The document summarizes the Sarus Exchange Program, which aims to empower and build peace among university students in Cambodia and Vietnam. It provides an overview of the program's mission, vision, values and model for empowerment and peace building through communication, service, and inquiry. It then shares experiences and reflections from several Cambodian students who participated in the 2014 Sarus Leaders program.

1. Sarus 2014RECORD MOMENTS OUT OF COMFORT ZONE
Written and designed
by Heng HuyHuang
M A G A Z I N E

2. What is Sarus?
The Sarus Exchange program was established in 2010 as a peace build-
ing and youth empowerment program for the best and brightest
university students in Cambodia and Vietnam, those who demonstrate
the potential to be future leader in their countries.
The Sarus Exchange program is not just about peace building, but it is
also about empowerment. Every Sarus members have shown incredible
intellectual and emotional intelligence, as well as leadership potential.
Our mission
Our mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of future
leaders to build a peaceful and prosperous Southeast Asia.
Our Vision
We envision a future in which our community members remain deeply
connected to each other and committed to our mission, vision, and value
for the rest of our lives. As we become leader in our workplaces, commu-
nities, we will form a core nexus of regional engagement, collaboration
and innovation, thereby building sustainable peace and prosperity on a
regional level.
Our Value
We do not decide where we are born or to what family or to what
position in society. What we do determine is our actions each day. We
can become the people we want to become, and the Sarus community can
become the community we want to become.
Our Model for Empowerment and Peace Building
Communication: We’ve traditionally used a non-violent communication
called ‘Circle Meeting’, a forum guided by Sarus staffs where we all sit
down together for an hour or so every other evening during the program
to share insights and reactions to their days together.
Service: We naturally develop empathy by ‘walking in another’ shoes’.
There is not benefactor or beneficiary, only two equal partners. Through
service, the Sarus community expands beyond the Sarus community to
the lager community of the people we serve.
Inquiry: Peace cannot exist without an understanding of the fundamental
nature of conflict; in whatever family or community we live in. Therefore,
Sarus introduces ‘Independent Study’ every year. Sarus Leaders 2014 in
Cambodia made an eight-minute documentary, talking about education
in Cambodia-Vietnam village, for their Independent Study.
Leadership: Historically, in the Sarus Exchange Program, leadership has
been developed through staffs delegating responsibilities to Sarus partic-
ipants. However, this year, leadership can be developed on a deeper level
because Sarus participants, now called Sarus leaders, are true owners of
the program.
-- Handbook for Sarus Leaders (April 4, 2014)
missionvalue
vision
Circle Meeting (communication) Teaching (Service)
Documentary Shooting (Inquiry) Expressing (Leadership)
About Sarus

3. What I like the most about Sarus is I had a
safe and opened space to share my happiness and sadness in circle
meeting which is a unique thing in Sarus. I can say that I love everything
of Sarus except meeting. I felt that we spent too much time on each meet-
ing, which makes me feel sleepy after coming back from the
whole-day work.
‘Conflict’ is the most challenging for me. It is very difficult to over-
come all the conflicts when we stayed with many people coming from
different parts of the world and having different cultures. However, we
could solve it by using conflict transformation which made every conflict
smaller. Conflict is not good, but conflict is a good thing to learn from.
I have learnt new life lessons and make closer relationship with all Sarus
members through every conflict in this family.
For me, Sarus is my great family. I feel every member in this family
make my life more meaningful and lively. They are truly a part of my life.
Hem Davy
Junior at Royal University of
Law and Economics
M
ajor: Law

4. To be a Sarus leader, I submitted
the application form and had an oral
test, which was the same to every candidate.
However, what made me stand out was one of my answers
during the interview. The selection committee asked what I would do if
there was misunderstanding between Cambodian and Vietnamese. “I will
try all my best to explain them by sharing knowledge about my country
including culture and geography,” I told them with my confidence.
The question in oral test is very useful when the exchange program
started. It was not easy to live with foreigners because our activities and
cultures were not similar, but I tried to learn from them, talked to them
and accepted them. Finally, we could learn from each other, work togeth-
er and live with everyone in the community very closely.
Sarus Exchange Program 2014 helped me to obtain new experiences,
helped people in need and made more friends. Moreover, I did enjoy
exploring new things between both countries, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Phan Chhiengleng
Fresh Graduated Student from
University of Cambodia
M
ajor: International Relation

5. Sarus is my first exchange pro-
gram, so I remember almost all the
questions in the application form and during the
interview. However, I was very inspired by a question. “Sarus wants you
to make a documentary talking about Vietnamese in Cambodia, do you
have any ideas on this topic?” To be honest, I was shock by the question
because I haven’t learnt how to make documentary. However, I told them
“Keep it balance! The video has to reduce anger and misunderstanding
of both parties, but I cannot find a specific angle for this documentary
within a minute,” and then I showed them my personal blog and some
short videos I have made.
After a few weeks, I was selected, and I knew I have a chance to involve
with media which is my university major.
I think Cambodia leaders of Sarus can define true friends when we shot
a documentary talking about education in Prek Crey, Cambodian and
Vietnamese’s village in Kandal province. We, only 10 people, went there
and met countless problems. We solved them with smiles and tears. I felt
very warm to have them as my second family.
Besides practicing what I have learnt at school, I experienced living
in host family, cooking for a big group and working with villagers and
foreigners.
Heng HuyHuang
Sophomore at Royal University
of Phnom
Penh
M
ajor: M
edia M
anagem
ent

6. I know Sarus through the
information from my friend who was an
alumnus last year. After I passed Sarus shorlist,
I needed to go through the interview stage which one of the questions I
remember the most was my thought on Vietnamese. To be honest, I firstly
think that they were somehow quite bad in one aspect, but when I saw
Ngi at the walk in session, I somehow change my perspective because she
is very intelligent.
Selected by Sarus staff, I officially become a Sarus leader who is now
able to deal with conflict and work in large groups from many countries.
I love Sarus because Sarus has Circle Meeting which is a safe place where
everyone in the community can share everything in their minds and say
it out without any judgments from the others.
At the same time, I feel that Sarus leaders, my 9 teammates and I, were
not given enough preparation and information for leading our own pro-
gram by ourselves, which made me feel insecure to do things to satisfy the
community. Finally, there were conflicts happened in group, and I solved
it by getting away from the group to calm myself down in own space and
pointing things out during circle meeting.
Pheak Sereyvithiea
Senior at Institution of Foreign
Language
M
ajor: English

7. My dorm mate who participated in Sarus
2013 recommended this summer exchange program
to me. I decided to apply for Sarus 2014. Every Sarus’ question was very
critical, but one question was unique, and I will never forget it. “If you had
a chance to publish a book, what do you want to write about?” I respond-
ed that I wrote about women, and I would put a picture of a woman on
the cover with a title “Empowerment of woman”.
I was officially selected by Sarus and joined the orientation in Kep.
Even though I didn’t have a chance to write the book mentioned during
the interview, I was able to make a documentary with Sarus leaders. I
have learnt living in diverse communities, meeting people and exploring
new things after facing conflicts in the group.
Sarus shaped me to be an independent person, a good listener, a better
leader. However, I was not comfortable when I required to work or have
meetings until late night.
Keo Sopoan
Junior at Royal University of
Phnom Penh
M
ajor: M
ath

8. Sarus 2014 Journey
April4-6
May3-5
June7-8
June28-30July16-August8
Orientation
First Field Trip
Second Feild Trip Independent Study
The exchange Program➢ Venue: Kep Cambodia
➢ Participants: 5 Sarus Staffs and 10 Cambodia leaders
➢ Main activities:
• Welcome to Sarus
• Team building games
• Training on ‘Power and Leadership’ and ‘Conflict transformation’
• Introduction to circle meeting
• Sarus leaders discuss on the 1 field trip
➢ Venue: Koh Kong, Cambodia
➢ Participants: 3 Sarus Staffs and 10 Cambodia leaders
➢ Main activities:
• Sharing session related to literature, leadership, environment,
technology, social and so on. from each 10 Cambodia leaders
• Explore Koh Kong city, resorts and Thai Market
➢ Venue: Takeo, Cambodia
➢ Participants: 4 Sarus Staffs and 10 Cambodia leaders
➢ Activities:
•Plant trees and flowers in a primary school
• Teach primary students hygiene, environment, morality and
leadership.
• Explore the villiage to raise awareness and do reflection
➢ Venue: Kandal, Cambodia
➢ Participants: 10 Cambodia leaders
➢ Activities: divided into 2 teams:
• Shooting team (4 members): take video of landscape, activities and
interview
• Scouting team (6 members): contacted sources for shooting team,
talked to villagers in Prek Crey and draft main activities for the ‘Ex
change Program’
•All: made friends with students and villagers
➢ Venue:
• 2 weeks in Cambodia: Phnom Penh, Prek Crey (Kandal) and Siem Reap
• 1 week in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh, Ben Tre
➢ Participants: Sarus staffs, Sarus leaders and Sarus internees
➢ Activities:
In Cambodia:
• Visit Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
• Community service in Prek Crey:
- Build trash, collect rubbish,
- teach students, learn from villagers,
- exchange culture,
- make thank giving cards,
- compete football with(Sarus vs Student in Prek Crey)
- cook
In Vietnam:
• Visit Ho Chi Minh
• Repair Thanh Ngai primary school

9. “What do you think about Vietnamese?”
I was asked an unforgettable question during the
interview after I had been selected from shortlist. I honestly answered
that I am not racist. I treat all people around the world equally.
Sarus 2014, from April to August, I made a lot of new best friends who
I keep them as my family members. Moreover, Sarus introduced me and
my team members ‘Circle Meeting’ where we are free to share our ideas,
and we solved many problems in this meeting.
We, 10 Cambodia leaders of Sarus, were responsible for hosting
Vietnam leaders of Sarus, internees and Sarus staffs in Cambodia for 2
weeks. We had a group of 29 people, but we had a very limited budget.
Therefore, we had to think, to discuss and to evaluate all the time before
making master plan and choosing accommodation for them. In short, we
needed to choose good places but low price. I also had a biggest challenge
when re-pairing an old school in Vietnam for a week. I was very tired, and
I had never done it.
Seng Porchhay
Senior at Institute of Foreign
Langauge
M
ajor: Internation
Study

10. Mao Sreymom
Senior at Institute of Foreign
Langauge
M
ajor: English
“If you had superpower, what
would be the only one thing you want to
do or to get?” one member of Sarus selection com-
mittee asked me during the interview after I passed shortlist. I answered,
“I would use my superpower to transform the poor so called the educa-
tional system in my country, especially remote area in the province.”
After being a Sarus leader, I felt I had the superpower because I had
chances to teach children in remote areas, Takeo and Kandal, and I have
chances to meet new and talented people who are right now become
important part of my life.
We shared, we learnt, and grew together. All members in Sarus are
now my brothers and sisters, my real supporters, educators and caregivers
after we spent time on field trips and the three-week exchange program.
I sometimes feel very hopeless because Sarus is small and unrecog-
nized, so what my friends and I have done are not well-known and cannot
help much people. However, it is cool because this small place provided
everyone a space for opened sharing and helping each other. At the end
of the day, I can live in big group with wide diversity and initiate projects
for sustainable development for community.

11. “How to be a Sarus Leader?”
Personally, I gathered my ideas and pervious
experiences such as teamwork, volunteering and
social activities and carefully filled in the application form. Then, I was called
to interview. Before the interview day, I spent my time to prepare FAQs and
to practice with my friend. During the interview, I showed the selection
committee about my leadership skill. I told them that being a leader, I not
only leaded my group, but also guided my group to do things in the best
ways. Moreover, I needed to involve with all activities with a high responsi-
bility as well.
During the exchange program, I learnt 2 main life lessons. They were how
to be a good member and leader who had wider critical thinking and could
work with different-background people because I worked with American,
Vietnamese, Burma, Bangladeshi, and Cambodian during the exchange
program.
Who know my biggest challenge? One the first three days of Sarus
exchange program, I had final exam at my university. Therefore, I involved
less and I started to feel I took this program for granted. Luckily, the
others Sarus leaders and staffs understood my situation and always forgave
and supported me.
I am really satisfied and fully participated Sarus. I wish this exchange
program should have been longer than three weeks because Sarus leaders
want more time to learn, to discuss, to share and to build stronger friendship.
Te Kimhok
Fresh Graduated Student from
Panha Chiet University
M
ajor: Law
G o a l

12. Rous Sreypov
I remember 30 candidates passed
shortlist and went for interview, but only
10 candidates were selected for Sarus exchange
program. I am one of the 10 Sarus leaders who passed both shortlist and
interview after my well preparation.
Being a Sarus leader is a great opportunity for me to get out of my
comfort zone, to know myself clearly and to learn new things I have
never expected to happen in my life. Moreover, I am more independent
and responsible after planning every trip with the other Cambodian
leaders of Sarus.
However, I don’t think 3 weeks for exchange is enough. There are
Cambodians, Vietnamese, Americans, Burmese, and Bangladesh in the
group, so we share different nationalities, languages and cultures. We
sometimes had conflicts by misunderstanding which made whole team
felt very upset. Luckily, we had a circle meeting which everyone could
raise what we didn’t like and problems solved. When we just knew each
other well and built strong team, it was time to say good-bye to them.
Sarus should have given us four weeks like previous years.
Senior at Cambodian Mekong
University
Major: Econom
ic Developm
ent

13. Because I don’t have any
experiences in exchange programs,
my sister told me about Sarus which her
friends joined last year. I remember that I answered 6 or 7
questions related to leadership and conflict in shortlist, and I was asked to
attach my scanned passport, ID card, university transcript, recommenda-
tion letter. Well preparing for shortlist, I could go interview session which
I will never forget a critical question. “Why does Vietnamese step
outside their border and live in Cambodia?” I answered, “Vietnamese’s
living condition is poor and they want a better life in Cambodia. There
are more jobs in Cambodia.”
A few weeks later, I got an email telling me I became a Sarus leader.
Stepping into this community, I know that I make some changes. I have
learnt two main things from Sarus. First one is problem solving. We are
able to solve all the conflict of misunderstanding by allowing both parties
to talk directly to each other or in circle meeting and solve the problems.
Secondly, I have to be supportive to be a good leader because supporting
is a good medicine to motivate people.
I thank Sarus for giving me big challenges. I was sometimes very
stressful when some of Sarus leaders were very busy, and Sarus was a long
exchange program which kept me busy with my work and study. I also
thank Sarus for introducing us circle meeting where I can share and
receive any feelings and reflections.
Tep Afril
Senior at University of Cambodia
M
ajor: IT
April
March

14. Photostory
Orientation
First Field Trip
Second Field Trip
Independent Study
Other happy moments
The Exchange Program
Discussion Time Leadership Game Having Fun (Kep Beach)
Sharing Session Sharing Session Having Fun (Koh Kong)
Expressing ourselvesPlanting TreeTeaching Children
Interviewing Commune Chief Interviewing Vietnamese boy Preparing for Interview
Visiting Royal Palace Making Trash Leadership Game
R e p a i r i n g S c h o o l