• helping young people protect Cambodia’s forests

The Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia have large forests. Many wild animals live there. Local families also live near these forests. They grow rice, vegetables and other crops.

But life is not always easy for these families. Sometimes they do not earn enough money from farming. Some families cut down more trees to get new land for their farms. This is a problem because forests are important for people, animals and nature.

The Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project wants to protect these forests and help local people. It works to stop people from cutting down trees, protect wild animals and reduce damage to nature. It also helps local families find better ways to earn money.

Tourism can also help protect the forests. Shinta Mani Wild is a luxury camp with tents in the Cardamom Mountains. It works with Wildlife Alliance, an organisation that protects forests and wild animals in Cambodia. Tourism can create jobs for local people and give them another way to earn money.

One important part of the REDD+ project (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation)is education.

Since 2021, the project has given scholarships to young people from local communities. The scholarships help them go to university in Phnom Penh. They pay for university fees, a place to live and other important costs. Students can also get help with English and study materials.

The aim is simple: young people can get a good education and later help their own communities.

Three students have special plans for the future.

Thorn Khak studied agriculture. He now helps farmers improve their soil and find better markets for their products.

Va Sreylik studies agriculture. She wants to teach families how to make their own fertilizer. This can help them save money and grow better crops.

Heng Hom wants to help local people understand official papers and documents before they sign them.

These activities can also help protect nature. Farmers can grow more food on the land they already have instead of cutting down trees to make new fields. Better farming methods can protect the soil. Fewer trees are cut down, and wild animals can keep their homes.

The scholarship is more than financial help. It gives young people a chance to build a better future. They can use their knowledge to help their neighbours and protect the forests.

Education can help both people and nature.

__________________________

Vocabulary:

Word / phrase	Definition
a forest	a large area with many trees
to grow crops	to grow plants such as rice or vegetables
to earn money	to get money from work
to protect	to keep someone or something safe
damage to nature	harm to plants, animals or the environment
to create jobs	to give people new work
emissions	gases that go into the air
deforestation	cutting down many trees in a forest
degradation	when something becomes worse
a scholarship	money to help a student pay for their studies
a local community	people who live in the same area
university fees	money you pay to study at a university
to improve soil	to make the earth better for growing plants
a fertilizer	something you put on the soil to help plants grow
knowledge	information and things you learn
education	learning at school, college or university

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Match word and definition:

Words

1. a forest
2. to grow crops
3. to earn money
4. to protect
5. damage to nature
6. to create jobs
7. emissions
8. deforestation
9. degradation
10. a scholarship
11. a local community
12. university fees
13. to improve soil
14. a fertilizer
15. knowledge
16. education

Definitions

A. money you pay to study at a university

B. to keep someone or something safe

C. information and things you learn

D. when something becomes worse

E. to get money from work

F. something you put on the soil to help plants grow

G. a large area with many trees

H. gases that go into the air

I. to make the earth better for growing plants

J. people who live in the same area

K. harm to plants, animals or the environment

L. learning at school, college or university

M. to give people new work

N. cutting down many trees in a forest

O. to grow plants such as rice or vegetables

P. money to help a student pay for their studies

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Answer key:
1G, 2O, 3E, 4B, 5K, 6M, 7H, 8N, 9D,
10P, 11J, 12A, 13I, 14F, 15C, 16L

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Match the definitions with the words

Definitions

1. a large area with many trees
2. money to help a student pay for their studies
3. to make the earth better for growing plants
4. gases that go into the air
5. people who live in the same area
6. to get money from work
7. cutting down many trees in a forest
8. learning at school, college or university
9. to keep someone or something safe
10. something you put on the soil to help plants grow
11. harm to plants, animals or the environment
12. to grow plants such as rice or vegetables
13. information and things you learn
14. money you pay to study at a university
15. when something becomes worse
16. to give people new work

Words

A. a fertilizer

B. deforestation

C. to protect

D. knowledge

E. university fees

F. to grow crops

G. degradation

H. a scholarship

I. emissions

J. to earn money

K. education

L. to improve soil

M. a forest

N. to create jobs

O. damage to nature

P. a local community

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Answer key:
1M, 2H, 3L, 4I, 5P, 6J, 7B, 8K, 9C, 10A,
11O, 12F, 13D, 14E, 15G, 16N

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Multiple-choice:

1. Where are the Cardamom Mountains?

• A. In southern Laos
• B. In northern Thailand
• C. In western Cambodia

2. What do local families grow?

• A. Rice and vegetables
• B. Tea and oranges
• C. Coffee and bananas

3. Why do some families cut down more trees?

• A. To find wild animals
• B. To get more farmland
• C. To build new roads

4. Why are forests important?

• A. They provide many jobs
• B. They make farming easier
• C. They are homes for animals

5. What is the main aim of the REDD+ Project?

• A. To build hotels and roads
• B. To protect forests and help people
• C. To increase farming and tourism

6. How can tourism help local people?

• A. It creates jobs for them.
• B. It gives them free houses.
• C. It brings them new animals.

7. What is Shinta Mani Wild?

• A. A school for local children
• B. A centre for wild animals
• C. A luxury camp with tents

8. Which organisation works with Shinta Mani Wild?

• A. Phnom Penh University
• B. Wildlife Alliance
• C. Southern Cardamom School

9. When did the scholarship programme start?

• A. In 2021
• B. In 2019
• C. In 2020

10. Where can scholarship students study?

• A. In Siem Reap
• B. In Battambang
• C. In Phnom Penh

11. What do the scholarships pay for?

• A. Travel tickets and clothes
• B. University fees and living costs
• C. Food supplies and farm tools

12. What additional help can students receive?

• A. Driving lessons and sports
• B. Cooking lessons and travel
• C. English and study materials

13. What did Thorn Khak study?

• A. Agriculture
• B. Tourism
• C. Business

14. How does Thorn Khak help farmers?

• A. He helps build houses and roads.
• B. He helps improve soil and find markets.
• C. He helps buy animals and machines.

15. What does Va Sreylik want to teach families?

• A. How to sell their land
• B. How to build new farms
• C. How to make their own fertilizer

16. How can making their own fertilizer help families?

• A. They can save money.
• B. They can buy more land.
• C. They can find new jobs.

17. What does Heng Hom want to help people understand?

• A. English books and lessons
• B. Official papers and documents
• C. Farming methods and soil

18. What can better farming methods help farmers do?

• A. Open farms in new forests
• B. Sell trees to other countries
• C. Grow food on existing farmland

19. Why is protecting the soil important?

• A. It helps crops grow better.
• B. It brings more tourists.
• C. It helps people build roads.

20. How can education help nature?

• A. It brings more people to forests.
• B. It helps people use land better.
• C. It makes farming more expensive.

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Answer key:
1C, 2A, 3B, 4C, 5B, 6A, 7C, 8B, 9A, 10C, 11B,
12C, 13A, 14B, 15C, 16A, 17B, 18C, 19A, 20B
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True or false:

1. The Cardamom Mountains are in Thailand.
2. The scholarships pay for university fees, accommodation and other important costs.
3. All local families earn enough money from farming.
4. Shinta Mani Wild is a luxury camp with tents.
5. The REDD+ Project wants families to cut down fewer trees.
6. Thorn Khak studied tourism at university.
7. Wildlife Alliance works to protect forests and wild animals.
8. The scholarship programme started in 2023.
9. Students can receive help with English and study materials.
10. Va Sreylik wants to teach families how to make their own fertilizer.
11. Heng Hom helps farmers find better markets for their products.
12. The project only helps people who work in tourism.
13. Better farming methods can help protect the soil.
14. Thorn Khak helps farmers improve their soil.
15. The scholarships help young people study in Siem Reap.
16. Education can help local people and protect nature.

_____________________________

Answer key:
1F, 2T, 3F, 4T, 5T, 6F, 7T, 8F, 9T, 10T,
11F, 12F, 13T, 14T, 15F, 16T
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Cause and effect – match each cause with the correct effect:

Causes

1. Some families do not earn enough money from farming.
2. Families cut down trees to get more farmland.
3. Tourism creates jobs for local people.
4. Young people receive scholarships.
5. Farmers learn to improve their soil.
6. Families learn to make their own fertilizer.
7. Students receive help with English.
8. Farmers find better markets for their products.

Effects

A. They can sell their products more easily.

B. They can study at university in Phnom Penh.

C. Forests become smaller and animals lose their homes.

D. They can communicate better and improve their studies.

E. People have another way to earn money.

F. They can save money on farming costs.

G. Some families look for other ways to earn money.

H. They can grow better crops on their existing land.

____________________________

Answer key:
1G, 2C, 3E, 4B, 5H, 6F, 7D, 8A

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Short answers, keywords only

1. Where are the Cardamom Mountains?
2. Why do some families cut down more trees?
3. How does the REDD+ Project help local people?
4. Which organisation works with Shinta Mani Wild?
5. When did the scholarship programme start?
6. Where can scholarship students study?
7. Who helps farmers improve their soil and find better markets?
8. How can families save money on fertilizer?
9. What does Heng Hom help local people understand?
10. Why can better farming methods protect forests?

___________________________

Answer key:

1. Cambodia
2. To get more farmland
3. Better ways to earn money
4. Wildlife Alliance
5. 2021
6. Phnom Penh
7. Thorn Khak
8. Make their own fertilizer
9. Official papers and documents
10. Less need for new farmland

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A fictitional interview with the CEO of Wildlife Alliance – match questions and answers

Questions

1. What is the main goal of Wildlife Alliance?
2. Where does your organisation operate?
3. Why are the Cardamom forests so important?
4. How do you stop illegal tree cutting?
5. What happens when rangers find illegal hunters?
6. Which animals need special protection?
7. How do local families benefit from your projects?
8. Can tourism also help protect forests?
9. Why is education important for forest protection?
10. Why do you offer scholarships to young people?
11. What difficulties does your organisation face?
12. What are your hopes for the future?

Answers

A. They are homes for many wild animals and help keep nature healthy.

B. Illegal hunting, cutting down trees and a lack of money are big problems.

C. We want students from local communities to study at university.

D. Yes, tourism creates jobs and gives local people another way to earn money.

E. Our forest rangers walk through the forests and look for people who cut down trees illegally.

F. We hope for healthy forests, safe wild animals and better lives for local families.

G. We are active in different parts of Cambodia, especially in the Cardamom Mountains.

H. They get new chances to earn money and improve their lives.

I. Elephants, bears, monkeys and many rare birds need our help.

J. We want to keep forests, wild animals and nature safe in Cambodia.

K. It gives young people knowledge and better chances for the future.

L. They report these people to the police.

__________________________

Answer key:
1J, 2G, 3A, 4E, 5L, 6I, 7H, 8D, 9K, 10C, 11B, 12F

__________________________

Full version:

1. Journalist: What is the main goal of Wildlife Alliance?

CEO: We want to keep forests, wild animals and nature safe in Cambodia.

2. Journalist: Where does your organisation operate?

CEO: We are active in different parts of Cambodia, especially in the Cardamom Mountains.

3. Journalist: Why are the Cardamom forests so important?

CEO: They are homes for many wild animals and help keep nature healthy.

4. Journalist: How do you stop illegal tree cutting?

CEO: Our forest rangers walk through the forests and look for people who cut down trees illegally.

5. Journalist: What happens when rangers find illegal hunters?

CEO: They report these people to the police.

6. Journalist: Which animals need special protection?

CEO: Elephants, bears, monkeys and many rare birds need our help.

7. Journalist: How do local families benefit from your projects?

CEO: They get new chances to earn money and improve their lives.

8. Journalist: Can tourism also help protect forests?

CEO: Yes, tourism creates jobs and gives local people another way to earn money.

9. Journalist: Why is education important for forest protection?

CEO: It gives young people knowledge and better chances for the future.

10. Journalist: Why do you offer scholarships to young people?

CEO: We want students from local communities to study at university.

11. Journalist: What difficulties does your organisation face?

CEO: Illegal hunting, cutting down trees and a lack of money are big problems.

12. Journalist: What are your hopes for the future?

CEO: We hope for healthy forests, safe wild animals and better lives for local families.

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___________________________________

Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN………………

SMFrockZ@gmx.at

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