BFH-HAFL students in Cambodia

I recently had the opportunity to visit our talented BFH-HAFL students who are currently undertaking their field assignments and research work in Cambodia.

As the students’ research advisor and an active member of Swiss Business-NGO-SDC Partnership in Cambodia, representing BFH-HAFL and the HAFL Hugo P. Cecchini Institute, my main task is finding dedicated hosting organisations for our students. I am really passionate about this part of my job – to work with the hosts and students on development projects, and coaching the students throughout their research journey.

Three organisations – Swisscontact Cambodia, the Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC) Cambodia, and Damnok Toek – are hosting our students this year. Here are some brief insights from my visits:
 

Alena is doing her BSc field assignment at the Damnok Toek Kep Farm, a social business for people with intellectual disabilities that empowers them through agricultural work. Alena's identifying suitable products to expand the farm’s production, such as dried fruits, fruit chips, and aromatic plant powders. During my visit, she conducted a productive interview with the owner of a local restaurant about the market potential of certain products, and also impressed me greatly with her strong bond with the farm’s residents.
 

Fiona's BSc thesis research assesses how local knowledge has been integrated in community-based fire management activities in the Tonle Sap Lake Biosphere Reserve. The lake is rapidly shrinking, resulting in more fire incidents as more land is cleared for farming. In Pursat, we visited flooded forests to witness the devastating impact of fires, conducted key informant interviews, and even participated in tree-planting activities. Fiona's dedication to the project, to enhance forest management and restore critical habitats, was evident. She is hosted by RECOFTC Cambodia.
 

Lovis is involved in the DEI MEAS project of Swisscontact in Battambang Province, which focuses on agroecology practices that restore degraded lands and improve farmers' livelihoods. He's working with a team of Cambodian researchers and learning about data collection methods. Lovis is looking to create an index to capture agroecology practices relevant for the farmers’ realities, and tools for optimizing data collection, including gender and generational considerations in conservation agriculture. We had a meeting with different organisations involved in the project, and also visited one of DEI MEAS’ experimental water filtration sites.
 

The two MSc students are conducting their research within the RECOFTC Cambodia project Partnership for Forestry and Fisheries Communities in Cambodia (PaFF3), which aims to strengthen community-based natural resource management. Jérémie is assessing the impact of a forest credit scheme on communities and natural resource management, while Emerson is analysing the creation and contribution of recreational forest areas to community livelihoods. Both students are doing their field work in Kampong Thom Province. I joined them on visits to several communities, where we heard about the positive impact of credit scheme to empower the communities to manage revolving funds, and about finding the right balance in developing local tourism opportunities in natural areas managed by the communities.

These visits have been eye-opening and inspiring, showcasing the student’s dedication to their studies, while contributing to positive changes in Cambodia. I'm immensely proud to witness their growth and contribution to sustainable development.

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