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 Koh Sralao village, Stung Treng province, 51-year-old farmer Mrs. Loeur Sin has become a quiet yet powerful force for change.

Living along the Mekong River, her community depends on fishing and farming—livelihoods now threatened by shifting weather patterns and environmental degradation.

Once an ordinary farmer, Mrs. Sin transformed her role through active engagement in climate adaptation and sustainable agriculture.

Her leadership journey began with community involvement in climate discussions, where she realized the importance of integrating women’s and youth voices into local decision-making. She became a passionate advocate for gender equality and inclusive development.

With technical support from My Village Organization (MVi) and capacity building from the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), Mrs. Sin embraced climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices.

These innovations helped her improve crop yields, secure regular income, and reduce her family’s vulnerability to climate shocks.

She’s not alone in this movement. Youth members in the village, inspired by leaders like Sin, have been actively involved in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) initiatives. Together, they collaborate with key partners including CCDM, DCDM, PCDM, and the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) to strengthen community resilience.

“Being a farmer isn’t just about growing food anymore—it’s about protecting our environment and leading by example,” Mrs. Sin shared. Despite ongoing challenges such as heavy workloads and limited access to climate information, she remains committed to empowering others and building a climate-resilient future.

Her journey reflects the deep impact of community-based leadership and inclusive education. Through practical experience and strategic partnerships, Mrs. Sin is cultivating more than crops—she’s cultivating a legacy of empowerment, equity, and resilience.

Koh Sneng commune, located along the Mekong River in Stung Treng province, frequently faces the devastating impacts of climate change—floods, storms, and droughts have become part of daily life.

In recent years, these disasters have disrupted thousands of livelihoods, particularly affecting women, whose voices often go unheard in decision-making processes.

Ms. Na Osa, 62, the first deputy of Koh Sneng commune council, is one of the few women in leadership striving to change that.

Despite holding a position as the commune’s disaster management focal point, she initially admitted, “Even now, I’m not clear what climate change truly means.”

Supported by My Village Organization (MVi) and Oxfam, Ms. Na Osa participated in a series of capacity-building workshops focused on disaster management, vulnerability risk assessment (VRA), and early warning systems (App 1294).

Equipped with new knowledge and tools, she actively engaged in community planning sessions, contributing to discussions that identified local climate challenges and adaptive responses.

Her involvement became instrumental in shifting local governance toward more inclusive, climate-informed decision-making. Ms. Na Osa’s transformation—from uncertainty to action—motivated others, especially women and youth, to join climate planning efforts and steward the commune’s natural resources more responsibly.

She passionately encourages community participation: “Even if some jobs don’t bring income, we must take ownership and care for our resources to reduce disaster risks.”

Today, her leadership symbolizes the growing recognition of women’s roles in climate resilience. By bridging community knowledge and institutional processes, Ms. Na Osa is helping build a more informed, adaptive, and united Koh Sneng—one that recognizes inclusion as essential to sustainability.

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 Koh Sneang village, nestled within the broader Koh Sneang commune of Stung Treng province, climate change and disaster risks—floods, storms, and prolonged drought—have deeply impacted local communities.

Amid these challenges, 62-year-old Mrs. Ousa, a woman with a disability and member of the commune council, has emerged as a trailblazing leader in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.

With limited prior knowledge of climate issues, Mrs. Ousa joined the Strengthening Community Resilience (SCR) project—an initiative supported by Oxfam and facilitated by My Village Organization (MVi).

The project provided her with technical training, workshops, and leadership development in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and early warning systems.

Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “Before, I didn’t know what climate change was—even though I was on the disaster management committee. Now, I lead sessions that help my community prepare.”

Empowered by this support, Mrs. Ousa organized community trainings on disaster preparedness, coordinated response plans, and became a key advocate for the 1294 early warning app.

By working closely with fellow council members and community groups, she ensured local residents—including women, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups—could access timely information and build resilience.

Her commitment not only increased public awareness of climate risks but also brought greater visibility to the capacities of persons with disabilities in local leadership. Through her efforts, Koh Sneang has improved its responsiveness to climate threats, reinforcing the importance of inclusion in building community-wide resilience.

Mrs. Ousa’s transformation exemplifies the power of capacity building and inclusive engagement. Her leadership reinforces a vital message: when marginalized voices are equipped and empowered, they can lead their communities toward safer, more sustainable futures.

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.”

In Borey O’Svaysenchay District, a locally led research initiative has transformed how community voices are recognized in fisheries management.

Facilitated by women and youth across three villages—Krom, Koh Snaeng, and Tunsang—the project monitored fish catch patterns and species abundance over four months, revealing actionable insights into sustainability and livelihood resilience.

Fishing is central to household economies and food security in the region. However, environmental degradation and overfishing have put long-term viability at risk. Historically, policies overlooked indigenous knowledge and women’s contributions in fish processing and marketing.

To counter this, the community research team, supported by MVi, underwent five months of capacity-building in data collection, analysis, and reporting. Marginalized voices were prioritized through inclusive facilitation and reflection.

Key findings highlighted traditional fishing techniques and locally adapted innovations that help sustain fish populations. The study also underscored women’s pivotal economic roles, emphasizing the need for gender-responsive governance.

“Our knowledge of fishing practices has been passed down through generations; it’s time for that knowledge to guide decisions.” — Thyda, woman leader, Krom “When women are part of the conversation, everyone benefits.” — Pheasdey, youth leader, Tunsang “This is about safeguarding our future.” — Somdon, woman leader, Koh Snaeng

The district governor’s commitment to integrate these findings into the 5-year development plan marks an institutional shift toward participatory planning.

This case demonstrates how community-led research can influence formal decision-making while elevating women’s leadership in environmental stewardship.

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.”

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.