February 19, 2024: Since finishing her time as a Leadership Resident (LR) at Harpswell in 2023, Shalini Ravind from Singapore has continued to work in Phnom Penh as a part-time lecturer at Paragon University. Shalini recently founded the រីក RIK community, a “youth for youth” initiative that welcomes university students to create safe spaces together. Shalini reflects on the central role of space spaces in nurturing communities here:

Harpswell Roots

My time at Harpswell as an LR really highlighted the importance of having nourishing safe spaces for young people. At Harpswell, where girls come from different provinces and backgrounds, a strong community of support is created through the exchange of ideas. Harpswell reminded me that we really need to nurture a sense of belonging and togetherness to uplift not only our communities but ourselves. 

As I transitioned into the wider Phnom Penh community, I realized that the strength of the community at Harpswell doesn’t really exist outside the dorms.  Statistics show youth isolation is going up because of a disconnection with themselves and others. Through my interactions with my current students at Paragon University, I learned many of them have very isolating experiences when they come to study in Phnom Penh. They come by themselves, without their families, and often feel alone. I wanted to create a nurturing and nourishing space for them to connect with other young people.

The រីក RIK Community was founded so that youth don’t have to struggle alone.

រីក RIK means to flourish or thrive in Khmer; so the name represents individuals coming together so they can flourish together and individually. Often we need to feel a part of something bigger: a purpose, a sense of meaning and joy— a shared humanity. Having a sense of belonging to a supportive community can improve feelings of safety and connectedness. We all need to be seen, loved and valued, just as I experienced at Harpswell. Just like a flower blooming, រីក RIK’s purpose is for youth to connect to the possibilities that lie within them and the opportunities around them through mental health support, music and the arts.

One highlight of រីក RIK so far was when a participant shared that she felt that she didn’t want to be shy anymore. So she joined រីក RIK to practice talking with new people and to work on her confidence. Another was hearing from a parent the joy in knowing their child “is not alone anymore.” 

I am also excited that I am able to involve the Harpswell community in រីកRIK. It is a beautiful thing to see the Harpswell girls not only joining but bringing their families to join. Of course, this community includes Harpswell Leadership Residents too. The LRs have been so supportive in sharing their time with us and it is exciting that the រីកRIK youth get a chance to be exposed to other cultures and ways of thinking from them.

Peer-to–Peer Changemakers

In the future, I envision Harpswell alumnae drawing on their own passions and experiences to facilitate sessions for រីក RIK. This would allow them to share their knowledge with others in the community, leading by example with the tools that Harpswell gave them. For example, one of the Harpswell girls recently led a mindfulness painting session - I would love to see more of this! 

Since creating រីក RIK, what has really struck me about Cambodian youth is the deep sense of civic-mindedness. Cambodian youth are always wanting to uplift their communities. There’s this passion, fire, for wanting to be part of the change and the country's progress. 

So I would love to have many communities, or circles, where we train young people in not just leadership and self-management, but also as advocates who can provide peer support. In other words, youth supporting youth, helping one another. My vision for រីកRIK is multiple community circles within Phnom Penh so that wherever youth are, there is a safe space for them.