In Thboung Kla village, O’maras commune, Stung Treng province, Mrs. Khun Sothy has emerged as a determined voice for grassroots development. A mother of four and member of an agricultural community, she once lived a quiet life farming and growing vegetables. But her journey took a meaningful turn when local authorities recognized her active participation and selected her as a community women’s leader.

Initially, Mrs. Sothy faced self-doubt and limited experience in leadership. “At first, I didn’t know how to lead women’s groups or organize meetings,” she recalled. That changed when she received capacity-building support from My Village Organization (MVi), including training on gender action learning, leadership, decision-making, and community mobilization.

Equipped with new skills, Mrs. Sothy began holding meetings to share knowledge and mobilize Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, youth, and women to engage in outreach activities. She led issue-collection discussions in her community and represented them in monthly commune council meetings, ensuring their voices influenced the village development plan.

Her growth wasn’t just personal—it was catalytic. Her efforts sparked wider community participation in development planning, especially among women and underrepresented groups. Through partnerships with fishery communities and local authorities, she promoted sustainable resource management and advocated for communal needs.“

“I want to urge all women to be brave and willing to work,” she said. “Even if it doesn’t bring income, everyone has the right to participate in developing our village and protecting our fisheries.”

In Koh Sneang village, Stung Treng Province, 26-year-old Mrs. Kon Somdon, a mother of two, has emerged as a dynamic force in community-led climate action. As the women’s group chief, she initially had limited understanding of climate change and its impacts. But through her involvement in the Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) initiative, her perspective and leadership were transformed.

The VRA process introduced her to critical climate concerns facing her village, including shifting weather patterns, rising water levels, and frequent extreme weather events. Equipped with new knowledge, Mrs. Somdon convened village meetings to discuss climate threats and adaptation strategies. Her leadership ensured that the needs of women, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ individuals, and children were integrated into local adaptation planning.

Capacity-building workshops boosted her confidence and skills, enabling her to actively shape the development of inclusive climate action plans. Recognizing her effectiveness, she was selected to advocate for climate priorities in the Koh Sneang Commune Investment Program (CIP). With determination and community support, she championed the inclusion of climate-resilient projects such as early warning systems (App 1294), installation of flood-level billboards, water-level measurement poles, and climate-smart agriculture.

Mrs. Somdon’s impact extended beyond her village. She began participating in district and provincial dialogues, ensuring grassroots perspectives were heard in broader climate policymaking. Her advocacy helped place community resilience at the center of subnational development agendas.

Her story underscores the power of inclusive leadership and knowledge-sharing. From hesitant participant to respected advocate, Mrs. Kon Somdon has played a pivotal role in transforming climate resilience in Koh Sneang. Her journey serves as an inspiration for other women seeking to shape development priorities from the ground up.