Danet is riding her bicycle down a red dirt path on the way to school, the sun softly rising behind her.

It’s the end of the rainy season in Siem Reap province, so lush green foliage warmly welcomes the early morning. The view isn’t spoiled by plastic garbage or cigarette butts discarded along the road.

But her village hasn’t always looked so spotless.

Danet is a fresh graduate of her lower secondary school in Soutr Nikom district, where Local Life Skills Education (LLSE) has taught her how climate change and environmental issues are threatening the health, well-being and futures of children and young people like her.

The subject has given her eyes to understand the dangers she sees in her daily life—from children inhaling the toxic smoke of burning trash in front of villagers’ homes, to the discarded plastic food wrappers polluting roads and waterways.

She’s learned how unexpected rain and wind during the dry season, which has been delaying her family’s harvest, spoiling the rice, and impacting their income, is linked to climate change.

The subject, developed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) with support from UNICEF, also taught her how to use this knowledge to take action on climate impacts and inspire others to take action, too.

“When people understand, our community can stay beautiful,” says Danet. “But for that to happen, everyone needs to come together. I’m worried that climate change is just going to keep happening. But I choose to stay hopeful that villagers will unite to protect and preserve our environment.”

Together with her classmates, over the past few years she’s organized trash clean-up initiatives, planted trees, raised awareness among villagers on the dangers of plastic pollution and encouraged them to plant vegetables in their garden.

“I ran a campaign to raise awareness about environmental issues, focusing especially on trash,” she says. “Villagers asked, ‘If burning trash is bad for the environment, what should we do instead?’ I told them we really need to cut back on using plastic. The more we use it, the more trash we’ve got to burn or bury, which isn't good for the planet. They thought about it and started making some changes.”

The Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) places Cambodia in the top third of countries facing high risks associated with climate change.

About 1.9 million children live in communes with a high or very high climate risk, meaning they are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and environmental hazards—including pollution, flooding, drought, and vector-borne diseases—because they lack access to essential services.

In Cambodia, innovations like Local Life Skills Education champion the potential and promise of young people as changemakers for the environment.

The subject, taught across all lower secondary schools in the country, equips students not only with knowledge of climate issues but empowers them with the soft skills to get out in the community and work together, research, advocate and take action to protect their own futures.

“In the past, students only learned in the classroom,” says Rim Samreach, school director at Chansar Lower Secondary School.

“Now, they are encouraged to learn outside of school and engage in community activities. We hope that one day, after they finish school, they will become valuable resources and use their potential to help their community. We won’t be here forever, and our hope is that these children will take our place.”

When they are ready, students are also encouraged to present their research and ideas to local authorities and other decision makers, helping to build soft skills as well as expand impact, boost engagement and raise funds for their campaigns.

After presentations at the commune and district level, Danet and her team made it all the way to the Siem Reap provincial authorities with their ideas on trash management.

“The community now accepts children’s good ideas to improve the environment and reduce disease,” says Chansar commune councilor, San Seath. “That’s why every home looks clean nowadays, and you won’t see trash like before.”

Sab says it’s the turn of young people to take the lead.

“I feel hopeful for the future,” she says. “Children are brave enough to speak and to act. They follow through with their commitments. I feel very happy to see so much support from government officials at the district and provincial levels. I believe they might even reach up to central ministries in Phnom Penh.”

Danet knows there’s a lot of work left to be done and more people to convince that the time to act on climate issues is now.

“Whenever the villagers don’t do what we ask, I feel disappointed,” she says. “But I’m still going to keep spreading the word.”