About Kdei Karuna

Kdei Karuna is a politically-neutral peacebuilding NGO aiming to contribute to sustainable peace efforts in Cambodia. Through an expertise in dialogue facilitation and sustained engagement with communities, Kdei Karuna encourages locally-driven approaches to address conflict, encourage mutual understanding, and promote healing. KdK has prioritized areas as following: Youth Development & Lifelong learning; Inter-ethnic Relations; Gender Equality & Empower all women and girls.

History

Kdei Karuna began working in Cambodia in 2005 as a branch of the Boston-based International Center for Conciliation (ICfC). Recognizing the unmet needs of Cambodians in dealing with historical wounds, the organization began implementing projects using ICfC’s Historical Conciliation methodology. This methodology aims to produce empathy and understanding from hatred and anger through a deep reflective dialogue process, helping people get unstuck from painful memories. After a number of years working within rural Cambodia, this methodology evolved to better fit the needs of Cambodians in dealing with their own past memories and in addressing conflict between groups. In 2010, the organization registered as a local non-governmental organization under the laws of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

STRATEGIC GOALS

Facilitate deep, long-lasting change at community level through activities that develop peacebuilding skills, knowledge, and behaviours of core beneficiaries at key locations; and

Promote a nationwide improvement in knowledge and understanding of past conflict to prevent and resolve future conflict.

Vision

Kdei Karuna envisions an inclusive peaceful society.

Mission

To build a peaceful future in which dialogue and social trust are strengthened, and a collective transformation of the meaning of a just society achieved, based on understanding and reconciliation with the past.

VALUES

The following Values underpin the culture of KdK and guide the attitudes and behaviours of staff as they work together internally, and with beneficiaries, partners and stakeholders: Diversity and Harmony, Dignity and Equality; Support and Collaboration; Efficiency and Effectiveness; Sustainability and Ownership.