Cambodia Seminar: Good Character Means Caring for the Earth
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – On September 15, 2026, a seminar on “Character Education and International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer” was held at the Cambodian University for Specialties (CUS) in Phnom Penh, with over 200 participants. The program brought together university leaders, educators, youth leaders, students and invited guests to discuss character development, youth leadership, peacebuilding and environmental responsibility.
The program opened with welcome remarks by H.E. Dr. Keo Chea, vice rector of CUS, followed by a special message from Mr. Santosh Paudel, vice president of UPF-Asia Pacific. In his message, Mr. Paudel emphasized that character education is about developing integrity, respect, compassion, self-discipline, responsibility and a spirit of service. He also highlighted that young people are not only leaders of tomorrow but also leaders and partners today.
The main lecture, “Building Good Character, Building Peace,” was presented by Mr. Chamroeun Sophal, UPF-Indochina (Mekong) regional director. He explained that peace begins with individuals and that people are shaped by their character. The lecture highlighted key qualities including respect, responsibility, integrity, compassion and self-discipline.
Mr. Sophal further connected character education with peacebuilding through a simple progression: good character leads to responsible actions, responsible actions build trust, trust encourages cooperation, and cooperation strengthens communities and contributes to peace.
The lecture also emphasized that young people are peacebuilders today, not only future leaders. Participants were encouraged to practice five simple peace actions: respect one person every day, help one person every day, control one negative reaction every day, perform an act of service every week, and do something to protect the environment every day.
In relation to the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, the presentation explained that environmental protection requires responsibility, international cooperation, long-term thinking, commitment and collective action. The ozone layer provides a lesson that global challenges cannot be solved by individuals or countries working alone; cooperation and shared responsibility are necessary.
The program concluded with an introduction to the Youth Development Program by Mr. San Chenda, president of Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) Cambodia, providing participants with further opportunities for leadership, communication, teamwork, character development, service, peacebuilding, community engagement and international understanding.
In conclusion, the seminar successfully connected good character, youth leadership, peacebuilding and environmental responsibility. Participants were encouraged to begin building peace through their own daily choices and actions. The central message of the seminar was: “Building Good Character, Building Peace,” and “Peace Begins With Me.”
