ABSTRACT
Civil war and ruthless experiments in social engineering created terror for decades in Cambodia. During the most intense years of the conflict, a large portion of the population was uprooted and displaced, one in four Cambodians died, and when the worst of the conflict was over, 20 more years of low-intensity warfare followed. Amidst all of this, the international community expects Cambodians to rebuild their country. However, the psychological scars left by organized violence and abuse prevent many from participating in social processes, and the culture of Cambodia has to be reinvented for a globalizing world. Nevertheless, traditional ideas and healing methods still exist and remain relevant at the core of Cambodian communities. It is from these kernels of traditional culture that it is possible to design meaningful and effective inter-ventions that can help people help themselves.
