Himanthi M, Bachelor of Engineering

Engineers Without Borders: Cambodia Design Summit (February 2017)

The experiences and opportunities that were on offer were once in a lifetime. The opportunity to live in a remote Cambodian village really opened my eyes to realities of people’s lives around the world. The trip also allowed me to discover Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. This bustling city is a central hub. There are so many great restaurants to try the local cuisine. The program took us to many new places every meal which gave us the chance to discover new parts of the cities we visited.

The weather did get quite warm on some days but most of the time the monsoon rain came in the afternoon which cooled the weather and the nights were comfortable. The accommodation provided by the program was really great and high quality. They were well organised and provided our needs. It was great staying with all the people who were on the summit and it meant that there were always group activities happening. Also activities were included in program cost which included dolphin watching, cultural experiences and historical tours.

The shopping was great in the local markets in Phnom Penh and the provincial towns. The prices were negotiable so don’t be afraid to bargain. The design summit focused on human design. We also had lectures on sustainable design, intercultural skills workshops, communication and the design process. The like-minded people and the contacts developed on the trip were so valuable.  Lifelong friendships were formed.This experience is invaluable and I definitely would recommend the EWB Design Summit for all engineering students.