Experiencing Life's Complexity

The Kingdom of Cambodia has a history that includes generations of foreign occupation, a violent civil war, and one of modern history's bloodiest genocides; it has a present that is tainted with rampant poverty, a corrupt government, and inadequate support for the millions of people struggling to get by without access to life's basic necessities. Sadly, it seems that wherever one looks in Cambodia, it is all too easy to find overwhelming pain and devastation. So how do we respond when we are confronted with such heartbreak, with stories and images that violate our deepest sense of what it means to be human? How can we retain a sense of hope for the future in a world that appears deeply and irrevocably ... unfair?

On Quest: Cambodia, you will encounter some of the horrific realities of an unjust world. This may prompt some to ask some of life's most difficult questions, questions that swirl around the concepts of suffering, pain, and perhaps even the nature of what some might name as evil. But the true complexity of Cambodia (or the world, for that matter) cannot be appreciated unless another set of questions - those centered around the resilience of the human spirit and our ability to make a positive impact on the world - are introduced. Quest: Cambodia will give you the opportunity to stare into the heart of the wrongs that humans are capable of inflicting upon each other and simultaneously offer life-giving hope for the future.

In the schools of several rural areas outside of Siem Reap, you will see positive development taking place and new future emerging in this battered land. This Quest trip will work in partnership with the Cambodian School Project, a small yet robust NGO working to infuse the lives of the rural poor with optimism and hope through both liberal and technical educational opportunities, as well as village wells, community gardens, and micro-finance lending projects. Through teaching English lessons to students who desperately need language proficiency in order to find work that will pay them enough to survive, you will be playing a part in giving your brothers and sisters in Cambodia the skills and confidence they need to lift themselves out of crippling rural poverty. In so doing, you will find yourself being inspired again and again by people working hard to help move their families and their country forward. In grappling with the tremendous moral gravity of something as horrific as a human holocaust or the indignity of poverty, you will have to face some of the darkest and saddest elements of humanity. However, it is our hope you will discover that social action is a powerful and transformative response to the injustice in the world - and that you yourself have the power to contribute to that transformation.

Trip Highlights:

Quest: Cambodia offers UW students a glimpse into the past and present of this fasciating, up-and-coming Southeast Asian nation. The focus of this trip is teaching English to primary school students, but trip participants will also have the opportunity to:

• Visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Russian Market, and other sites of cultural importance in Phnom Penh
• Pay homage to the fallen victims of the Khmer Rouge regime at the S-21 Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh
• Spend time at a rural orphanage and learn about the sustainability of a humble yet visionary village operation
• Explore architectural, symbolic, and religious magnifence at the stunning Angkor Wat temple complex
• Enjoy delicious Khmer and international cuisines served up on Siem Reap's famous Pub Street
• Experience a Khmer cooking class, a meditation workshop, and even an elephant ride around ancient temples

We hope you will consider applying for Quest: Cambodia; it is sure to be an experience you will not soon forget. Feel free to contact us with any questions you might have about this incredible opportunity, and don't hestitate to apply today - priority will be given to early applicants!

*Please be advised that trip dates are subject to vary slightly based on the needs of our contacts in the region

Pre-Trip Meetings:

Group meetings before departure not only allow participants to become familiar with the issues that are central to their destination, but they also give everyone a chance to get to know their fellow travelers. As these meetings are an integral part of the entire Quest experience, it is important that you are able to commit to attending them. Meetings typically take place around every two weeks on Sunday evenings, and you will receive more information about these gatherings following your invitation to travel with Quest.

Payment Information:

The posted program cost includes all ground transportation, lodging, activities, and most meals. Airfare to Cambodia typically costs an additional $1600 to $1800, and tickets will be purchased under the direction of the Crossing shortly after the group is composed.

Fundraising activities can significantly defray the cost of the trip, and many students find over half of their total trip costs - including airfare - can be covered by participating in Quest's fundraising program. If you'd like more information about Quest's unique fundraising program, please see our Shareholders 101 page.

If you are invited to travel on Quest: Cambodia, a $250 non-refundable deposit will be required within five days of acceptance to secure your spot on the trip.