Since the time of Pol Pot when vast numbers of Cambodians fled the Khmer Rouge terror by escaping into Thailand, the Jesuits have worked among the Cambodian people. Initially they worked in the refugee camps on the Thai-Cambodian border, but when the war of terror was over and Cambodians returned to their country, the Jesuits and their companions accompanied the people back home. Because of the vast numbers of landmines left over from the war, one of the major tragedies for the Cambodians was the number of people - especially children - maimed or killed by these devices.

The Jesuits established Banteay Prieb, The Centre of the Dove, as a centre for landmine and polio victims, where they received training in skills and arts to provide them with a livelihood for the future. This work has flourished and now there are smaller centres across Cambodia, especially in the Diocese of Battambang where Monsignor Kike Figaredo is in charge. Mgr Kike has set out to revitalise Cambodian dance culture, which was shattered during the reign of the Khmer Rouge.

Sr Denise Coghlan, an Australian Mercy Sister from Brisbane, has been recognised by both the Australian and Cambodian governments for her outstanding work with landmine victims in Cambodia and the abolition of anti-personnel munitions around the world. Sister Denise has set up the Reflection Centre in Siem Reap where people can find succour in a troubled world.

The latest development in the Cambodian mission has been the arrival of Korean Jesuits to assist in the work of rehabilitation among the local people.

Read more about Jesuit Mission's work in Cambodia

Dancing for the stars

For young people like Sophea, dancing is an expression of identity and hope. In her home village in Cambodia, it's being used as an important way of giving young people a sense of who they are, and pointing the way to future possibilities beyond the war and poverty they have grown up with. Read more...

Stories of hope

'It is my hope that I can be a good teacher and help my futurestudents in their studies so they can be good citizens for the development of Cambodia.' Students from Tep Im Hostel in Battambang tell their stories...

Cluster convention becomes law

On the eve of the passing into force of the Cluster Munitions Convention, Cambodian-based Jesuit Fr Enrique Figaredo has called on the Australian government to ratify the historic agreement, which prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of the insidious and destructive weapons. Read more...

Balloons of hope

One-hundred-and-six messages filled with hope, dreams and wishes of peace flew over the Cambodian city of Battambang after it was announced that the treaty to ban cluster munitions will come into force later this year. Read more...

Aussie volunteers in Cambodia

Lian Yong knew that spending her days zoning and planning would cause her to 'scratch her eyes out'. So she gave up the idea of environmental law and turned instead to her second passion: refugee and human rights law. Read more...

Refugee learning curve

When a young Australian lawyer moved to Cambodia to volunteer with Jesuit Refugee Service, she was swapping her coveted role as a Brisbane judge's associate for a job working with refugees in a developing country. Read more...