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I am an international Bachelor of Arts student majoring in both politics and social justice, and currently doing an honours year. My country of origin is Zambia but I have lived and studied in Australia since 2003. My trip to Cambodia was an eye opener for me because the conditions of living in Cambodia are very similar to those of Zambia. However, even if it is the case, Cambodians have a different approach to solving their poverty situation as compared to Zambia because programs funded by non-government organisations like Caritas Australia are put into practice on a larger scale. I realised that these programs had a great effect on the long term plans to help the locals. This trip was beneficial for me because I travelled with some people who have never seen poverty in real life and it was interesting to observe their reactions and hear their opinions about Cambodia.
My name is Emma Clark and I’m a fourth year student studying a double major in Literature and Politics. I embarked on the Caritas TGAL tour to Cambodia due to my interest in political history and social justice. I bore witness to absolute poverty, and yet, often in the same moment, a sense of empowerment and hope from within the local people through various Caritas-funded programs. The experience, and these photographs, will move me for years to come.
I am a Sister of Saint Joseph of the Apparition and was born in El Salvador in 1979. I lived there for the first eight years of my life. During the civil war, my family and I moved to Western Australia in 1988. Currently, I am in the final year of my Bachelor of Arts with a major in Theology and Social Justice. I have a strong interest in human rights and community development with a focus on all people who live at the margins of society. The trip to Cambodia was a fascinating experience because it gave me the opportunity to understand the work of Caritas amongst Cambodian people. The experience allowed me to enter into the beauty of the culture and to recognize the strength of spirit, courage and resilience that lies at the heart of Cambodian people.
I have been at the University of Notre Dame for almost three years. Before taking up the position I was the Director of the Institute for Regional Development at the University of Western Australia. I have been a community psychologist for more years than I care to admit to and have worked extensively with communities throughout Australia and internationally. The trip to Cambodia was my first to that country. I was tremendously impressed with the community work being done by ordinary people living in very difficult circumstances. The trip for me exemplified what I like most about UNDA; that is, the opportunity to ‘walk the talk’ in pursuit of social justice and community service. I am confident that the UNDA / Caritas relationship will continue to enrich the lives of generations of students at UNDA. In my spare time I am living through a mid-life crisis as bass guitarist and singer in a blues rock band.
I was born in Fremantle in 1982 and have lived here all my life. I graduated from Notre Dame in 2006 with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science with distinction, and a minor in Social Justice. Just before graduating I had the privilege of travelling to Cambodia with Notre Dame and Caritas. It was my first visit to the country and I hope to return soon to explore the region more fully. Currently though I am working for the WA Department of Health through their Graduate Development Program, as well as pursuing illustration work part-time (I draw the cover of the Quokka newspaper each week). One day I would like to publish a book of Cambodian insults entitled, ‘Khmer and Say That’.
I am a country girl from Manjimup and moved to the city three years ago to study Politics and History at Notre Dame. I became interested in Social Justice, particularly international aid and development, after taking some Social Justice classes and becoming aware of the necessity of Social Justice in every facet of life. I was very excited at the chance to go on the Caritas TGAL trip to Cambodia, and found that the experience made me extremely passionate for a vocation within Social Justice. I am currently studying Honours and will be going back to Cambodia this June, for research and to volunteer with some of the inspiring people I met during the December trip.
I have been working as Caritas Australia’s Global Education Advisor for over six years. Part of my brief is to engage the Australian community in issues of social justice. I am very excited about the partnership between Caritas Australia and the University of Notre Dame Australia as it is a fantastic opportunity to encourage people to become compassion in action.
We are retired business people who volunteer for Caritas in a variety of ways. The Cambodian journey completed our ‘Think Globally, Act Locally’ study course, and provided the platform to witness Caritas working with the poorest of the poor. We are parents to 3, and grandparents to 7, share a particular fascination for the sea, sailing together on many ‘blue water’ cruises in our yacht.
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