The Global Connections Project was started by Lo and Shawn Tuoch, both children of wars that resulted in the mass exodus of Southeast Asian refugees to the United States. After several individual trips to Southeast Asia for charitable projects, Lo and Tuoch recognized the need for humanitarian work in the country.

While in Cambodia, the group volunteered at New Life Center Organization orphanage in Siem Reap, which the Global Connections Project built in 2010. They also taught conversational English in Sonha village about 25 kilometers from Battambang.

Below are reflections from four Augsburg students involved in the Global Connections Project. To read more, visit the Global Connections Project .

Rosa Chhou Ham ’16, exercise science major

Today we got to visit the orphanage and words cannot describe how beautiful these kids are. They have a contagious spirit of laughter, joy, and excitement and they bring such a powerful energetic atmosphere! Their English is amazing and the kids were very helpful to my peers and I [sic] with our Khmer. Coming to visit and meet the kids brought a sense of encouragement and hope. It’s so hard to not fall in love with these kids; they really have captured my heart today.

Mai Moua Vang ’14, chemistry major

We arrived last night to Siem Reap. On our 6-hour train ride from Bangkok to Siem Reap, I happened to sit next to Boun Nook. He is a 16-year-old Thai boy and was heading the same direction that we were. I asked him if he spoke English and he nodded his head saying he did. The funny thing was that he really didn’t speak English. …I took out my sketch book, [and] he drew pictures in my sketch book and then pronounced what it was. I listened to every word and then tried my best to enunciate the words. He corrected me when I didn’t say it correctly. This event made me realized how much art can be used to express ourselves as well as relating to others. Also I learned that every stranger is there to help propel you forward so don’t be a stranger and talk away.

Phoua Vang ’14, general studies major

Communication with these students was difficult at first due to the language barrier and even now it is still difficult, but there are the small little things we do that gives us the bond. Laughing together without understanding one another is the beauty of building a relationship because we both know what are intentions are. I am teaching them English and at the same time they are teaching me Khmer. We are both giving and receiving and I find that to be amazingly beautiful. It’s a good feeling to hear them laugh even though they are laughing at me.

Kanee (Mee) Lee ’14, management major 

It’s been about a week here teaching the students in Cambodia. Waking up, doing chores, eating breakfast, biking to school, teaching the students in middle school, biking back home, teaching some younger students back at the center and then biking them home. These children are so bright, curious, engaged, and have brought definition and meaning to my life here in Cambodia. I know I will miss my students when the time comes, but for the time being I will focus on the time I have left here and how to use it best, to benefit my students. Although I am supposed to be teaching them, they have taught me just as much back. My relationship with them has grown and I hope to develop it even more before I leave. Besides a relationship with my students, I have grown and learned even more about my peers and advisor. Without their support and encouragement I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Penh Lo, director of Pan Asian Student Services 

I woke this morning in a strange but familiar place. The sounds of the monks chanting morning prayer echoed over the loudspeaker. I stare at the ceiling of our hotel room expecting to see our our students rush in shouting “good morning, teacher!” I slip in & out of sleep as I thought I heard our oldest daughter say “Daddy, wake up!” And I woke up with tear drops missing home, but also a smile and a sense of renewed wholeness as we begin our journey home.

It’s been an amazing journey in affirmations. I will miss the morning bike ride to school as I stare in wonder of the surrounding mountain landscape. But the most splendid beauty of this small, remote village is in its people—the smiles, the laughter, the welcoming with open arms and a sense that we are called to be of service…

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Founded in January 2010, the Global Connections Project has been the lifelong work and vision of Shawn Tuoch and Penh Soni Lo, director of Pan Asian Student Services at Augsburg. Shawn and Penh are children of the wars in Southeast Asia which resulted in the mass exodus of Southeast Asian refugees to the United States. After several individual trips to Southeast Asia for charitable projects, they recognize the need for humanitarian work in Southeast Asia. By luck, they met through various networks and started collaborating. As a result, Global Connections Project formed with an all-volunteer staff and board.

While in Cambodia, the group volunteered at New Life Center Organization orphanage in Siem Reap, which the Global Connections Project built in 2010. They also taught conversational English in Neanglem village about 20 miles from Battambang. In addition, they explored the effects of tourism on Sihanoukvillle region while shadowing two young women who have been sponsored by the Project.

Below are reflections from two of the group members. To read more, go to the Global Connections Project .

Mai Yer Vang ’11, currently teaching English in Japan

When I shot this picture [shown here], I didn’t realize how deep and captivating this woman would stick out to me until now. In a single snap, I hope to have captured the hardship she may have faced through her lifetime. I wonder if she still sees the world as a beautiful place, or if all the difficult things she’s seen in her lifetime have made it hard for her to see the beauty that lies within our humanity.

Cambodia has taught me that history does repeat itself if the world turns a blind eye. A slight shift in history impacts a society psychologically and things are the way they are because of it. Leaving Cambodia, I think the most important lesson I’ve learned is to be generous. Yes, there are a lot of problems in the world—but if we shut ourselves out, become ignorant to the problems in our world, then history would and could possibly repeat itself.

I will not forget to be generous. When you can do things without expecting anything in return, that is the ultimate meaning of life. I’m grateful that I have the opportunity, chance, and choice to be generous.

Maizoua Vang, Augsburg College senior

It has been almost a week since I have been back home from my trip to Cambodia. All of which I’ve done from the time I arrived in Cambodia up until I departed has finally sunk in completely. My time there may have been short, but in such a short period of time I was given the opportunity to learn so much.

For one, I’ve learned that to be of help goes beyond one’s power. The fact that you’re able to be present in that moment of time and be of help enables a person to realize how fortunate they are to be able to change a person’s life in that slight moment of encounter; whether you both know it or not.

Second, I’ve been reminded that in order to change anything, you must first learn to change yourself. Change your mindset, your views, and your heart to fully adapt to the changes you want for others. And you must learn to help and understand yourself before you can learn to be of help and understand others.

Lastly, continue to pursue your curiosity. Like my picture I’ve included in this post, be as curious as a child who seeks adventure. Continue to look beyond what you think you may know. Be open to the changes and opportunities given. Meet and talk to strangers, for you may be given a chance to change their lives just as they may be given a chance to change yours.

More importantly, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to reflect upon all that I’ve learned here if it weren’t for this program and the group I traveled with. Being able to travel with everyone on this trip and through this program, it has definitely been a learning experience. It has helped me reshape my views on service and how to better myself individually as well. I can’t thank everyone enough for this tremendous and wonderful experience. Thank you Global Connections Project for this great opportunity. Thank you to all the supporters of this program, you are all the reason why this experience was made possible.

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Second year student, Ka Vang, shared her experience of meeting with Hmong families and community members.

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This trip to Australia was one that cannot be repeated nor done differently. This experience was such a great learning experience for me personally because it made me aware of how important it is to be Hmong. Being a Hmong American girl and visiting the Hmong Australian families in a group was not expected of me before we started planning. I did not think that it was at all possible to do so. Fortunately, we had a lot of interest in this project and put a lot of commitment into this and made it happen. I am really proud of the girls and our advisors for supporting each other through the process of planning and during the trip.

Going to Australia for the first time, I did not really know what to expect but to meet Hmong people. With the little information that we were given from previous speakers and individual research, I was expecting to meet a variety of Hmong families in the different areas that we planned to go.

The most valuable experience to my learning were the community gatherings because I was able to connect with the Hmong people in Australia, which was one of the main goals. I was also able to learn from their experiences and share mine as well. Many of the people were also interested in our stories and our lifestyles in the states.

Many of the Hmong parents in Australia are similar to the parents here in the states, whereas there are similarities and differences within the youth. I don’t know if it was just me, but I was quite hurt by the fact that a lot of youth are losing interest in the culture and the traditions. Although there are those who are interested in it, they do not have the resources, time, and anyone to teach them. I understand that it is hard to hang on to one’s culture and language in a place where you are the minority, but I think it’s still very important to keep our culture alive, regardless of where we are.

Overall, I am really happy that I was part of this trip because it has made me realize how important my identity is to me. I am just thrilled that the people in Australia and I have so much in common, yet have so much differences. We are the same people, but because we live so far away from each other and in different governments, we form these differences.

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