The genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia was a trauma that caused massive cultural, social, and psychological distress and dislocation in that country. Some of the most vulnerable members of society have been women and children, who are frequently the victims of poverty, violence, and trafficking for labor or sex among other human rights abuses.

In this audio lecture, Janet Tafel talks about the work Hagar USA is doing to help such individuals develop productive and meaningful lives. She outlines how the organization tends to physical and psychological needs first, and then provides job training and opportunities for social entrepreneurship. Invited by the Center for Social Innovation, Tafel speaks with a group of students about to leave for a service learning trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Part of the Center's Public Management Program, this trip explores models that work to improve both human rights and economic development in South East Asia.