About CEPA

History

Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA) was founded in 1995 by four social and environmental activists committed to preserving their natural resources. Realizing and believing that the issues of natural resource management were first and foremost the most important problems facing the country and were in need of immediate and permanent solution.

The organization focused its early work on training young activists on nature resource management and empowering forest and river dependent people on resource management. In the past ten years the organization has expanded to include advocacy on environmental rights, community-based forest management, and research.

These efforts has helped indigenous communities and ethnic minorities in the north-eastern part of Cambodia preserve their culture by asserting their rights at the same time accepting development through the practice of sustainable methods to conserve their natural resources.

Goal

To ensure that the environmental integrity of Cambodia's natural resources is equitably maintained and protected for the sustainable use and livelihood of its people today and for generations to come.

Mission

1. To work with all sectors - grassroots level and government - to promote and increase the people’s economic, social and cultural rights and to foster a commitment to the protection of its culture and environment through research, information exchange, knowledge acquisition and enlightened activism.
2. To improve livelihood opportunities of the people in the community and promote equality and equity for women and men to ensure the preservation of traditional culture, the promotion of social justice and sustainable livelihood.
3. To empower the people in the communities to have equality, equity and right to use and manage the natural resources; and
4. To push networking as a means to communicate to members of society their social, economic and environmental rights for increased social understanding and indigenous culture preservation.
   

Vision

An independent society that preserves its culture and protects its environment while collaborating with partners, government agencies, researchers and international communities to meet its needs without compromising its abilities to meet the needs of future generation in terms of their environmental, social and economic stability and security.

Philosophy

An organizational philosophy states what the organization is and who constitutes the organization. It also articulates the set of values and beliefs that the people in the organization share. These beliefs and values serve as guides in decision making involving ethical and moral questions. The CEPA philosophy is expressed thus:

CEPA is a non-political and non-profit, non-government organization (NGO). It is made up of young students and professionals who are interested in the preservation of culture of the indigenous people and the protection of the environment. It recognizes the importance of the inputs of the people in the form of knowledge, experiences and suggestion to influence development projects so they can lead to maximum benefits to the communities. It strongly believes in non-discrimination, environmental preservation, and non-violence and respect women.

It encourages volunteer work and co-operation among the NGOs, NGOs partners and other partners in the local and international communities. CEPA does not believe in destroying wildlife through human consumption.

Core Value

The following characteristics constitute the core CEPA values:

• Recognition of the dignity and the capability of people.
• A deep respect for the information, knowledge, experience and wisdom of community people.
• The recognition of the equality of men and women and the need to account for that equality in out programming; a deep respect for women's involvement in all our processes and activities.
• A holistic approach to development that is centred on the empowerment of the poor and marginalized - this includes a commitment to participation, consultation, ownership, sustainability and community control.
• A deep and abiding respect for the fragility of our nation's resources and the need to protect them in the interest of present and future generations.
• A willingness to work collaboratively and collectively with other organisations including government, NGOs, academia, international bodies and communities.

Our Activities

1. To improve livelihood opportunities of the people in the community and promote equality and equity for women and men to ensure the preservation of traditional culture, the promotion of social justice and sustainable livelihood.
2. To empower the people in the communities to have equality, equity and right to use and manage the natural resources.
3. To push networking as a means to communicate to members of society their social, economic and environmental rights for increased social understanding and indigenous culture preservation.