Southeast Asia’s rich environment has been threatened by mining, fast-growing timber, and natural rubber harvesting. Indigenous Communities who have lived off the forest for centuries face displacement, worsened by weak regulation and little government protection of ancestral lands. Their ‘David versus Goliath’ struggle can feel hopeless, yet small stories of hope are creating ripples of change.
Cord has worked with Women Environmental Defenders (WEDs) in Southeast Asia since 2018, witnessing powerful transformation through training and mentoring, most recently through our regional SPIRIT and EMPOWER programmes. The following stories show how women have used these tools to strengthen their communities.
Mrs Champopat Phuthiphophuwan – An entrepreneur bringing Indigenous products to markets in Chiang Rai, Thailand
A single mother of two, Champopat now actively defends natural resources alongside other WEDs, breaking gender barriers. Initially sceptical, she gained skills and confidence through EMPOWER, learning NRM rules and asserting her rights in wider networks.
“I thought that if I did nothing, I would have nothing. If women don’t get out to claim their rights, they will still be invisible and discriminated against. Either small or big, women can be change-makers.”
MRS CHAMPOPAT PHUTHIPHOPHUWAN
She now leads women’s groups, builds community planning structures, and promotes local businesses such as natural dyeing and herbal medicine. By modernising products and expanding market access, these initiatives both sustain resources and generate income, rooted in the support she received from EMPOWER.
Mrs Co Lieng K’Sao – An advocate for environmental controls in Phu Nu Thon village, Vietnam
Co Lieng’s community faced pollution from factories and the loss of ancestral land, leaving them powerless. EMPOWER training gave her advocacy and communication skills, enabling her to unite villagers and petition officials with evidence. Her efforts stopped waste dumping from pig farming companies.
“I neither expected that the Government will seriously consider [our requests] nor act. Now, our efforts bear result. I think that it would be a good example and lesson learned for communities to advocate for their needs. I will collect evidence of other issues too, for example, to report the pollution by the coffee factories to the local authorities.”
MRS CO LIENG K’SAO
Her leadership helped shift the community from confrontation to constructive dialogue, earning respect and recognition. She now represents her village in government meetings about land rights.
Mrs Kai Phone – A mapmaker protecting community land in Thakor village, Laos
Since joining EMPOWER in 2022, Kai has become a strong advocate for sustainable land and forest management. With GPS tools, she supported leaders in mapping community land and documenting illegal clearing. In August 2023, the maps were formally recognised by authorities, granting protective status.
Gender barriers once limited her voice, but her persistence and EMPOWER training changed perceptions—even within her own family. Women are now active in community discussions with leaders and authorities.
“I felt a deep sense of pride when I attended a meeting with the district authorities in August 2023. I urged them to help prevent illegal logging and encroachment in our community and to recognise our community maps. As a result, my requests were escalated to the provincial level. A month later, the community maps were formally recognised.”
MRS KAI PHONE
Mrs Sreynic Tes – A social activist advancing education in Mondulkiri, Cambodia
Sreynic began activism in 2012 while fighting for communal land titles. Through SPIRIT and EMPOWER, she gained skills in non-violent communication, Do No Harm, and conflict sensitivity, enabling her to resolve disputes peacefully.
Her advocacy expanded to education: she revitalised a Community Daycare Centre, securing budget, facilities, and a teacher to ensure children’s access to learning. Now a commune councillor, she addresses issues like child marriage, gender equality, and women’s empowerment in environmental protection.
“I am filled with pride for both myself and my community. My dream has been realised, and for this, I am deeply grateful to the SPIRIT and EMPOWER programmes. The extensive knowledge and experience I’ve gained have now begun to yield tangible results. I have been able to apply this knowledge and these skills to effectively assist others in my community.”
MRS SREYNIC TES
Mrs Oum Yorn – A Pioneer village chief building partnerships in Ratanakiri, Cambodia
For nearly a decade, Oum has defended forests and women’s rights, despite cultural restrictions keeping women from such roles. With EMPOWER support, she gained confidence to collaborate with chiefs, forestry officials, and private companies, coordinating actions and earning trust.
Her leadership led to her appointment as the first female chief of her village, a milestone for women’s empowerment in her community.
Lucy Godfrey, March 2025
