[HWPL] Inside the 2026 HWPL Youth Camp, where religious leaders and students are moving past grand ideologies to build peace through everyday empathy
With recent, heavy tensions stretching along the border between Cambodia and Thailand, it’s easy to feel like peace is something completely out of our hands. When nations clash, what can everyday people actually do?
On February 21, a rather remarkable gathering at Asia Euro University in Phnom Penh provided an answer. Bringing together over 100 religious leaders, students, and educators, the "2026 HWPL Cambodia Religious Youth Peace Camp" proved that the real antidote to division isn't politics—it's a conscious choice to listen.
The 'Sampeah' perspective: Peace in a simple greeting
Conflict rarely starts from a vacuum; it grows when communication breaks down, leaving room for ignorance and fear. Venerable Hong Veasnar of Wat Nuon Mony Ram Temple brought this home during the camp by pointing to "Sampeah," the traditional Cambodian greeting of bowing with hands pressed together.
"Peace doesn’t begin with grand, complicated ideologies. It starts with simple, everyday respect in our daily lives. Fear and conflict happen when we lack understanding of one another, but compassion and mercy are universal values that belong to all of us, no matter our religion."
If a basic greeting carries the core of peace, then changing how we treat the person standing right in front of us is where real change begins.
Teaching kids how to listen, not just resolve
The talk from the education sector was equally grounding. Chhom Sopheak, the principal of Prek Leap High School, shared a refreshing take on what it actually means to educate the next generation.
"True peace education is a process of cultivating attitudes of listening, empathy, inclusion, and gratitude. It’s about helping students develop the ability to resolve conflicts on their own—that is what real peace education is."
Moving past the textbook, his school is taking immediate action by setting up a dedicated "Peace Club" right on campus.
The goal is simple: give students a physical space to practice tolerance and navigate disagreements constructively before they turn into deeper divisions.
Moving past theory: Real dialogue and youth action
The event steered clear of being just a series of long lectures. During a mini talk show titled “Religion and Peace,” participants sat down in groups to talk through difficult topics with mutual respect. To close the session, every single group had to distill their conversation into a single, actionable “One Sentence for Peace,” turning theoretical ideas into immediate, shared goals.
The second half of the camp shifted the spotlight directly onto the younger generation. Khean Ravyvuthika, president of the Rotaract Club of Phnom Penh Metro, reminded everyone that youth cannot afford to be passive onlookers:
"For sustainable peace, the proactive role of youth is essential. Education must equip young people with the capacity to act for social harmony."
To put those words into focus, the youth tested their knowledge on global harmony through a lively "Peace Golden Bell" quiz, and collectively read the "Religious Youth Peace Solidarity Pledge"—a formal commitment to choose understanding over division in their respective communities.
A long-term commitment to stability
The day wrapped up with a video showcasing HWPL’s ongoing grassroots work throughout Cambodia, followed by a live musical performance by a group of visiting Korean students. Watching youth from different cultures connect through music was a perfect reflection of the day's message.
This camp forms part of a larger, structured blueprint by HWPL’s International Religious Peace Academy (IRPA) and the IPYG’s Youth Empowerment Peace Class (YEPC). It isn't a one-off seminar; it’s an ongoing, deliberate effort to unite religious figures, teachers, and young people into a steady network that builds long-term stability across Cambodian society.
Even when border disputes dominate the headlines, seeing an auditorium filled with people actively choosing empathy over fear reminds us where true security comes from. It isn't built by weapons, but by an everyday commitment to look at our neighbors with respect. What does a small act of peace look like in your community today? Let’s talk about it in the comments below
Even when border disputes dominate the headlines, seeing an auditorium filled with people actively choosing empathy over fear reminds us where true security comes from. It isn't built by weapons, but by an everyday commitment to look at our neighbors with respect. What does a small act of peace look like in your community today? Let’s talk about it in the comments below
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