Report from the field...Cambodia
Photo Credit: Brent Stenberg, Kep, Cambodia
This past February, Brent and I had the opportunity to join 33 Cambodian leaders in the quiet seaside town of Kep,Cambodia. It's impossible to be stressed in Kep, and that was our hope. Hammocks swing in the breeze along the water's edge, and a tree-lined promenade meanders past a bustling crab market to a quiet beach. Rest and a change inscene was in order for these leaders, all of whom have dedicated their professional careers to addressing sex-traffickingand child slavery issues within Cambodia and across its borders. The sleepy setting stood in stark contrast to the normal unrelenting pace of their day as leaders. Over the three days, many shared their common challenges, but also their shared commitment to excellence in leadership, their passion for their work and Cambodia's future, and their desire that the emerging generation of Cambodian leaders would be empowered by a culture of staff support. Our partner organization understood that a strategy for personal resilience would be critical for resisting the pull toward burnout in these leaders, and for ensuring the long term impact of theirefforts. This trip was part of a much larger goal to spread staff care resources to as many as possible through effective in country networks. Through this partnership and the help of generous donors, the Headington Institute has also engagedin valuable collaboration with Cambodian professionals, leaders and humanitarian staff in adapting our training style, broadening our approach and learning from the Cambodian context.
- Alicia Jones, Assistant Director, Headington Institute
Where to next... 
Rick goes to South Africa in March toprovide training and counseling support at a security training event. Brent, Don and Linda head to Bangkok in April to facilitate team meetings for staff of a large humanitarian organization. Also in April, Don will travel to Bostonand teach a training course on Responder Mental Health in the Context of Personal and Team Security at the Humanitarian Academy at Harvard in partnershipwith their Humanitarian Studies Initiative. Don travels to Nairobi in May toprovide training and support at another security training event.
From the President
As we watch the Washington budget negotiations, we're increasingly aware of the consequences of these decisions on our work at the Institute. Already, humanitarian organizations are reeling at the recent cut in U.S. government funding that provides a large portion of the money going to relief and development work around the world. This has led many to make drastic cut backs in personnel and programs. Staff-care and wellness initiatives are being eliminated or downsized. Trips for us to train and support humanitarian aid fieldworkers have been canceled. Further cuts are likely to result in more reductions in staff support services. At a time when humanitarian emergencies are increasing in number and severity, there is less ability to pay for the counseling and training needed to help relief and development workers maintain their well being and thrive in their work.
We're responding by developing more free and costeffective resources and services, using technology and innovative techniques to bring help where it's needed most, regardless of the ability to pay. Thanks to private donors and charitable foundations stepping up to bridge the gap, we're moving ahead with plans to expand and improve our programs. We're committed to promoting the resilience and trauma recovery of these heroic individuals, and your gifts are making it possible.
Thanks for your help, Jim Guy, President & Cofounder
Deepening our bench...
For the past few months we've been reflecting and thinking about what a deputy director could bring to ourteam, because we see that after twelve years of steady, incremental growth, we're positioned for rapid expansion over the next five years. What this growth will look like, we're not sure. But we sense that for us tomove forward we need a deputy director, workingclosely with Jim, to help us think creatively about new,more effective ways to care for humanitarian aid organizations and individuals worldwide. We realize it might take some time to find the right candidate, butjust recently, we've taken the next step of posting a position description on our website. We thank you foryour support during this discernment process!
- Fara Choi, Project Associate For a position description please visit our website:www.headington-institute.org. 
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The Headington Institute ...
caring for caregivers worldwide
by providing training, counseling and consulting
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