Making an Impact & Inspiring Change in Cambodia

Making an Impact & Inspiring Change in Cambodia with Worldwide Navigators

Land-Based Conservation Initiative – Cambodia Shoreline Conservation Project:

Our team visited a local fishing village in the Koh Rong archipelago to work alongside local school children and inspire them to take part in making their environment a better place.

Walking across the jetty, we came upon the shoreline littered with thousands of plastic bottles. Our volunteers took part in an eye-opening expedition to not only clean up the environment, but to do it alongside local community members and share with them the impact that this effort can have on their community. Everyone had the chance to make a difference in a fun, learning environment in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

There is an immediate concern for the environment of the communities that populate the islands, not only from their own lack of knowledge regarding proper waste management but also the vast increase in the amount of non-recyclable plastic waste washing up on the shoreline that compounds the problem. Helping these communities to create a cleanup project where they were able to personally be involved and understand the future story of their village had deep meaning for everyone.

Making an Impact & Inspiring Change in Cambodia with Worldwide Navigators

PROTECT & PRESERVE

Endangered Species of Marine Life:

Today our team learned about an endangered clam species. Giant clamshells are being used for decorative purposes and trade. This has caused widespread fear among marine conservationists that numerous species are permanently dying out or becoming endangered. This crisis is cause for hatchering and rehabilitating the species to increase the mollusk population.

We participated in a reclamation project to return clamshells to the ocean where new marine life can use these empty shells for houses. Although new clams can’t develop inside the shell, other sea life will certainly make great use them. Giving back to the conservation of marine life by returning clamshells back into the ocean was a profoundly rewarding experience for the entire group.  This is a small stepping stone to help bring awareness to the crisis and on a larger scale to help protect the future of marine life.

Making an Impact & Inspiring Change in Cambodia with Worldwide Navigators

LAND and WATER

Recycle and Repurpose 

Today our team was able to witness how styrofoam trash washed up on shore is recycled into small canoes used by children for catching squid.  Children repurpose non-recyclable styrofoam that washes up on their shores into small crafts that hold a basket in the back.  The children wade in the waters for hours in the hot sunny days and collect squid in their baskets.  A good day brings them enough squid for a family meal and $1-3 worth of squid to sell to the local community.

Making an Impact & Inspiring Change in Cambodia with Worldwide Navigators

KOH RONG FAMILIES GET CLEAN

WATER

Thanks to Lisa and Mark who donated 4 water filtration systems to spearhead the project, our team was able to donate 10 water filtration systems to a local foundation for families of the Koh Rong with contaminated water sources.  After testing the water sources, 100% of them revealed the water was contaminated. We began a quest to provide clean water to save lives. See the story from our partner, International Medical Relief

Making an Impact & Inspiring Change in Cambodia with Worldwide Navigators

BIG FISH OVER LITTLE FISH

Listen – Learn – Act

We had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with local fisherman about the benefits of putting back the small fish. Net fishing is popular among the islanders of the Koh Rong, and everything is a keeper. Members of our group fished one day. In the process, they built relationships with fisherman families. They helped them to feed the fish from the netted fresh catch hatchery preserve of fish waiting to go to the market. We engaged them in meaningful conversations about the value of returning the small fish into the waters.  Over-fishing these waters is depleting the food source and changing the landscape of marine life in the archipelago.  Starting these conversations and keeping them alive through increased sustainable travel makes a long-term impact.

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