Empowering Women Forest Defenders in Cambodia

Mr. Set is a pastor in his 50s who serves at a church in Kandal province. His recent participation in Peace Bridge’s Part A “Training for Peace” program has already begun to change how he relates to people in his community, church, and family.

Mr. Set has changed how he thinks about leaders in his community. “I know at all levels of leadership there is corruption and nepotism, and in the past, I was very negative and prejudiced against these people,” he said. Set learned from Peace Bridges that he must seek to understand others, even if they are people he doesn’t agree with. “Now I realize that all people face constraints and want to have a good life for them and their families. I also understand that I shouldn’t hate people who participate in corruption. I can have a positive outlook and not look down on them. Instead, I should be a positive example for everyone.”

In his pastoral role, he often provides counsel to people in his congregation and sees himself as a role model. “I used to look down on people who abuse alcohol and I used to make judgmental remarks about them to other people,” he said. “Now that I’ve learned about peacebuilding and nonviolence, I have stopped using harsh words.” Now Set takes time to ask how people are doing and he listens without judgment.

At home, Mr. Set has noticed his ability to manage his anger and communicate well has improved some of his relationships. “I have eight children who I have to help get up and go to school. In the past, they were always late to school which made me so upset. I used to yell bad things at them and punish them. We were all so unhappy. Then, Peace Bridges taught me about conflict and communication skills. I decided to try to understand why my children were late; it turned out that they were staying up until midnight to do homework, so they were too sleepy to get up in the morning. When I realized this, I asked them to get up at 5:00am to finish their homework and then get ready to go to school. My children agree this is a better way and are happy that I took time to listen and solve this problem. Now I no longer blame and yell, so they are pleased to get up early and leave on time.”

Mr. Set is looking forward to studying more with Peace Bridges. For now, he is sharing what he about stereotypes, prejudice, and nonviolent communication with students, family members, his church, and people in the community.