Ep 9. Cambodia's Struggle

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there exists a high demand for medical supplies, especially PPE, all over the world. Our host, Jeff, decides to head over to Cambodia, which is one of the countries that is severely affected by the pandemic. However, Cambodia is not just struggling with the pandemic, but is also recovering from its dark past of the Khmer Rouge regime.

In this episode, Jeff explores Cambodia's history, visiting sites like the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as the S-21 Prison, where thousands of Cambodians were tortured and executed during the Khmer Rouge regime. Jeff takes a guided tour of the museum and sees the horrific conditions prisoners were subjected to. The museum was a school that was converted into a prison, and each classroom was subdivided into individual cells. The museum has preserved the horrific history with graphic photographs and exhibits, giving us a glimpse of the atrocities of the past.

After the visit, Jeff meets with Socheata, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime. Socheata shares her chilling story of how her father, a schoolteacher, was executed by the Khmer Rouge, and how she and her family were forced to flee their home and live under harsh conditions as refugees. She shares how the country is still recovering and struggling with the aftermath of the regime and how it has affected the country's economy and infrastructure.

Jeff then heads out to explore Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, and its markets for medical supplies. He meets with vendors who sell handmade PPE, which is of good quality but not certified by international standards. He understands that Cambodia's economy is heavily reliant on tourism and shares his concern about the pandemic's impact on the country's economy.

Jeff then heads out to meet with Dr. Heng, the founder of the Children's Surgical Centre in Phnom Penh. Dr. Heng shares how his team of Cambodian doctors and nurses are fighting and providing medical care to the Cambodian people and children, especially with helping children with deformities. He shows Jeff some of the procedures and surgical equipment, including a 3D printer used to create prosthetics.

In the final part of the episode, Jeff heads to the countryside to meet Cambodians who are living in poverty and who are struggling to provide basic needs for their families. Jeff helps build a well for a family that doesn't have access to clean water. He also delivers humanitarian aid, including food and clothing, to a local school that was set up to support children who were orphaned due to HIV.

The episode ends with Jeff sharing how the Cambodian people's resilience and strength, even with the country's struggles, which has left a deep impression on him.

Around The World For Free Season 1 Episode 9 - Cambodia's Struggle examined the plight of the Cambodian people who are fighting to survive amidst the pandemic while still recovering from its painful past. It highlighted the strength, resilience, and kind-hearted nature of the Cambodian people, which left a deep impression on Jeff.