A visit to Cham, a Muslim community near Phnom Penh. RTG Ambassadors met with village elders who talked about how they rebuilt their community after the Khmer Rouge. Today we learned about the local Muslim community and their experiences before and after the ruling of the Khmer Rouge regime. Farina So presented on the background and context of the village we were about to experience. The Khmer Rouge sought to eliminate education and religion as they felt threatened by both fields. As we reflected on the unfathomable truth of their stances during the genocide, it was overwhelming to comprehend their ability to preserve their religion throughout their circumstances. This presentation then led to our visit to the Cham village, a community of Cambodian Muslims. We took a seat with the chief leader and three other elders of that village. The chief walked us through his personal experiences during the genocide. It?s notable to mention the joy the community possessed greeting foreigners with a diverse set of religions. Despite growing up as a practicing Catholic, the Muslim community made me feel as if I belonged in that village. Their dedication to their religious beliefs is admirable and reflected in the eyes of the children present in the community Nicholas Gabrillo RTGAmbassador
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