Reinventing Plastic in Kampong Cham: When Cambodian Youth Transform Waste into Engaged Artworks

October 25, 2025, will be a key date in the fight against plastic pollution in Cambodia. At Preah Sihanouk High School, the innovative Green Miracle initiative orchestrated the TrashArt exhibition and the Plastic in Peril forum, two events that transformed used plastic into powerful artistic messages.

This unprecedented project, gathering 115 participants from all backgrounds, saw 28 high school students reimagine waste under the theme

"Plastic Planet: The World in Pain", turning debris into messages of warning and hope. Faced with the overwhelming reality of a world saturated with plastic — ocean pollution, the harmful presence of microplastics even in the human body — these young artists managed to combine ecological awareness with artistic expression to raise awareness among peers and the general public.

Led by expert mentorship from Thierry Tea, CEO of Canadia Impact Fund and a figure in the

Generation Future program of UNICEF, the Green Miracle team launched the TrashArt 2025 contest.

This initiative aimed to mobilize youth and social media users around the fight against plastic pollution. It quickly gained remarkable online success, accumulating over 60,000 views for videos showcasing students’ recycling artworks.

An Engaged Forum on Sustainable Solutions

To conclude this ambitious project, Green Miracle organized its first public forum titled

"Plastic in Peril: The World in Pain", combining artwork exhibitions with discussions. This event facilitated a rich and inclusive dialogue among students, government representatives, NGOs, and local leaders, all united by a common goal: redefining behaviors toward plastic waste in Cambodia.

Key speakers included Khun Samros, head of the Youth Bureau of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in Kampong Cham, as well as experts and representatives from organizations such as the Ministry of Tourism, AFD, and NGO COMPOSTED.

Thorn Samay, founder of No Trash and deputy director of the American Academics Center, also contributed to the exchanges.

A powerful moment was the collective awareness expressed by Khun Samros, who said: “Today I learned through the students that tiny microplastics are already in our bodies. It is imperative to moderate our plastic consumption because our environment always ends up paying the price.” This statement highlights the urgency and complexity of the fight ahead.

The discussion emphasized the importance of the 4R approach: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover. All stakeholders stressed the need for shared responsibility involving citizens, authorities, and private companies to build a cleaner Cambodia.

Youth's Boldness and the Power of Partnerships

Nhim Chhouby, the leader of the Green Miracle project, affirmed with conviction: "Cambodia can be clean and beautiful if we start now. Change doesn’t begin tomorrow; it begins with what you decide to throw away today." This solemn call places individual responsibility at the core of ecological action.

The success of this event was made possible thanks to the Generation Future 2025 program, funded by UNICEF and Impact Hub, and supported by engaged partners such as Starbucks, OCIC Group, Diamond Island Company, Brown Coffee (which donated collection bins), and YRDP for logistical support.

In a practical circular economy approach, Green Miracle also donated four trash bins made from recycled plastic to Preah Sihanouk High School, promoting sustainable waste management from source.

Building on this initial success, Green Miracle is now preparing to extend its campaigns to other provinces of Cambodia. Phnom Penh is a key step in future development, with projects targeting neighborhoods like Koh Pich and Chroy Changvar, part of an ambitious roadmap for 2026.

Green Miracle, a Breath of Hope Led by Youth

Green Miracle is an initiative fully carried by Cambodian youth within the Generation Future program of UNICEF. It aims to combine environmental awareness, sustainable waste management, and creative recycling through education and community mobilization.