CAMBODIA FIELD UNIT
International Volunteer Day 2009
On Saturday 5th December 2009, UNV Cambodia celebrated IVD in Phnom Penh, and at the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (the Steung Sen Core Area, Prek Toal Core Area and Boeung Tonle Chmar Core Area)
1. Phnom Penh IVD Event:
Launch of VolCam Directory of Volunteer Opportunities in Cambodia
Volunteering for Our Planet
UNV together with VolCam (Network of International and Local Volunteer Agencies and Volunteer-Involving Organisations in Cambodia) organized a joint IVD event in Phnom Penh targeting young people, especially university students.
The event had two main focuses:
- The launch of the VolCam Directory of Volunteer Opportunities in Cambodia (both a website - www.volcam.org - and a booklet)
- Volunteering for Our Planet activities
The goal was to increase volunteer opportunities in Cambodia, to emphasize the importance of volunteerism in addressing climate change and environmental issues, and to raise awareness on how to be more environmentally friendly and engage the private sector in Volunteering for our planet.
The VolCam Directory was introduced as an important resource where international and national volunteers can find service opportunities in Cambodia.
At the launch, UNV appreciated the presence of VIP guest speakers such as H.E. Sean Borath, Advisor to the Prime Minister & Under Secretary of State for the Ministry of Education, Jean-Pierre DeMargerie, World Food Programme Representative & UN Resident Coordinator A.I. and HE Margaret Adamson, Ambassador for Australia.
Chamroeun Vong was among the volunteers who shared their rich work experiences and encouraged young students to volunteer. Vong served eight years as a Cambodian UN volunteer in Kosovo, Nepal and Afghanistan.
In the garden outside, event participants, under the direction of Khmer artist Dina Chhon, painted murals to express what climate change means to them
Students were given art materials to paint their own environmental slogans and pictures on T-shirts and recycled bags at the T-shirt and Recycled Bags Painting competition, which were then strung up for public display.
Other artistic performances included a breakdancing show by the local group Kormix, and a Brazilian martial arts, or capoeira, demonstration by Mith Samlanh children.
UNV and other VolCam organizations manned information booths explaining how to volunteer. One was “Eco-logic”, where two private sector and NGO enterprises displayed their environmentally friendly products – solar panels and recycled products made of paper, tetra pack and mosquito nets - and explained to students how they produce them. Their objective was to raise awareness about renewable energy and recycling.
The UN campaign “Seal the Deal” encouraged students to sign an on-line petition, and UNV created leaflets with easy tips in Khmer about how to be environmentally friendly.
National and International UN volunteers played a key role in organizing the event - which was widely covered by radio, television and newspapers - and over 700 University students and young volunteers from Phnom Penh participated.
Here, you can download the final agenda and the poster of the International Volunteer Day 2009.
2. Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve IVD Event:
Volunteering for Our Planet
Over 500 people from around the Tonle Sap Bisosphere Reserve came together to for the IVD Celebration Volunteering for our Planet. The community-based participants included Commune Council members, rangers, students, monks, local police and teachers.
The IVD event featured speeches by Commune Council chiefs and leaders of climate change and community livelihoods linked to volunteerism. All were committed to continue their support to the work of the self help groups in sustainable livelihoods and take action against climate change.
There were traditional games and quizzes related to environmental awareness and volunteerism. UNV displayed banners with slogans about forests, water and hygiene, and sang songs about environmental awareness.
The event was managed by Self Help Group volunteer steering committees with the support from national UN Volunteers working for the Tonle Sap Conservation Project.
Hy Tanghorn, a UNV Community Engagement Specialist who has played a crucial role in recruiting community volunteers, said: “For more than two years I’ve worked as national UN volunteer in the remote area of Steung Sen. I’m very proud to have shared and learned from experiences in volunteering to alleviate climate change effects on Tonle Sap.”
“We have to continue promoting and supporting volunteers in the most affected areas to raise awareness on this issue and take action,” Tanghorn emphasized.
On Saturday 5th December 2009, UNV Cambodia celebrated IVD in Phnom Penh, and at the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (the Steung Sen Core Area, Prek Toal Core Area and Boeung Tonle Chmar Core Area)
