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Faculty Led and Custom Group Programs
Create your own group and get customized hands-on development work, full cultural immersion, and adventures in Peru, Belize, Mexico, India, Thailand, Ghana or Brazil.
- Groups of 10 or more
- 1 to 4 week program exclusive for your group and you choose the dates
- Pre-trip organizational support and materials
- Help marketing the program with your organization
- Travel arrangements
- Intensive onsite orientation
- Coordination and funding of group or individual development projects
- Group or homestay living with full room and board
- Daily staff support and contact
- Local adjunct professors on request
- Curriculum development, and available classrooms and offices
- Weekly adventure and cultural experiences
- Post-program follow up from the community
- Extensive safety and liability coverage
Note: Additional items available upon request
Program Overview
ProWorld offers schools, businesses, and private groups customized project based programs to meet the needs of the organization and participants.
Sustainable and valuable development projects in our host communities serve as the foundation of every ProWorld program. By joining ProWorld your college, university or private group becomes an agent of positive change in the lives of volunteers and others.
In addition to your direct work on development projects your participation also serves as an economic stimulus to our host communities in the forms of: project contributions, local salaries, host family payments and local purchases.
ProWorld has contributed in excess of $120,000 directly to community projects, based on this business and development model. Additionally the ProWorld involvement in developing countries has infused over $3,300,000 into our host communities
Balanced Experience
Consisting of experiential learning, hands-on development work and cultural immersion, every private group program challenges its participants to grow as individuals and as members of our global community. Members of your team work toward completing a group project side-by-side with our host community.
Participants need no prior experience or specific skills, only a desire to help the best they can. By the end of each program, volunteers have gained skills in development work, leadership and cross-cultural communication.
Participants need no prior experience or specific skills, only a desire to help the best they can. By the end of each program, volunteers have gained skills in development work, leadership and cross-cultural communication.
Development Project Options
ProWorld matches the skills and interests of each group with the appropriate community proposed project. Current project examples:
- Health Care - Vaccinate children and provide health education
- Education and Literacy - Teach in local groups and tutor small groups
- Environmental Protection - Reforest depleted ecosystems and reintroduce lost species
- Micro Business - Teach basic business skills to a women's cooperative or artisan group
- Construction - Build an elementary school or rural clinic
- Internships - Individual skill based projects
Group or Homestay Living
Private group programs are team programs. The bonds created with your fellow volunteers often prove to be one of the most memorable aspects of the ProWorld programs.
Lodging can be in guest house accommodations or with homestay families. Participants and leaders also develop meaningful relationships with families and local community members by living, working and learning together. These bonds produce tremendous opportunities for cross-cultural learning and self-reflection
Lodging can be in guest house accommodations or with homestay families. Participants and leaders also develop meaningful relationships with families and local community members by living, working and learning together. These bonds produce tremendous opportunities for cross-cultural learning and self-reflection
Value to your Organization
By combining faculty led and private group programs with immersive community development projects your organization differentiates itself from others. This unique model of learning enables you to recruit exceptional people with a vision for global issues and improving the world in which they live.
Your organization can proudly display the sustainable development projects completed in collaboration with ProWorld.
Your organization can proudly display the sustainable development projects completed in collaboration with ProWorld.
Excursions
Weekend trips to cultural sites and adventure locations complement each volunteer's discovery of the immersive experience. Excursions may include:
- Exploring world famous archeological ruins
- Hiking through mountains, jungles, and natural preserves
- Participating in community festivals
Outsourcing your faculty led and private group programs to ProWorld enables your faculty members and leaders to focus on learning and teaching, while ProWorld focuses on the logistical and programmatic details necessary for a safe and productive program.
In addition to thorough safety and security measures throughout the program, your group is covered by our extensive liability and health care policies. For more information, please visit the Safety and Health page.
In addition to thorough safety and security measures throughout the program, your group is covered by our extensive liability and health care policies. For more information, please visit the Safety and Health page.
Create Your Program
ProWorld works closely with faculty, administrators, group leaders, and participants throughout the program process. Create a customized faculty led or private group program for your organization through the following process:
Select Site, Program Details and Dates
Through conversations with a ProWorld Program Advisor, your organization determines the appropriate location, curriculum, development projects, housing, adventures, travel arrangements and dates.
(3-18 months before the program)
(3-18 months before the program)
Pricing and Final Program Details
Based on the program details, ProWorld provides an adjustable price quote with multiple program options. Through final selections by your organization, ProWorld provides a detailed program profile for administrative approval.
(1 week after initial discussion)
Administrative Approval
(1 week after initial discussion)
Administrative Approval
The program profile is presented for approval by your organization.
(1-4 week duration, depending on organization)
Marketing, Recruitment and Site Visit
(1-4 week duration, depending on organization)
Marketing, Recruitment and Site Visit
ProWorld provides extensive marketing support to leaders and administrators: a custom web page, printed materials, posters, telephone support and email communication.
The leader and organization are responsible for utilizing the ProWorld support and creating on-site publicity to recruit students. Following formal commitment from your institution ProWorld will coordinate and share the costs of a visit to the program site by leaders or administrators.
(2-4 month duration, or until the program is filled)
The leader and organization are responsible for utilizing the ProWorld support and creating on-site publicity to recruit students. Following formal commitment from your institution ProWorld will coordinate and share the costs of a visit to the program site by leaders or administrators.
(2-4 month duration, or until the program is filled)
Pre-Program Preparation
Participants prepare for the program through discussions or classes, printed pre-program materials from ProWorld, personalized myproworld website, and conference call meetings with all participants and the ProWorld Program Advisor. On-site staff members work closely with the community to plan and prepare the project and program experience
(1-2 months before the program)
(1-2 months before the program)
Arrival On Site!
ProWorld staff members greet volunteers and leaders at the airport for an introduction to their program site and a 1-3 day program orientation.
The Program
Volunteers, leaders, community members and support staff work, learn and explore together while providing significant value to our host community and program participants.
Post Program
Community members and ProWorld staff follow up with volunteers and leaders to reinforce relationships, build sustainability and begin planning for the next partnership program with your organization.
ProWorld Staff Support
- A ProWorld Executive Advisor works directly with leaders and administrators throughout the entire process of program development.
- ProWorld Administrators provide additional logistical and programmatic support.
- On-site Program Directors begin discussions and program specific support with leaders 2-12 months before your program begins.
- A team of 2-3 ProWorld staffers greet your group at the airport and work with the group throughout the program.
Group leader and at least 10 group members
Suitable for students, adults, and families
Suitable for students, adults, and families
Where
- Peru
- Urubamba, Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Cusco, Capital of the Incan Empire
- Belize
- San Ignacio, Tropical Forest
- Mexico
- Oaxaca, Central Highlands
- India
- Mysore, Southern Plateau
- Thailand
- Chiang Mai, Northern Mountains
- Ghana
- Cape Coast, Central Region
- Brazil
- Salvador da Bahia, Heart of Afro Brazilian Culture
- Ecuador
- Costa Rica
- Philippines
- South Africa
- Dominican Republic
- Nepal
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
When
Dates are available January through November
You choose the length of your program
Cost
You choose the length of your program
Cost
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| Fees are determined based on the programs designed for each individual school. Typical pricing for Mexico, India, Thailand & Ghana: |
||||||
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Extra wk | Extra day |
| Group Housing |
$1,395 | $1,970 | $2,545 | $3,120 | $575 | $82 |
| Homestays | $1,195 | $1,690 | $2,185 | $2,680 | $495 | $71 |
Group leader is free with enrollment of each 10 participants. Contact us at info@myproworld.org to customize a program for your group.
Ecuador is a country abundant with rich culture and natural beauty. Straddling the equator, Ecuador's tropical coasts, temperate highlands and rain forests provide plenty of scope for any traveler, while carnivals and festivals provide visitors with colorful, cultural entertainment. From enjoying the serenity of the Guayas River in the evening and the breathtaking vistas of the Andes Mountains to the thriving city of Guayaquil, the diversity of Ecuador is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Where else can you discuss Darwinism in the Galapagos Islands, debate post-colonialism in the picturesque capital of Quito, heart of the ancient Incan Empire, map migration patterns based on the oral histories of rural communities that call the Andean peaks their home or get inspired by the agro-forestry projects and relish the flourishing banana, coffee, mango, corn, yucca, papaya, guayba, and mamay crops in the depths of the Amazon?
Due to economic depression and decreased social services brought on by conversion to the dollar and increased privatization imposed by foreign powers, Ecuador is currently struggling to create a sustainable, community-based conomy and espousing regional integration. Recovery and stability efforts are rooted in a growing grassroots, bottom-up movement to serve poorer, underrepresented populations in the country's development. ProWorld's Customized Programs to Ecuador can pair you with our established NGO partners or organize a group service project where you will be integrated in community organized projects in the health, environment, and socio-economic development portfolios seeking resolutions of social, political, and economic problems and offer you cultural and adventure excursions and full immersionand insight into this intriguing, thriving indigenous society.
Costa Rica or "Rich Coast" in English, boasts a warm climate, pristine beaches on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, as well as tropical forests and mountains. Due to its political stability, warm and hospitable hosts, natural beauty and rich biodiversity, it is easy to see why it is often ranked as one of the most visited international eco-tourism destinations.
However, explosive population growth, rapid, unmitagated development, imbalanced foreign trade policies, and the transition from an agricultural to a tourism and technology based economy pose real threats to sustaining Costa Rica's resources. Unfortunately, its gift of biodiverse bounty could well be its demise if concerted, participatory efforts are not pursued to preserve Costa Rica's wealth of natural resources.
Consequently, communities have organized to create innovative, grassroots development solutions to managing preserved areas and stewarding resources in such a way that has socio-economic benefits for local residents and curbs resource exhaustion. ProWorld's field-based approach allows you to customize a balance between cultural immersion in the local community in Atenas with academic and adventure excursions where you can examine the relationship and balance between parks and people, analyze innovative land use and protected area management models, witness the impact of expanded eco-tourism first-hand, or even just explore the mythic landscape at Monteverde's Cloud Forest.
The Philippines is an archipelago comprised of over 7,000 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. The Philippine Islands are extremely diverse ecologically with volcanoes, coral reef, tropical rainforests, mountains, coastlines, and rivers. Additionally, the Philippines are diverse culturally and historically with the Spanish, Chinese, Arab, Indian, and American influences that have shaped daily life and practices.
Filipinos have arich culture with fiestas, holidays, and family gatherings at the core of their social life, with music also playing a central role. It's hard to imagine a better way to culturally integrate with local Filipinos than sharing a karaoke duet, crashing a mob ov carolers, or singing along with a guitarist in a small village. A semester or volunteer program in the Philippines is a guaranteed way to encounter a unique Asian culture with the opportunity to communicate with local people in English.
However, while the Philippines is classed as a middle income country, it still suffers major development problems, including increasing poverty, decreasing school enrollment, and high maternal death rates. Though health programs in the Philippines have succeeded in reducing the occurrence of many diseases, including malaria, about half the population still suffers from poor nutrition, with health services concentrated within the larger cities. A lack of sexual health programs also threatens an explosion of HIV/AIDS in the area. Opportunities to collaborate in sustainable, community-driven health, environment and socio-economic development projects that empower the citizens of this island nation abound!
South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of the African continent and shares borders with neighboring Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the Kingdom of Lesotho, and Swaziland, making it a veritable cultural melting pot. Colorful and diverse, South Africa is known as the "Rainbow Nation" due to its ethnic and linguistic diversity, with eleven official languages and the largest Caucasian, Indian, and racially mixed communities in Africa. South Africa is renowned for its wealth of natural resources, its stunning wine regions, the plethora of wildlife seen on safaris, the surf off Cape Coast, and the rich religious and cultural heritage of the Zulu and other indigenous tribes.
While considered among the more affluent sub-Saharan African nations, South Africa still grapples with some of the complex issues of development and reconciliation after years of aggressive colonization by the Dutch and English and a tumultuous transition to the post-apartheid era. Despite a steady income growth in the past decade, economic polarization is creating larger gaps between the rich and the poor. Rising food prices have pushed those at risk of hunger related diseases deeper into poverty. HIV/AIDS and malaria continue to spread throughout the population, affecting the most vulnerable populations. Though access to education has increased, 75 million children are still missing out on primary education, the majority of whom are young girls. Opportunities to collaborate in sustainable, community-driven health, environment and socio-economic development projects that empower the citizens of this reconciling and revitalizing African nation abround!
Whether at the top of Pica Duarte, the Caribbean's highest point, located in the island's verdant, mountainous inland, snorkeling off the resort-lined Caribbean playas of Puerta Plata in the north, or exploring the cultural archive of colonial architecture in the capital of Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic (DR) has something to captivate every adventurous soul.
The sight of Christopher Columbus' first steps on the soil of the "New World," the DR, also known as Hispaniola, has since added the eradication of the indigenous population of Tainos (meaning "Friendly People"), a sordid tale of slavery and colonization on the island, the rise and fall of the brutal Trujillo dictatorship, and mass migration to the U.S. to its historical records.
Despite a stabilizing and even growing economy, the Dominican Republic is still combating severe poverty due to unjust international policies and death of social spending in a country where a majority of people still live on les than a dollar a day. A customized trip guided by one of ProWorld's in-country partners takes you beyond the high walls of the secluded, all-inclusive luxury resorts to immerse you in the rich and contradictory realities of this culturally diverse and socio-economically experimental country and put you in touch with the people and communities organizing to seek sustainable resolutions to their own expatriation and economic problems and improve social services.
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is the world's youngest republic. Home to an incredible geographic landscape, Nepal contains eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest. It's geographic landscape is matched by it's cultural richness - from spicy Nepalese cuisine to Newari music and dancing to traditional folklore to the over 92 different living languages spoken throughout the country.
Despite the huge economic growth it Nepal's two neighboring countries, China and India, Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in the world. With poverty rates are decreasing, some 30% of Nepal's 29 million people are still living in abject poverty. High illiteracy rates, low agriculture productivity, malnutrition, poor access to basic services and inequities are just some of the issues that challenge the country's population, with considerable inequities across geographic regions, castes, ethnicity and gender.
Partner with ProWorld on a customized group program to experience this unique culture while contributing to community-driven service projects in the health, environment and socio-economic development sectors.
Vietnam is a densely populated country of over 85 million people that has had to recover the last 50 years from colonial domination, the ravages of war, loss of international aid, and the changing economic realities of Southeast Asia. Although Vietnam's economy has grown tremendously in the last decade and has rebuilt international trade partnerships, the people still face poverty and issues related to a rapidly growing population without the jobs to support them.
Vietnam's biological diversity extends from the highlands and the Red River Delta in the north to the low-lying plains of the Mekong Delta in the south. It is ranked in the top 20 for its biodiversity with its tropical jungles, forested hills and mountains, and coastal plains. But some of this diversity is at risk due to slash-and-burn agricutlural practices, water pollution and overfishing, and growing urbanization.
Project options in our community-driven health, environment, and social and economic portfolios include: working in orphanages on construction, education, and basic care; staying with hill tribe communities in the north and constructing wells, planting sustainable kitchen gardens, and teaching vocational skills; and participation in mobile medical clinics to remote minority communities.
Cambodia was the heart of the Angkor Empire from the 10th to the 13th centuries and the city of Phnom Penh still stands as testament to the culture. In the latter 20th century Cmbodia faced occupation by Japan during World War II, the bloody Khmer Rogue regime under Pot Pot in the 1970s, and a 13 year civil war in the 1980s. Recently Cambodia has been able to focus on reconstruction and moving past its war-torn history, but a third of the population still lives below the poverty line.
Cambodian culture is a vibrant mix of Buddhism, French Colonial, HInduism, the Angkor past, and a combination of the dominant Khmer population and around 20 distinct hill tribes. The khmer culture has distinctive styles of dance, sculpture, and architecture that have influenced neighboring Laos and Thailand. Angkor Wat is probably the best example of the unique Khmer architecture.
Even though the economy is expanding, most rural households depend on subsistence agriculture to survive and larger farms rely heavily on rice as an export product. Infrastructure and education are issues with a population that was greatly affected by the Khmer Rogue and the civil war with more than 50% of the population under 25. Infant mortality rates have been decreasing, but access to adequate health care is still a problem.
Ecuador is a country abundant with rich culture and natural beauty. Straddling the equator, Ecuador's tropical coasts, temperate highlands and rain forests provide plenty of scope for any traveler, while carnivals and festivals provide visitors with colorful, cultural entertainment. From enjoying the serenity of the Guayas River in the evening and the breathtaking vistas of the Andes Mountains to the thriving city of Guayaquil, the diversity of Ecuador is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Where else can you discuss Darwinism in the Galapagos Islands, debate post-colonialism in the picturesque capital of Quito, heart of the ancient Incan Empire, map migration patterns based on the oral histories of rural communities that call the Andean peaks their home or get inspired by the agro-forestry projects and relish the flourishing banana, coffee, mango, corn, yucca, papaya, guayba, and mamay crops in the depths of the Amazon?
Due to economic depression and decreased social services brought on by conversion to the dollar and increased privatization imposed by foreign powers, Ecuador is currently struggling to create a sustainable, community-based conomy and espousing regional integration. Recovery and stability efforts are rooted in a growing grassroots, bottom-up movement to serve poorer, underrepresented populations in the country's development. ProWorld's Customized Programs to Ecuador can pair you with our established NGO partners or organize a group service project where you will be integrated in community organized projects in the health, environment, and socio-economic development portfolios seeking resolutions of social, political, and economic problems and offer you cultural and adventure excursions and full immersionand insight into this intriguing, thriving indigenous society.
Costa Rica or "Rich Coast" in English, boasts a warm climate, pristine beaches on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, as well as tropical forests and mountains. Due to its political stability, warm and hospitable hosts, natural beauty and rich biodiversity, it is easy to see why it is often ranked as one of the most visited international eco-tourism destinations.
However, explosive population growth, rapid, unmitagated development, imbalanced foreign trade policies, and the transition from an agricultural to a tourism and technology based economy pose real threats to sustaining Costa Rica's resources. Unfortunately, its gift of biodiverse bounty could well be its demise if concerted, participatory efforts are not pursued to preserve Costa Rica's wealth of natural resources.
Consequently, communities have organized to create innovative, grassroots development solutions to managing preserved areas and stewarding resources in such a way that has socio-economic benefits for local residents and curbs resource exhaustion. ProWorld's field-based approach allows you to customize a balance between cultural immersion in the local community in Atenas with academic and adventure excursions where you can examine the relationship and balance between parks and people, analyze innovative land use and protected area management models, witness the impact of expanded eco-tourism first-hand, or even just explore the mythic landscape at Monteverde's Cloud Forest.
The Philippines is an archipelago comprised of over 7,000 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. The Philippine Islands are extremely diverse ecologically with volcanoes, coral reef, tropical rainforests, mountains, coastlines, and rivers. Additionally, the Philippines are diverse culturally and historically with the Spanish, Chinese, Arab, Indian, and American influences that have shaped daily life and practices.
Filipinos have arich culture with fiestas, holidays, and family gatherings at the core of their social life, with music also playing a central role. It's hard to imagine a better way to culturally integrate with local Filipinos than sharing a karaoke duet, crashing a mob ov carolers, or singing along with a guitarist in a small village. A semester or volunteer program in the Philippines is a guaranteed way to encounter a unique Asian culture with the opportunity to communicate with local people in English.
However, while the Philippines is classed as a middle income country, it still suffers major development problems, including increasing poverty, decreasing school enrollment, and high maternal death rates. Though health programs in the Philippines have succeeded in reducing the occurrence of many diseases, including malaria, about half the population still suffers from poor nutrition, with health services concentrated within the larger cities. A lack of sexual health programs also threatens an explosion of HIV/AIDS in the area. Opportunities to collaborate in sustainable, community-driven health, environment and socio-economic development projects that empower the citizens of this island nation abound!
South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of the African continent and shares borders with neighboring Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the Kingdom of Lesotho, and Swaziland, making it a veritable cultural melting pot. Colorful and diverse, South Africa is known as the "Rainbow Nation" due to its ethnic and linguistic diversity, with eleven official languages and the largest Caucasian, Indian, and racially mixed communities in Africa. South Africa is renowned for its wealth of natural resources, its stunning wine regions, the plethora of wildlife seen on safaris, the surf off Cape Coast, and the rich religious and cultural heritage of the Zulu and other indigenous tribes.
While considered among the more affluent sub-Saharan African nations, South Africa still grapples with some of the complex issues of development and reconciliation after years of aggressive colonization by the Dutch and English and a tumultuous transition to the post-apartheid era. Despite a steady income growth in the past decade, economic polarization is creating larger gaps between the rich and the poor. Rising food prices have pushed those at risk of hunger related diseases deeper into poverty. HIV/AIDS and malaria continue to spread throughout the population, affecting the most vulnerable populations. Though access to education has increased, 75 million children are still missing out on primary education, the majority of whom are young girls. Opportunities to collaborate in sustainable, community-driven health, environment and socio-economic development projects that empower the citizens of this reconciling and revitalizing African nation abround!
Whether at the top of Pica Duarte, the Caribbean's highest point, located in the island's verdant, mountainous inland, snorkeling off the resort-lined Caribbean playas of Puerta Plata in the north, or exploring the cultural archive of colonial architecture in the capital of Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic (DR) has something to captivate every adventurous soul.
The sight of Christopher Columbus' first steps on the soil of the "New World," the DR, also known as Hispaniola, has since added the eradication of the indigenous population of Tainos (meaning "Friendly People"), a sordid tale of slavery and colonization on the island, the rise and fall of the brutal Trujillo dictatorship, and mass migration to the U.S. to its historical records.
Despite a stabilizing and even growing economy, the Dominican Republic is still combating severe poverty due to unjust international policies and death of social spending in a country where a majority of people still live on les than a dollar a day. A customized trip guided by one of ProWorld's in-country partners takes you beyond the high walls of the secluded, all-inclusive luxury resorts to immerse you in the rich and contradictory realities of this culturally diverse and socio-economically experimental country and put you in touch with the people and communities organizing to seek sustainable resolutions to their own expatriation and economic problems and improve social services.
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is the world's youngest republic. Home to an incredible geographic landscape, Nepal contains eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest. It's geographic landscape is matched by it's cultural richness - from spicy Nepalese cuisine to Newari music and dancing to traditional folklore to the over 92 different living languages spoken throughout the country.
Despite the huge economic growth it Nepal's two neighboring countries, China and India, Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in the world. With poverty rates are decreasing, some 30% of Nepal's 29 million people are still living in abject poverty. High illiteracy rates, low agriculture productivity, malnutrition, poor access to basic services and inequities are just some of the issues that challenge the country's population, with considerable inequities across geographic regions, castes, ethnicity and gender.
Partner with ProWorld on a customized group program to experience this unique culture while contributing to community-driven service projects in the health, environment and socio-economic development sectors.
Vietnam is a densely populated country of over 85 million people that has had to recover the last 50 years from colonial domination, the ravages of war, loss of international aid, and the changing economic realities of Southeast Asia. Although Vietnam's economy has grown tremendously in the last decade and has rebuilt international trade partnerships, the people still face poverty and issues related to a rapidly growing population without the jobs to support them.
Vietnam's biological diversity extends from the highlands and the Red River Delta in the north to the low-lying plains of the Mekong Delta in the south. It is ranked in the top 20 for its biodiversity with its tropical jungles, forested hills and mountains, and coastal plains. But some of this diversity is at risk due to slash-and-burn agricutlural practices, water pollution and overfishing, and growing urbanization.
Project options in our community-driven health, environment, and social and economic portfolios include: working in orphanages on construction, education, and basic care; staying with hill tribe communities in the north and constructing wells, planting sustainable kitchen gardens, and teaching vocational skills; and participation in mobile medical clinics to remote minority communities.
Cambodia was the heart of the Angkor Empire from the 10th to the 13th centuries and the city of Phnom Penh still stands as testament to the culture. In the latter 20th century Cmbodia faced occupation by Japan during World War II, the bloody Khmer Rogue regime under Pot Pot in the 1970s, and a 13 year civil war in the 1980s. Recently Cambodia has been able to focus on reconstruction and moving past its war-torn history, but a third of the population still lives below the poverty line.
Cambodian culture is a vibrant mix of Buddhism, French Colonial, HInduism, the Angkor past, and a combination of the dominant Khmer population and around 20 distinct hill tribes. The khmer culture has distinctive styles of dance, sculpture, and architecture that have influenced neighboring Laos and Thailand. Angkor Wat is probably the best example of the unique Khmer architecture.
Even though the economy is expanding, most rural households depend on subsistence agriculture to survive and larger farms rely heavily on rice as an export product. Infrastructure and education are issues with a population that was greatly affected by the Khmer Rogue and the civil war with more than 50% of the population under 25. Infant mortality rates have been decreasing, but access to adequate health care is still a problem.
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