250 technical students from communities across Cambodia take part

(MissionNewswire) Students from Don Bosco Technical School, located in Kep, Cambodia, participated in an annual training-of-trainers workshop focusing on ancestral wisdom, environmental issues, community building and the Don Bosco Preventive System. Organized under the Young Leadership Project, the five-day program was held at the Don Bosco Kep Jungle-Garden and brought together students from the departments of electricity, secretarial studies, information technology, and media communication. Participants were from communities across Cambodia including Indigenous youth from the Jarai and Tampung communities of Ratanakiri.

The workshop combined reflection, environmental awareness and cultural immersion. Students visited the Kampong Samaki Community Fishery and the Mangrove Biological Learning Center, where local communities have worked to protect mangrove ecosystems and promote sustainable livelihoods. These visits offered practical insight into community-led environmental conservation and resilience.

A central theme of the workshop was the preservation of Cambodia’s ancestral traditions amid rapid urbanization. Students reflected on the cultural richness of Indigenous groups, the empowerment of women and the value of strong community life. One of the key concerns mentioned was focused on youth who migrate permanently to cities for study and employment and how that might weaken or cause them to lose their ancestral heritage and village identity.

Through group dialogue, participants emphasized that modern development must not erase cultural roots. One group noted, “If we are the result of centuries of ancestral journeys, then our descendants also have the right to a cultural identity.”

Rather than rejecting modernity, students proposed a balanced approach. Access to electricity, internet and education is essential for rural development. However, it must serve human dignity and social cohesion.

Environmental stewardship emerged as another issue for the group. Students stressed that care for forests, seas, rivers, and mangroves is not optional but vital for survival and well-being. They challenged passive attitudes toward environmental destruction. A participant said, “If we see the forest being destroyed and do nothing, we are part of the destruction. If they cut one tree, we must plant seven.”

Don Bosco Kep stands as a model of sustainability, surrounded by trees and with staff and students engaged in ongoing ecological initiatives. For the past two years, students have committed to planting 5,000 trees annually. With 500 students planting at least 10 trees each in their villages, they aim to make a tangible contribution to Cambodia’s environmental future. The school is also an active member of the Don Bosco Green Alliance Cambodia, collaborating with the Kep Provincial Department of Forestry and Environment to protect mangrove areas and Kep National Park.

The workshop also highlighted the traditional Cambodian village model, where strong kinship bonds foster unity and shared responsibility. Participants reflected on the importance of dialogue, conflict resolution, and mutual respect in a culturally diverse society that includes Indigenous minorities and various religious communities. “We are an oasis of peace,” one participant said, calling for dignified dialogue and protection of the most vulnerable.

###

Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Cambodia – Youth ToT on Ancestral Wisdom and Ecology at Don Bosco Kep

Don Bosco Kep

Salesian Missions – Cambodia

World Bank – Cambodia