Youth Embodiment Weekend Retreat with Bong Srei

 In March, lead facilitator Nhu Nguyen and assistant Limei Chen joined up with Banteay Srei to host a retreat for young Southeast Asian women and gender-expansive youth from their Bong Srei leadership program. Banteay Srei is an Oakland-based organization rooted in Southeast Asian cultural identity, committed to ending sexual violence through youth leadership, community healing, and intergenerational resilience. Their Bong Srei program offers comprehensive support to Southeast Asian young adults, combining political education, healing-centered engagement, and advocacy training grounded in cultural pride and survivor empowerment.

       The retreat was set in the quiet beauty of Mt. Shasta. It was a chance to slow down, connect with the land, and reconnect with self. It wasn’t about fixing anything—it was about making room. Room to rest. Room to feel. Room to lead from a place of wholeness.

Some Takeaways:

+ More youth leading their own decisions

+ Stronger connection to land and ancestry

+ Trust built through meals, laughter, and movement

+ Clearer understanding of how embodiment can support survivor-led leadership