Recognizing that threats to forests, wildlife and biodiversity are the most important issues in the eastern landscape of Cambodia. My Village is an NGO that carries out a number of activities to conserve natural resources by empowering indigenous communities such as protected area communities, ethnic women’s networks, and ethnic youth networks.

Project of Youths’ Action for Biodiversity Conservation (YABC) focus on youth participation to increase the capacity for widespread dissemination of forests, wildlife, biodiversity and the environment, especially to local communities effectively.

Through the above issues, My Village Organization organized a training course on: “Reduction of Luxury Wood Furniture Consumption” for 13-school youth in the target area of ​​Mondulkiri province for youths. The purpose of this training is to 

– Increase awareness of the benefits of forests and biodiversity

– Raise awareness of the impact of using luxury wood furniture

– Increase the positive attitude of the participants and share it with their friends, family as well as through Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)

A total of 325 youths (226 women) and 159 indigenous youth (116 women) participated. Through pre-testing the ability of youths, we observed that we provided the training, only about 43 percentage have an understanding of the forest and luxury wood furniture. In contrast, after they received the training from My Village Organization on: “Reduction of Luxury Wood Furniture Consumption”, they can learn more about the forest, as well as the problem of furniture made from luxury wood up to 80 percentage. In addition, they committed to reduce of using the furniture made of luxury wood from day to day, as well as to share the knowledge they gained from this training to share to their families, relatives, friends and the community as much possible. Furthermore, they also gained a lot positive thinking and how to talk about forest issues and luxury wood furniture to their relatives, families, friends and community for reduction of luxury wood consumption and forest and biodiversity conservation. The methods that have been successfully implemented in this training course include group discussion, presentation, Q&A, watching educational videos and role play which can encourage they to reduce shyness or fear to express themselves, especially the performance from role play helped the youths to remember and better understand the relationship between the forest and luxury wood furniture. 

***Note: For scoring the test of youth’s ability before and after the training, use the evaluation level of five numbers, the lowest score is represented as number 1 and the highest score is represented as number 5. Thank you!

In Pu Treng village, Dak Dam commune, Mondulkiri province, Bournorng Indigenous community continues to protect its ancestral heritage and lands through collective governance rooted in tradition.

With a population of 108 households and 532 members, including 274 women, the community practices rotational farming and sustainable forest use while preserving cultural spaces for ceremonies, music, and spiritual worship.

Despite formal recognition of their Indigenous identity by the Ministry of Rural Development and Interior in 2014, the community’s journey toward securing its Indigenous Communal Land Title (ICLT) faced significant obstacles.

Though an application for collective land registration was submitted in 2017—covering 1,338.69 hectares—prolonged government delays led to rising land encroachment and frustration. Some households even withdrew from the ICLT process out of disillusionment.

In response, My Village Organization (MVi) and supporting NGOs partnered with the community to revive the ICLT efforts.

Together, they reviewed and updated legal documentation, restructured the ICLT committee, and facilitated community engagement with authorities from village to provincial levels. This renewed momentum helped address encroachment issues, revalidate land boundaries, and strengthen the community’s legal standing.

By the end of 2024, these efforts yielded tangible results. The Mondulkiri Provincial Department of Land Management conducted a public display—signaling the final procedural step toward issuing the ICLT certificate. Community representative Mr. Chren expressed hope and gratitude: “Thanks to MVi and donors for their continued support. I believe our land rights will soon be formally secured.”

Recognizing that threats to forests, wildlife and biodiversity are the most important issues in the eastern landscape of Cambodia. My Village is an NGO that carries out a number of activities to conserve natural resources by empowering indigenous communities such as protected area communities, ethnic women’s networks, and ethnic youth networks.

Project of Youths’ Action for Biodiversity Conservation (YABC) focus on youth participation to increase the capacity for widespread dissemination of forests, wildlife, biodiversity and the environment, especially to local communities effectively.

Through the above issues, My Village Organization organized a training course on: “Reduction of Luxury Wood Furniture Consumption” for 13-school youth in the target area of ​​Mondulkiri province for youths. The purpose of this training is to 

– Increase awareness of the benefits of forests and biodiversity

– Raise awareness of the impact of using luxury wood furniture

– Increase the positive attitude of the participants and share it with their friends, family as well as through Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)

A total of 325 youths (226 women) and 159 indigenous youth (116 women) participated. Through pre-testing the ability of youths, we observed that we provided the training, only about 43 percentage have an understanding of the forest and luxury wood furniture. In contrast, after they received the training from My Village Organization on: “Reduction of Luxury Wood Furniture Consumption”, they can learn more about the forest, as well as the problem of furniture made from luxury wood up to 80 percentage. In addition, they committed to reduce of using the furniture made of luxury wood from day to day, as well as to share the knowledge they gained from this training to share to their families, relatives, friends and the community as much possible. Furthermore, they also gained a lot positive thinking and how to talk about forest issues and luxury wood furniture to their relatives, families, friends and community for reduction of luxury wood consumption and forest and biodiversity conservation. The methods that have been successfully implemented in this training course include group discussion, presentation, Q&A, watching educational videos and role play which can encourage they to reduce shyness or fear to express themselves, especially the performance from role play helped the youths to remember and better understand the relationship between the forest and luxury wood furniture. 

***Note: For scoring the test of youth’s ability before and after the training, use the evaluation level of five numbers, the lowest score is represented as number 1 and the highest score is represented as number 5. Thank you!

Recognizing that threats to forests, wildlife and biodiversity are the most important issues in the eastern landscape of Cambodia. My Village is an NGO that carries out a number of activities to conserve natural resources by empowering indigenous communities such as protected area communities, ethnic women’s networks, and ethnic youth networks.

Project of Youths’ Action for Biodiversity Conservation (YABC) focus on youth participation to increase the capacity for widespread dissemination of forests, wildlife, biodiversity and the environment, especially to local communities effectively.

Through the above issues, My Village Organization organized a training course on: “Reduction of Luxury Wood Furniture Consumption” for 13-school youth in the target area of ​​Mondulkiri province for youths. The purpose of this training is to 

– Increase awareness of the benefits of forests and biodiversity

– Raise awareness of the impact of using luxury wood furniture

– Increase the positive attitude of the participants and share it with their friends, family as well as through Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)

A total of 325 youths (226 women) and 159 indigenous youth (116 women) participated. Through pre-testing the ability of youths, we observed that we provided the training, only about 43 percentage have an understanding of the forest and luxury wood furniture. In contrast, after they received the training from My Village Organization on: “Reduction of Luxury Wood Furniture Consumption”, they can learn more about the forest, as well as the problem of furniture made from luxury wood up to 80 percentage. In addition, they committed to reduce of using the furniture made of luxury wood from day to day, as well as to share the knowledge they gained from this training to share to their families, relatives, friends and the community as much possible. Furthermore, they also gained a lot positive thinking and how to talk about forest issues and luxury wood furniture to their relatives, families, friends and community for reduction of luxury wood consumption and forest and biodiversity conservation. The methods that have been successfully implemented in this training course include group discussion, presentation, Q&A, watching educational videos and role play which can encourage they to reduce shyness or fear to express themselves, especially the performance from role play helped the youths to remember and better understand the relationship between the forest and luxury wood furniture. 

***Note: For scoring the test of youth’s ability before and after the training, use the evaluation level of five numbers, the lowest score is represented as number 1 and the highest score is represented as number 5. Thank you!

In a part of awareness raising to community members on deep pool conservation boundary, in 2021 youths collaborated with Samkhouy local authorities to install the Yay Ey deep pool conservation in Srea Tapan village, Samkhouy commune, Sesan district, Stung Treng province that it was participated from Samkhouy commune councilor, Samkhouy commune police and Srea Tapan youths representative. Under small grant, Srea Tapan CFi committee has proposed some activity to conduct the awareness raising to community members on their deep pool conservation boundary because in conservation area is not allowed for fishing if someone do the fishing in deep pool conservation will be punished by CFi committee bases on Srea Tapan by-law.

In the heart of Mondulkiri’s forests, Indigenous communities face mounting threats from deforestation, illegal logging, and climate change. In response, My Village Organization (MVi) launched an initiative to empower Indigenous Women Groups (IWGs) and Indigenous Youth Groups (IYGs), nurturing their role as environmental stewards.

Over 50 Indigenous women and youths in the Or Boun Leu Community Protected Area (CPA) received training in sustainable forest management, GPS tracking, and data collection. These efforts enabled 52 forest patrols, uncovering 33 illegal logging incidents and dismantling 64 wildlife traps. Beyond enforcement, the project built capacity, igniting youth leadership and integrating traditional knowledge with modern conservation strategies.

“I don’t just see trees—I see it as my future, my IP culture, and my home,” shared 24-year-old Sy Soktho, an IYG member and CPA Committee representative. Through hands-on forest patrols and school-based outreach, Soktho and her peers helped raise awareness on biodiversity, responsible land use, and climate change adaptation, linking generations through shared responsibility.

The Enhancing Indigenous Youth and Indigenous Women Participation in Community Protected Area Forest Monitoring and Climate Change Adaptation in Mondulkiri Project (EIPCC) promoted trust and collaboration between communities and local authorities. It ensured that Indigenous voices shaped conservation efforts, preserving both ecological integrity and cultural heritage.

Community members like Mr. Sat Sot, a senior CPA representative, expressed deep pride in the youth-led transformation: “Seeing our youth and women take the lead gives me great hope. Conservation is not just a responsibility—it’s a way of life.”

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.”