodian people, using "Khmi" will recognize and honor the truth of who they are. In a land where so much has been lost, I believe this is an important distinction to be made.

Warmest Thanksgiving Wishes,
Karen Roylance

There is still time to apply for our August Friends & Family Trip to Peru! 1st team meeting April 16

Friends and Family Trip

Dates: August 3 – 17, 2011 First team meeting: Saturday April 16, 3pm at the Youthlinc office in Brickyard. Email office@youthlinc.org for directions.

To Reserve your place send your application with a $250 non-refundable deposit to the office as soon as possible.

Peru is one of our most popular destinations for the Friends & Family Trips, most likely because participants can visit two outstanding wonders: the natural wonder of the Amazon Rainforest and the man-made wonder of Machu Picchu.

Along the Amazon, the team will work with the people of the tiny pueblo of Palmeras, a Youthlinc site for the past two years. The team will continue the construction, education, community health, and microenterprise projects of our Service Year group which will visit in July. Look forward to a jungle walk, piranha fishing, pink dolphin watching, and lots of interaction and exposure to the fascinating culture of the shy but welcoming River people.

We stay at the Heliconia Lodge, hosted by our in-country coordinator, Iquitos Rotarian and longtime friend Carlos Acosta. This Swiss Family Robinson style lodge now has pool in its central courtyard so the team can cool off after a day of service in the jungle heat.

This team will also travel to Cusco, ancient seat of the Inca culture, and tour one of the wonders of the world: Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was rediscovered covered in jungle in 1911. The site dates from the early 1400s, built by the Incas as a place for spiritual study and astronomical observation. There are terraced agricultural plots, houses, and ceremonial rooms. Few people have toured Machu Picchu and left without remarking that the ruin evokes a profound feeling of inspirational human accomplishment and spirituality.

The team will also tour Lima and visit the Indian Market for some of the world’s most amazing shopping before an idyllic dinner in Rosa Nautica restaurant, extending out into the Pacific Ocean.

Cost: $3,590, includes airfare, all tours, transportation and meals. Apply at www.youthlinc.org. Click APPLY, or go to PROGRAMS/Friends & Family for more information.

Youthlinc generates a lot of support at our Cambodia Benefit!

Team Cambodia 2011 is well on its way to raising funds for Youthlinc’s newest service site, Peak Sneng, Cambodia! Last Saturday, November 13, at Bangkok Classic, the local Cambodian community joined with Youthlinc staff and volunteers to host a culturally rich event which raised over $6,500 in project funds, cows and water filtration systems! A shout out to Youthlinc’s generous benefactors! Thank you!

For the Cambodian people this was a celebration, and an evening of tremendous gratitude to Youthlinc for choosing to serve their homeland. They welcomed Youthlinc guests with a special blessing ceremony for the Kingdom of Cambodia, after which members of Team Cambodia 2011 joined in singing The Prayer with survivors of the Khmer Rouge killing fields. (Cambodia is the first Youthlinc service site whose history includes mass genocide. It is also our first country which boasts one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat.)

Karen Roylance, Dr. Wade Roberts, Britnie Powell and Judy Zone, each took a few minutes to speak about Cambodia, humanitarianism, and what Team Cambodia 2011 will do there next summer. Guests were treated with traditional Cambodian Ballet, (once only danced before God-Kings), in the form of The Blessing Dance, performed by Savan Ich. Offerings/auction items, were then presented by members of the Cambodian community, followed by The Goodbye Song, sung by Makayla Vann.

Thanks to Eastern Travel for donating a trip to Beijing and to the Bangkok Classic for hosting the event. A special thanks to everyone who made this event possible, and to our Youthlinc young humanitarians who will use raised funds to change—and save—lives in the village of Peak Sneng, Cambodia!

Youthlinc kicks off 12th Service year with largest teams ever and a successful General Orientation!

Welcome everyone to the Youthlinc Family!

We are so happy to report on General Orientation. The halls of the Warnock Engineering building at the U of U were packed with our new 2011 Youthlinc Class. With our largest teams ever we had over 250 students, mentors, and family members come find out what Youthlinc is all about. This is always such a wonderful time for the Youthlinc Staff and team leaders because we finally get to meet the people who are going to make this such a successful service year. All the team leaders have been working so hard to prepare everything and I hope that all of you know how much we appreciate you!

Judy Zone: Youthlinc's Executive Director
Ellie Nazzal: Local Service Director and Office Manger

Smith Monson: International Service Director

Cambodia Leaders
Britnie Powell and Kyler McGee

Thailand Leaders
Pete Frost and Mckay Mattingly

Kenya Leaders
Scott Bawden and Jerika Michel

Mexico Leaders
Mike & Angie Denison and Tiffani Erikson

Peru Leaders
Jeff and Ramona Daun and Mikaela Ray

General Orientation is an all day event jam packed with information. You get to understand the Youthlinc experience and meet your team who you will be getting to know over the year. Students from all over the state of Utah come together with one goal in mind... SERVICE. Each year Youthlinc students contribute over 12,000 local service hours in their communities. They are able to change lives locally and internationally and really find what it means to be a Humanitarian. I love getting to meet all our new students, they remind me what it means to work hard. They are full of excitement and even thought they know it is going to be a tough year of work can't wait to get started. I don't know what it was but this year's orientation had a awesome feeling. Everything just clicked! We were all able to gather, share stories, and start this year off right.

The service fair was a great time for students to check out service opportunities in their communities, including Youthlinc's Real Life Refugee Mentoring Program. They were also able to mingle and meet people on their teams.

The mentors had productive meetings with their team leaders and were able to set goals for the year to make their teams be successful.

We are so grateful for the continual support of our past Youthlinc Parents many of whom came to talk to our new parents about the Youthlinc experience and how it has changed their childrens' lives.

I would like to introduce you all to our 2011 Youthlinc teams.

Thailand 2011 Team

Kenya 2011 Team

Peru 2011 Team

Mexico 2011 Team

Cambodia 2011 Team

I hope you are all as excited for this year as I am. Can't wait to see what you accomplish together.

Sincerely,

Ellie Nazzal