Did you know that many Prey Lang forest activists are also Peacebuilders?
In the ongoing push to protect natural resources, community groups have turned to their own methods, organizing to seek solutions and protect their rights. Peace Bridges Organization recognizes the need for “soft skills” like active listening, negotiation skills, nonviolent communication, and conflict analysis for community groups who are organizing initiatives to protect natural resources in Cambodia. For this reason, Peace Bridges provides technical support and long-term training to the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN).
PLCN is a network of 400 active community members who volunteer to co-manage the Prey Lang forest and raise awareness locally and abroad about deforestation. Through trainings, Peace Bridges helps develop soft skills and the necessary tools for addressing internal conflicts, organizing, and engaging in productive dialogue with relevant stakeholders at the local and national level to get just solutions. Peace Bridges also trains and supports PLCN leaders to improve internal management, trust with local authorities and their communities, and the efficacy of their nonviolent patrols and advocacy campaigns.
Peace Bridges believes all humans should be able to flourish and live in right relationships with one another. This is often prevented by conflicts that arise from environmental problems caused by human activities. Peace Bridges equips peacebuilders with the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and habits to be agents of positive change in their own lives and their communities -- that means applying peacebuilding in environmental conflicts as well.
To learn more about Peace Bridges' peace training program click here!
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With the generous suppot of our donors, Peace Bridges Organization was able to organize four extra tree planting events over the past two months, resulting in a total of 3,600 new trees planted in Cambodia!
Through these events, Peace Bridges was able to interact with over 700 rural Cambodians and help raise awareness about climate change and environmental destruction. These events also provided an opportunity for people from all different faiths and regions of Cambodia to cooperate and help restore the environment together.
Thank you to our donors for your continued support. Keep sharing about Peace Brdiges with your family and friends, and have a blessed holiday!
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From July 4-7, 2017, 140 people traveled deep into the Prey Lang forest for Peace Bridges Organization's 3rd Annual Tree Planting Event. The 140 participants included students, NGO staff, Christian pastors, Buddhist monks, journalists, government officials, international visitors, Prey Lang community activists, and peacebuilders from various provinces of Cambodia. Over the next two days, participants planted a total of 1,400 saplings of tropical hardwood trees in order to restore several deforested areas of the Kbal Khlaa Community Forest.
When participants were not planting trees, they were patrolling the forest with local community members, learning from forest activists, relaxing and listening to the sounds of nature, and sharing food together at the campsite. At the end, participants were given time to reflect on how the event impacted them and what they would share with others after returning home. Many shared how they learned about the impact of deforestation on global warming and climate change, and they now feel a collective responsibility to care for the environment and spread awareness about Prey Lang and these issues. (Watch our video to hear from the participants themselves!)
We at Peace Bridges Organization care about the issues impacting Cambodians and want to play our part in making our communities a place where people have dignity and thrive. This means we not only train people to spread peace through their circles of influence, but we also organize activities like this tree planting to build peace with the environment. To date, Peace Bridges, the Kbal Khlaa community, and event participants together have planted 6,400 trees in this area of the forest. Peace Bridges is committed to supporting these peacebuilders and activists so that Prey Lang Forest will remain and grow. Without the generous support of donors like you, this would not be possible! Thank you to everyone who contributed. Your support was a source of encouragment for the Kbal Khlaa community and the greater Prey Lang Community Network who will continue their forest protection work into the future.
We have increased our goal and will continue to raise funds for next year's event, so please share our project with your family and friends!
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