Some of the environmentally-minded university students who were selected to take part in the Green Sphere project, held in Kampot province’s Kampong Samaki Fishery Community. Green Pioneers
A youth-led environment group – the Future Pioneers – recently completed a three-day mission to a fishing community in Kampot province.
The project, known as “Green Sphere” saw 11 hand-picked university students gain hands-on experience and understanding of sustainable community development.
Held at Kampong Samaki Fishery Community, the initiative aimed to bridge the gap between urban youth, local communities and environmental conservation.
Green Sphere’s theme was “Youth are Connected with Environment and Community”, noted Piet Vichay, founder and project lead of Green Sphere.
He explained that the programme pursued three core objectives: immersing urban youth in the daily lives of the local fishing community, engaging in mangrove tree planting efforts and promoting Kampong Samaki as an eco-tourism destination.
Beyond their environmental contributions, the volunteers also generated economic benefits for the local community.
Each of them also planted ten mangrove saplings, to restore and protect the coastal ecosystem. Green Pioneers
The attendees directly supported the community by purchasing local services, including accommodation, meals, mangrove saplings, boat rides and other activities.
“The selected participants gained firsthand experience living like locals for three days and two nights, engaging in traditional livelihood activities such as drying shrimp and searching for cockles, which serve as an essential source of income for many in the community. As part of the reforestation effort, each participant planted 10 mangrove saplings, contributing to a total of 150 new mangrove trees to restore and protect the coastal ecosystem,” said a Green Pioneer press release.
In addition, the volunteers had the opportunity to learn from Sok Kao, the leader of the community, through an insightful sharing session.
Kao shared his experiences in leading and developing the community, highlighting both its challenges and the critical role of mangrove trees and seagrass in sustaining local livelihoods.
Rou Manith, secretary-elect of the US ambassador’s Youth Council, also met with the students.
He explained the three main pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Manith also shared practical strategies that individuals can employ to reduce their environmental footprint, including energy conservation, recycling and supporting local products.
The participants engaged in group discussions, exchanging ideas on how youth can contribute to sustainable tourism while preserving the environment.
Several of the student volunteers shared insights into what they had gained from the experience.
“I’ve gained invaluable insight into community life and the environment, particularly through the sharing session with the community leader. Learning about sustainability has opened my eyes to how even small daily actions can have long-term environmental impacts. The most rewarding part, however, was the friendships that I formed and the teamwork we developed throughout the programme,” said Leang Levit, a sophomore at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia.
“Green Sphere provided me with a unique and enriching experience — living on the water, observing the daily lives of the locals and understanding their means of income. The well-structured programme allowed us to smoothly transition between activities. One of the highlights for me was fulfilling my dream of planting mangrove trees and experiencing life on the water, which made this journey truly unforgettable,” shared Heng Gechsoursour, also a volunteer on the project.
Project founder Vichay noted that the success of Green Sphere was only possible thanks to the efforts of its dedicated organising team, Vin Hellan, Sok Kimiy, Van Meysorng and Teng Lyza.
“Their commitment ensured a meaningful and impactful experience for all participants,” he said.
The Future Pioneers remain committed to fostering youth engagement in sustainability and community-driven initiatives.
Interested environmentalists should follow them on social media to find out what they are planning next and to take advantage of future opportunities to make a real difference.
