Programs & Events
Public Affairs helps to raise environmental awareness through essay contest
Battambong
October 28, 2008
On October 28th the Embassy’s Public Affairs officer along with the Director of the American Corner in Battambong were treated to a number of well thought out presentations on waste management and the environment by students from the Battambang University of Economy and Management. The presentations were part of a contest funded by Public Affairs to highlight the importance and beauty of the Cambodian countryside during Environment Week, a yearly event which began in 2007. The students spent roughly a month on each of their projects, interviewing residents of local villages on how they manage litter and debris in their areas and coming up with a series of recommendations on how to solve the ever present problem of trash in Cambodia. They found that the majority of residents would participate in a waste management program if the local government would provide bins and garbage trucks. As it stands only private companies manage the trash pickup points, and most villagers do not have the funds to pay for this service. After the presentations the PAO presented cash awards for first and second place, as well as US/Cambodia friendship packs to each of the students that participated.
