Historically sidelined from governance, Indigenous communities in Mondulkiri, Cambodia, are now reclaiming their seat at the policy table discussion. This transformative initiative was supported by My Village Organization (MVi). Through the Enhancing Indigenous Youth and Indigenous Women Participation in Community Protected Area Forest Monitoring and Climate Change Adaptation (EIPCC) project, over 50 Indigenous women and youth were trained in policy literacy, advocacy, and strategic dialogue with local authorities.

I vividly remember my first commune meeting—where my voice didn’t just echo, it mattered. This wasn’t symbolic inclusion; it led to real change. As a result of our active participation, 100% of targeted Commune Investment Plans (CIPs) now integrated Indigenous priorities like forest protection and climate resilience.

One powerful voice in this transformation is Ms. Khe Sreypin, a 27-year-old member of O’Nglav Community Protected Area (CPA) Committees, who declared, “When decisions about my land are made, I must be at the discussion table, not just watching from the sidelines.” Her leadership helped move CPA plans from community discussion to official policy.

This initiative didn’t just influence documents—it sparked a cultural shift. Dialogue between Indigenous communities and commune councils became more transparent and equitable. Women and youth are now decision-makers, not observers, and their perspectives inform every stage of development.

Mr. Man Ream, commune chief of Sray Huy, affirmed this evolution: “Today, CPA members, especially women, are actively engaged in CIP processes, ensuring our forests are protected for future generations.”

អង្គការភូមិខ្ញុំ បានរៀបចំសិក្ខាសាលាមួយនៅថ្នាក់ខេត្ត ដើម្បីផ្តល់ពានរង្វាន់ដល់ឃុំឆ្មើម ដែលបានវិភាជថវិការបស់ឃុំសម្រាប់សកម្មភាពបម្រែបម្រួលអាកាសធាតុនិងផ្តល់រង្វាន់ដល់ស្ត្រីជនជាតិដើមភាគតិច និងយុវជនជនជាតិដើមភាគតិចដែលសកម្មក្នុងការស្នើសុំក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំវិភាជថវិកាឃុំទៅក្នុងសកម្មភាពបម្រែបម្រួលអាកាសធាតុ។ សិក្ខាសាលានេះមានអ្នកចូលរួមចំនួន ១២០ នាក់ (ស្ត្រី ៦៤ នាក់ យុវជន ៥៦ នាក់ ០៣ក្រុមស្រលាញ់ភេទដូចគ្នា ០៣ ជនពិការ)។ សមាសភាពចូលរួមមានដូចជា បណ្តាញស្ត្រីជនជាតិដើមភាគតិច បណ្តាញយុវជនជនជាតិដើមភាគតិចមកពី០៧ភូមិ និងក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំមកពីឃុំចំនួន០៤​ ឃុំ តំណាងស្រុក និងតំណាងខេត្ត។ សកម្មភាពនេះត្រូវបានអនុវត្តនៅថ្ងៃទី ២៨ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០២២ នៅសណ្ឋាគាររស្មីពេជ្រ ក្នុងខេត្តស្ទឹងត្រែង។

ជាលទ្ធផលឃុំដែលទទួលបានជាឃុំឆ្មើមក្នុងការវិភាជថវិកាឃុំក្នុងសកម្មភាពបម្រែបម្រួលអាកាសធាតុបានទៅឃុំក្បាលរមាស និងក្រុមយុវជនជនជាតិដើមភាគតិច ដែលសកម្មធ្វើការជាមួយឃុំក្នុងការដាក់បញ្ចូលសកម្មភាពបម្រែបម្រួលអាកាសធាតុក្នុងកម្មវិធីវិនិយោគឃុំ បានទៅលើក្រុមយុវជនមកពីភូមិសាមឃួយ។ ចំនែកឯក្រុមស្រ្តីជនជាតិដើមភាគតិចបានទៅលើក្រុមស្រ្តីពីភូមិទន្សោង។
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In Srea Sronuk village of Stung Treng province, Mrs. Don Chorvy stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and advocacy. Following the resettlement of her community due to the Srea Pok III hydropower dam, she emerged as a key voice for those grappling with the aftermath of large-scale development.

Resettlement brought profound disruption. Families faced inadequate housing, school closures, teacher shortages, and limited access to health services. The community also lost forested areas, vital wildlife habitats, and parts of their ancestral culture. Fishing became difficult due to sedimentation and degraded water quality, while changes in the river’s regime led to declines in fish species. These shifts fractured community unity and deepened economic insecurity.

Despite these hardships, Mrs. Chorvy transformed adversity into action. With support from My Village Organization (MVi) and other networks, she received capacity-building and technical training that enhanced her leadership skills. Her advocacy gained national visibility when, in December 2024, she participated in a national forum to share lived experiences of displaced women and families along the Sesan River.

Her testimony resonated. By clearly articulating the gendered impacts of resettlement, Mrs. Chorvy encouraged dialogue among stakeholders and authorities. As a result, several key concerns raised by the community—particularly relating to education, livelihoods, and cultural preservation—received renewed attention and commitments for redress.

Today, Mrs. Chorvy’s transformation from a displaced villager to an influential community leader exemplifies the power of grassroots leadership in shaping equitable development. Her journey demonstrates the importance of giving women space, support, and platforms to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes—especially in the context of development projects that fundamentally alter lives. Her voice continues to guide Srea Sronuk toward a more inclusive and resilient future.