SAVE CAMBODIA’S WILDLIFE

(SANGKROHS SATPREY)

YEAR END REPORT

2002

Our Mission is to protect and conserve wildlife and their habitats through environmental education programs.

We believe that children and youth are a potential audience towards sustainable environmental conservation.

YEAR END REPORT 2002

1. INTRODUCTION                                                                                                                                                                                  

           Save Cambodia's Wildlife (SCW), is a Cambodian local organization that was established in January 2000. This report provides details of the organization’s personnel, an account of all projects undertaken in the year 2002, and it’s objectives for 2003.

                                                   Previously in 2001, the organization was successful with a diverse range of projects including the provision of technical support to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, increasing environmental education and awareness within the Rescue Center, and raising public awareness of the environment through teaching programs, book publications, videos and presentations.

3. OUTREACH TEACHER TRAINING PROJECT                   Top

Non-Formal Teacher Training Project (Phase I)

           The Outreach Teacher Training Project was carried out over the period January 2002 to the end of December 2002 and focused its efforts on three areas: developing educational and training materials; distributing and providing quality educational resources to youth and students; and implementing a nationwide Teacher Training program in co-operation with the Ministry of Education, Youth & Sport (MoEYS). The objectives of this project were to expose youth and the wider community to environmental conservation values whilst promoting literacy, providing resources and utilizing existing governmental networks to help ensure sustainability of the project.

edition of the popular storybook, "A Walk Through the Forest," and the development of a new storybook on Primate Conservation. SCW also compiled a detailed environmental education training manual from which to conduct the training workshops from. The training was designed to equip Non-Formal Education teachers with basic environmental knowledge enabling them to conduct Environmental Education lessons with their students. The training also strongly encouraged the methodology of participatory learning in the classroom and introduced a variety of activities to enhance and stimulate different learning capabilities. Teachers were chosen as a target for environmental training rather than focusing on children as it is more sustainable to build the capacity of teachers, as they are able to continue teaching about the environment to all future classes of students. Two SCW storybooks, officially approved and licensed by MoEYS, were distributed and utilized as part of the training workshops. A Walk Through the Forest (WTF), is a bilingual (Khmer and English) publication telling the traditional tale of a monk who walks around the country valuing its forests and wildlife. The book also includes a comprehensive teacher's guide; a field guide of native animals and a page on simple things children can do for the environment. "Will You Hear My Song" (WYHMS), is the title of the Primate Conservation book. WYHMS tells the story of a young gibbon whose family is killed by poachers. The gibbon is captured by the poachers and while in captivity learns of the other animals and how they are treated. Later the gibbon is saved by some kind humans and released into a sanctuary.

Non-Formal Teacher Training

Teachers were introduced and trained how to use these books effectively in the classroom and how they can be incorporated into the educational curriculum. Almost 20,000 environmental educational books were distributed within non-formal education schools by this project.

·            Educational Material Distribution

The Outreach Teacher Training Project saw the distribution of many educational materials through the Non-formal education sector. Figure 1 displays how many and what type of education materials were distributed as part of this Training Project.

Figure 1: Number of Distributed Education Materials in 2002

o     The training venues were far apart from district to district, which caused considerable time

     and distance constraints.

o   The project areas were difficult to access because of lack of appropriate transport and/or

         flooding.

o   Transportation methods were made increasingly difficult due to the large quantity of books

         and training materials that were necessary to be brought to all training sessions.

·           Baseline Assessment

         A Baseline Assessment was conducted for the Non-Formal Teacher Training Project. The SCW project team developed questionnaires and conducted random individual interviews with the students and one of their parents within three provinces (Kampong Som, Banteay Meanchey and Phnom Penh). The purpose of this assessment was to test participants’ knowledge and awareness of environmental issues, prior to their exposure to the storybooks, to have a base for comparison for a mid-term evaluation project which will take place in 2003.

         The Non-Formal Education Teacher Training project has been successfully completed on a nationwide scale in all 24 provinces of Cambodia. The following phase of this project is the Primary Teacher Training Project, addressing the Formal Education system in Cambodia. This nationwide project will reach over 1 million children and will be implemented in 2004 -2007.  Top

4. CAPACITY BUILDING OF OTHER NGOs ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

           Over the years SCW have implemented a range of successful training projects, and the SCW training team have become very experienced environmental education trainers. The team possess highly developed training skills and techniques, incorporating the use of various energizers, games and activities in order to maximise participation, concentration, the interests of participants and to stimulate different learning capacities. In 2002, SCW have started to extend their training experience to other NGO’s in Cambodia, by conducting training sessions with other NGO staff members to build their capacity on Environmental Education Training.

Outdoor activities in Tatai Le distirict, Koh Kong		Participants received a certificate after 3 days of training on environmental education

Ptea Teuk Dong and their Partner Organizations

          SCW provided a training workshop for key staff members of a local organization in Battambang, Ptea Teuk Dong (PTD), and their partner organizations. These organizations are working with a range of target audiences, including street children, women’s groups and deaf children. The SCW training workshop equipped all participants to conduct environmental training sessions in their own respective project areas, reaching a large number of participants (see Figure 2). Over 100 copies of “A Walk Through the Forest” were donated to PTD, who distributed these copies to their 5 NGO partners.   Top

Figure 2: Number of Participants (Ptea Teuk Dong Training)

5. PUBLICATION PROJECTS

            The publication projects are responsible for producing children's storybooks with environmental themes. These projects play a very important role, as the storybooks are an integral part of SCW training projects and support almost all other SCW activities. In addition, these materials are sold to the general public as a self fund raising activity for the organization and they are also donated to other conservation organizations. In 2002, there have been two main areas of publication projects; the Environmental Education Publication Series and the Primate Conservation Publication Project.

Save Cambodia’s Wildlife Environmental Education Publications

Environmental Education Publication Series

            SCW have continued to develop a series of quality, color illustrated, bi-lingual (Khmer and English), environmental storybooks which are used as educational materials for ongoing environmental education and awareness projects conducted in Cambodia. In 2002 SCW have produced a series of titles; "Tiger! Tiger! Why Do You Hide?," "The Little White Elephant," a "Coloring Book," and they have also produced a second edition of the 2001 publication "A Walk Though The Forest."  A “Giant Catfish” book is scheduled for production in 2003. These publications have and will continue to be utilized as training materials in the Non-Formal Education (NFE) Teacher Training Project, Primary Teacher Training Projects and various other environmental conservation awareness projects.

Thousands of copies of environmental storybooks have been distributed to Non-formal classes, pagodas, and libraries. These publications were also donated to NGOs, and government agencies.

Primate Conservation Project

          The Primate Conservation Project was a two part project focusing on the development and distribution of Primate Conservation Educational materials. An environmental storybook about a Pileated Gibbon, "Will You Hear My Song?" (WYHMS) was produced first, followed by the production of a "Primate Conservation Poster" and a "Primate Conservation Brochure." WYHMS tells the story of a young gibbon whose family is killed by poachers, and addresses the issues of illegal trade and poaching of endangered wildlife. This book also includes a field guide of Cambodian primates. The poster is a supporting material depicting clear photographs of the Cambodian primates. These materials have thus far been distributed through the Department of Primary Education and the Non-Formal Education networks, community libraries supported by NGOs. The distribution of these materials will remain an ongoing process through various environmental and conservation awareness projects. The Primate Conservation brochure was produced in English and was targeted at foreign tourists. The brochure describes primate issues in Cambodia and promotes responsible behavior by dissuading the buying of animal products. This brochure has been distributed in hotels and guesthouses in populated tourist areas of Cambodia.   Top

6. PUBLICATION CIRCULATION

            To date, the publication projects have produced a series of 5 environmental education publications, consisting of "A Walk Through The Forest", "Will You Hear My Song?," "Tiger! Tiger! Why Do You Hide?," "Coloring Book" and "The Little White Elephant". These publications were circulated to a large number of non-government organizations both local and international, local businesses and various government bodies (Fig. 3).

Figure 3: List of Circulated Publications

7. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

         SCW operates a strong volunteer program and the organization is heavily indebted to the aid and resourcefulness contributed by its volunteers. Most volunteers at SCW are university students from local universities bringing skills and knowledge from different areas of studies, including accounting, environmental science and information technology in exchange for first hand experience working with a local conservation NGO.  Some noteworthy volunteers of 2002 include:

8. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PROMOTION OF SCW

World/National Environment Day

          SCW was a member of a working group to arrange and participate in the Environment Day parade (walking from the Russian Embassy to Pshar Chas Park). This aim of this event was to raise public awareness about environment and conservation, and incorporated various activities such as environmental question and answer programs, a concert, role-plays, etc.

9. SELF-FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES

Auction

            In late 2002, SCW held an auction evening as a promotional and self fundraising event. The event gathered members of staff of local and international NGO’s and SCW Donors together with the staff and Board members of SCW, to auction off the original paintings produced as illustrations of our environmental publications. The night was a fantastic success, raising quite an unexpected amount of money. The overwhelming success and response to the evening will lead to further self fundraising efforts in the future.

Book Sales

           As well as SCW educational books being donated and circulated throughout the NGO community, SCW also decided to take advantage of the quality products they have produced and are selling their publication series through Monument Books, a local retail bookshop in Phnom Penh. Monument has a number of outlets around town and in Siem Reap. The books are being sold at USD4.50 with a commission, and they are generating self funds towards the core costs of the organization.    Top

10. SCW STAFF CAPACITY BUILDING

·                   Mr. Kay Leak, Training Team Leader and Mr. Yi Chhun Hong, trainer of SCW attended a two-day training workshop on Facilitator Skill, sponsored and conducted by The Asia Foundation. The training was a valuable assistance and has equipped the participants with foundational knowledge, skills and capabilities to facilitate trainings, workshops and meetings effectively and efficiently.

11. CONFERENCES AND OTHER MEETINGS

·             The Director of SCW attended the Region Conference held in The Philippines and Germany about strengthening civil competence for crisis prevention for Non-Violation Conflict Resolution under the support of Inwent and DED. The result of the conference has led to a new initial cross-sector project for Save Cambodia's Wildlife called "Children Conflict Resolution Project," involving a new publication and training project.

·             A member of the SCW Training Team regularly attends the Environmental NGO Forum monthly meeting with more than twenty other international and local NGO staff members. The meetings address Cambodia's environmental problems and aims to share information and strengthen the environmental NGO network across Cambodia.

·             SCW helped to initiate an informal Forestry Law Extension Team (FLET) in late 2002. This team is made up of a number of different NGO members and has been formed in order to share information and create a network on forestry law and related issues affecting conservation work in Cambodia. This network will be very beneficial to aid SCW to successfully implement the Resource Rights and Rights to Livelihood Project in 2003, dealing will disseminating forestry law within forest dependant communities.

12. FUTURE OBJECTIVES

SCW will continue to develop quality sustainable projects utilizing existing networks to enhance environmental conservation and awareness amongst youth and the wider community. The team will continue to produce quality learning and educational materials, including a focus on developing forest learning materials. SCW also is interested to continue operating as a contracted organization to provide capacity building and environmental training for other NGO’s and their projects. In addition, SCW are looking to expand their project base by developing an Integrated Community Outreach program focusing on forest dependant communities in protected areas. Other projects that will be carried out in 2003 include:

·                   Continuing to focus on the Primary Teacher Training Project (PTTP) as a priority project for SCW. PTTP will take place in Mondulkiri as a pilot project in 2003, in order to build a strong foundation to successfully implement a planned 5-year project of PTTP on a national scale.

·                   In 2003, SCW will produce two cross-sector publications; for the Children Conflict Resolution Project (CCRP), and the Community Outreach Training Project (COTP), which is an integrated landmine awareness publication. The CCRP is a collaborative project with CARE-IDDP and a training project will be implemented in Battambang province. The COTP is in collaboration with the CARE Somrong Project in Odor Meanchey.

·              A Resource Rights and Rights to Livelihood Pilot-Outreach Training Project will be carried out in 2003 with local communities dependant on natural resources within 5 provinces. The aim is to build up an awareness of environmental knowledge, particularly on forest resources to enable them to help protect and manage them in a sustainable way and according to the national legislative structures.

·                   SCW are endeavoring to bring new members to the Board of Directors as some members are due to retire from the Board shortly.  Top

13. SPONSORS AND DONORS