Project Report
| May 24, 2012
Kouprey Express Broadens Outreach at Event
By Beth Eisenstaedt | Assistant Director of Development
In April, the Kouprey Express Mobile Environmental Education Project was invited to join a fundraising event at French NGO, Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE). PSE works with 6,500 young adults and children who were previously trash pickers at the notorious trash dump in Steung Meanchey, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. PSE holds an annual charity event to raise awareness for issues affecting young people in Cambodia and invites various
organizations and companies to participate.
Wildlife Alliance’s KE team had a small booth where we were able to promote forest and wildlife conservation issues. They also set up an area for children to make wildlife art which instantly attracted a huge crowd of young participants! The team gave away t-shirts, wildlife posters, and wildlife hotline stickers to raise awareness of the hotline number and encourage people to call if they see illegal wildlife activity. When asked, some of the children acknowledge knowing people and places that hunt or sell wildlife, so this served as an excellent opportunity to reach a large audience who previously had no knowledge of the wildlife trade, wildlife laws, or the rescue hotline. The first night of the event got short by a surprise downpour, but the second day was beautiful and busy with over 3,500 attendees.
Events like this are an important way for the Kouprey Express team to increase outreach. They usually work in schools just in Koh Kong Province, where most of Wildlife Alliance’s field projects are located. The ability to reach other areas and audiences increases Wildlife Alliance’s ability to diminish and eventually put an end to wildlife trafficking in Cambodia.
Feb 23, 2012
Love Letters for the Kouprey Express
By Beth Eisenstaedt | Assistant Director of Development
Letter 1
After a recent trip to the Chi Phat Primary School by the Kouprey Express, the team received 13 ‘love’ letters from students. So enthralled by their experience, the kids felt compelled to express their gratitude to the team for helping them learn about animal welfare and the environment. As the bus drove out of town, several of the kids ran behind the bus waving and cheering. It is immensely gratifying to the team in specific and the whole of Wildlife Alliance to know that we are making a positive impact in the lives of these children while teaching them to preserve Cambodia’s natural heritage. The Kouprey Express team visits approximately 2 schools each month, up to 20 per year delivering lessons to students and teachers in conservation education. Increased understanding through interactive education and hands-on activities is the critical building block through which Wildlife Alliance hopes to sustain Cambodia’s proactive conservation of its threatened wildlife and by which we are influencing positive behaviors, attitudes, and actions toward wildlife and their habitat. Translations of the Letters: Letter1 - Teacher I really don’t want you to leave because I love and miss you very much when i learned with you it made me very happy and feel very comfortable. From me, the person who love and miss you very much. Han Thorn, Grade 4; Letter 2 - Teacher I really don’t want to get away from you because and love and miss you very much, we want you to teach us again. From me, Tong Yi, Grade 4
Letter 2
Dec 5, 2011
Kouprey Express Hosts a Group from NBIC at PTWRC
By Beth Eisenstaedt | Assistant Director of Development
On September 16, 2011 the Kouprey Express took a group of 96 people from the National Borey for Infants and Children (NBIC), including orphaned and disabled children, staff, and international volunteers, on a field trip Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center. For many of these children, it was their first visit to PTWRC and their excitement was palpable. The visit included a tour of the whole facility and environmental games and art projects to facilitate learning about wildlife. The day was hot and airless, and even though many of the children were physically handicapped and confined to wheelchairs, their fascination kept them moving. They were eager to see all the animals and fearless when meeting Lucky, one of PTWRC’s resident elephants. They got up close with her, petting her hide and hugging her trunk when she touched them “Hello.” After a delicious lunch at the center, the kids participated in art activities and games. The KE staff has never seen as many smiling faces as they saw in the NBIC group and a great time was had by all. We look forward to hosting another group from NBIC soon!
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