Raise Awareness to Protect Wildlife in Cambodia

On January 31, 2015, following nine months of partnership and preparation, the  Kouprey Express Mobile Environmental Education Unit (KE) and Ambassador’s Youth Council (AYC) (a small group of young people that advises US Ambassador to Cambodia, William E. Todd, on issues concerning youth in Cambodia) completed the Wild for Life event in Phnom Penh. Held at the popular Night Market, it was the venue’s first ever educational concert, raising awareness on environmental preservation, wildlife trafficking, and the Wildlife Alliance wildlife crimes hotline. The event opened with a speech by US Ambassador Todd who spoke about the environmental issues plaguing Cambodia. Following the Ambassador’s speech were several acts by high profile performers including Laura Mom and Jimmy Kiss, comedian Sokea, shadow puppet performances from Sovanna Phum Arts Association, and more, all recruited by the KE and AYC. Additionally, KE did a presentation on wildlife species in Cambodia, the threats posed to them, and things people can do to help, including reporting crimes against wildlife to our 24-hour nationwide wildlife rescue hotline.

The event was incredibly well received and when asked what they thought, audience members said they loved the show and hoped that events like this would be held more often! There was also significant press coverage surrounding the concert which helped us promote the wildlife rescue hotline number on the radio, on TV, in print and on social media.

We would like to thank the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia for funding the event, as well as congratulate the AYC and Kouprey Express for doing such an excellent job promoting and hosting the Wild for Life concert! This is just the beginning of a long-term partnership between the two groups, and we look forward to other exciting collaborations in the future.

In addition to this large event, in January and February, 40 teachers and community members received training, 422 students learned about conservation, wildlife protection and deforestation through classroom lessons and 160 students, community members, and teachers went on a field trip to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center (PTWRC). 3 educational signs were mounted at schools that displayed environmental protection messages, wildlife conservation tips, and the Wildlife Alliance hotline.

Links:

• Video of the Wild for Life Concert!

It has been a tremendously successful year for the Kouprey Express Mobile Environmental Project (KE) team, and the last three months have been exceptionally busy. The new school year for students in Cambodia started in November and since then, KE has been bustling from town to town, providing conservation lessons to 1,376 students and 309 community members, as well as training to 80 teachers in the area.

In October, for the first time ever, KE travelled to the islands off of Sihanoukville to give wildlife and marine life education lessons at the invitation of Save Cambodian Marine Life, a local NGO.  This was also the first time KE has included marine education in its curriculum. The team instructed 40 students and 22 community members from Friends of Koh Rong, 42 students and 25 community members at Rong Salem Community Pre-Primary School and 69 students and 12 community members through the Song Saa Foundation. All the participants were engaged in the education sessions, especially the students and community members at Friends of Koh Rong, who had never experienced these types of lessons or activities before!

In November, KE was invited by the Peace Corps in Svay Rieng province to provide wildlife and forest conservation lessons to 270 high school students from grades 10-12 at Romeas Hek high school. These students were particularly interested and asked many questions about endangered wildlife and deforestation. Because of their interest, the team pushed the students and made the lessons and activities a bit harder than usual. After the academic component, the team wrapped up the class with artwork and a few games. This session went really well, and the team got great feedback from the Peace Corps on these lessons.

In December, KE provided a teacher training session to 20 teachers from Stoeng Samraong and Prey Praseth Primary School in Sihanoukville. The training was focused on Weather, Water and Sanitation, Waste and Sanitation, Energy, Biodiversity and Sustainable Livelihoods. The team trained the teachers on the environmental concepts, how to deliver this knowledge to students, and various interactive games that better engage students. These training sessions are extremely important in providing new material and knowledge to teachers in remote areas that lack access to these kinds of opportunities.

Other activities performed during this period include installing anti-wildlife trafficking signs with students, planting trees near schools, and conducting wildlife and forest protection themed Night Shows to remote communities.

We would like to thank everyone who has so generously contributed towards Empowering Students and Communities to Become Environmental Stewards. Your support is greatly appreciated and allows us to continue to bring about lasting environmental change in Cambodia.