This summer, I had the opportunity to work with Cambodia Global Health (CGH), a non-profit organization founded in 2024 with a mission to create a medically accurate and culturally competent health curriculum for K–12 schools in rural Cambodian villages.
I came on board with CGH as a Program Evaluation Intern for my Applied Practice Experience (APE). My main role was to evaluate the curriculum from the perspective of the Cambodian teachers who implement the lessons — a crucial step in understanding its impact and guiding future improvements. I was able to travel to Cambodia to connect on a deeper level with our partners there as a part of my Global Health Practicum course.
During my time in Cambodia, we visited three schools and engaged directly with their administrators, educators, and students:
- The first was Chumkriel Language School in Kampot. We connected with the community during their annual soccer tournament. Later, the students presented their learnings from the CGH health lessons through song, dance, and posters — a wonderful affirmation of their growing knowledge and enthusiasm. We also held a wellness presentation and distributed pamphlets to aid ongoing health education.
- Our second visit was to Hun Sen Chamkardaung High School in Kep. Here, we engaged in a more in-depth dialogue with administrators, educators, and high school-aged students, discussing not only health practices, but also their futures — higher education, employment, and life goals — alongside the health curriculum’s role in their understanding.
- The last school we visited was Trapaingchhouk Primary School in Kep. With the youngest children, we taught a short dental health lesson and provided pamphlets for their classrooms.
In my spare time, I had the opportunity to visit the Genocide Museum and Killing Fields in Phnom Penh. This experience deepened my understanding of Cambodia’s history — the immense trauma the country faced under the Khmer Rouge — and its ongoing process of healing and rebuilding its educational institutions.
I was also able to have a short layover in Taiwan. I got a day to explore Taipei, visiting sites like Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei 101, and Elephant Mountain. My favorite activity in Taiwan was eating; I loved Ningxia Night Market, specifically Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)!
I am truly grateful for this experience and excited to continue to collaborate with community leaders and educators in Cambodia. SPPH has prepared me to approach this work with humility, compassion, and a strong understanding of best practices for working alongside communities that are different from my own. My Global Health Certificate is giving me the tools I need to grow in this field and make a meaningful contribution to health equity across borders.
About the Author
Allie Murphy is an MPH student at UTMB’s School of Public and Population Health and a 2025 Fulbright recipient. She currently serves as a program evaluation intern with Cambodia Global Health.
Interested in sharing your global health experience or student perspective? Email spphmarketing@utmb.edu to learn how you can contribute to the SPPH blog.