For quite some time, Cambodian fisherman Lim Seanghy has noticed that the beach of Peam Krasaop commune where he lives is shrinking. That makes him and his fellow villagers, who rely on fishing and driving tourist boat for a living, worry. “The beach is getting smaller because of coastal erosion caused by big sea waves. A lot of pine trees which protect beach sand from erosion have also been destroyed by storms,” said Lim Seanghy, 38.

Holding burning incense sticks in his hands, Buddhist monk Bun Saluth chanted a ritual normally held for Cambodians seeking good luck. But this time the subject blessed by his holy water was not a person. It was a three-metre python he bought from a farmer who was about to sell it as food. “Go, go, and be safe,” the monk said as he watched the snake slither to freedom in a protected forest area in Oddar Meanchey province in northwestern Cambodia.

Three years ago, In Sok was on the verge of selling his rice field in Takeo province. At the time, property prices in Cambodia were in the midst of a boom, but the farmer wasn’t looking to make a quick fortune out of his traditional means of income. It was the hassle of the dirt road connecting his home and the paddy field that had him think about changing his occupation.

Yoeun Sothea had just got off his fishing boat and could have certainly used a rest. But knowing that a meeting with local councilors was underway to discuss community planning, he rushed to join it – shirtless, with just a towel wrapped around his fishing shorts.“For me, I would very much like to have an expert to teach us techniques to do fish farming and raise livestock,” said Yoeun Sothea, 50, a resident of Ream village in Preah Sihanouk province in southwestern Cambodia.

Pheng Sotheany was relaxing at home one February afternoon when the phone rang. “I passed!” She shouted with happiness. The caller had just told her that she was accepted to work at UNDP – as a driver. “My heart was pounding so hard,” she recalled the moment that made her the first female driver at the UNDP Cambodia Country Office. In a male-dominated occupation, many people may find it unusual to see her in this role. But that doesn’t bother her; she beat 58 other applicants – 54 of them were men – who vied for the job.“If men can do it, so can I, “the 21-year-old woman said confidently.