Bringing Breast Cancer Awareness to Remote Villages in Cambodia
In the forested highlands of Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia, over 100 members of the Bunong tribe—including mothers, teachers, students, and even a few men—gathered recently for breast cancer awareness workshops facilitated by World Hope International (WHI) and Global Partners missionaries Romy and Linda.
A Bunong male WHI staff assist Linda in explaining how cancer cells form in the body.
Held across six villages, the four-day series marked WHI’s third outreach to these communities. Sessions were tailored to meet people where they were—sometimes literally. One mother offered her small shop as a meeting place while her infant slept in a hammock nearby. In each location, the goal was clear: provide practical, accessible education about breast health, early warning signs of cancer, and basic self-care techniques.
Workshops included interactive anatomy lessons, teaching models, and demonstrations on self-breast exams in different positions. With the help of Heng, a Bunong translator and passionate community advocate, women of all ages engaged attentively. One local WHI staff member proudly identified three out of four “lumps” on a training model—evidence that the learning was landing in tangible ways.
The team also trained Younas, a young Bunong leader, to help carry these messages forward to his community. As he and others distributed simple care packs, it was clear that this effort was not just about information—it was about equipping a people group often underserved in health care outreach.
Younas giving care packs from WHI. We train Younas to teach basic health concepts to other Bunongs.
Two of the villages visited are supported by the Bunong Evangelical Church, allowing the team to teach in church buildings and draw on Christian values when appropriate. In the other four villages—served by non-religious or indigenous groups—the workshops focused entirely on health education, respecting cultural and government guidelines that ensure inclusion and trust.
The four days in Mondulkiri served as a reminder that practical knowledge, shared with care, can make a lasting difference.