Along Cambodia’s coastline, mangrove forests are the lifeblood of local communities. In Kep, the Phum Thmey community is showing that conservation and livelihoods can thrive together. At the heart of this effort is one man: Lai Sales.
“My name is Lai Sales,” smiles this dedicated volunteer, whose work is supported by Action Education / Aide et Action’s COSAVED project, co-funded by the European Union.
“I sell T-shirts and other items. I also clean the environment, pick up rubbish, plant mangroves and seedlings, and maintain the mangrove forest. I clean kiosks for tourists, prepare mats for visitors, and help organise our community meetings.”
While Lai devotes his days to both forest and community, the T-shirts he sells tell a powerful story.
Eco-Tourism in Action: Protecting Seas and Communities
“These T-shirts highlight the importance of our sea resources, including endangered marine species,” Lai explains. “We work on crabs, for example. We don’t eat pregnant crabs; we release them into the sea. We don’t want to destroy their natural habitat, like the mangroves. We need to protect them, and we help people understand why they matter.”
Through eco-tourism, every T-shirt sale becomes a conversation about the ocean: “When tourists buy a T-shirt, they understand the importance of our oceans. And when they wear it, they help spread that awareness even further.”
The results are encouraging.
“Our community first received 30 T-shirts in December 2024, and we sold 11 to tourists, locals, and community members. Now, in October 2025, we have received 31 more,” he shares.
Lai adds enthusiastically: “I sell one T-shirt for 30,000 riels (7.50 USD), but if a customer wants to plant a mangrove, I offer a discount—just 26,000 riels (6.50 USD). This is to encourage tree-planting and forest restoration.”
Every step counts. Every T-shirt makes a difference.
Be the Change, Wear the Change
Each shirt tells a story of conservation, community, and action. As Lai walks through the mangrove forest, picking up rubbish and nurturing seedlings, he embodies the very message his T-shirts carry: protection, education, and hope.
Lai Sales’ work is not just for himself. It’s for his community, the oceans, and the future of Kep. When people support him, they help protect the environment while supporting local livelihoods.
Choose nature.
Choose local.
Choose dignity.
Support coastal communities. Get a T-shirt, plant a tree, and join the movement to protect Cambodia’s coastal treasures.
📍 Sand Beach Road, Kep, Cambodia
