Before You Die, Plant a Tree: Practical Lessons for Peace Building in Cambodia

While vacationing in Cambodia in 2017, Dr. Penfield discovered the unique grassroots peace initiative of Peace Bridges, an NGO (non-profit) led by Cambodians dedicated to long-term peacebuilding. A year later, she returned to join them to gain insights and practical lessons for her community work in the United States. She was especially interested in the way in which nonviolent training was used to nurture community development and empowerment. This descriptive case study draws upon a rich source of historical and cultural data, participant observations, personal interviews, and stories of change obtained from peacebuilders.
Before You Die, Plant a Tree is not only a refrain created by the Peace Bridges community who host large tree plantings to care for the environment. It is also a metaphor for the practices of peacebuilders in Cambodia and an invitation to each of us to partner with others in our communities to repair and restore what is broken in order to leave behind more justice and peace for future generations.