Phnom Penh: The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and On The Road (OTR) have signed a memorandum of understanding to initiate a workshop focused on the upcycling of plastic and metal remnants from past conflicts.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the signing ceremony took place at CMAC’s headquarters, with CMAC Director General H.E. Heng Ratana and Mr. Ayumu Takahashi, President of the OTR Board, formalizing the partnership. The workshop aims to transform war remnants into marketable souvenirs, mentored by Japanese fine artists and supported by CMAC in Cambodia.

The initiative will provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities, allowing them to work within the souvenir market at the Techo Peace Museum in Siem Reap province. CMAC plans to convert hazardous materials, like landmine plastics and metal fragments, into creative products for peaceful and pleasant use.

This approach will enable landmine victim survivors to engage in handicraft production, fostering creativity and economic opportunity through the sale of unique souvenirs at the museum. In August 2024, H.E. Heng Ratana also met with Japanese artists in Okinawa, who suggested recycling oceanic plastic waste into affordable souvenirs, expanding the project’s scope.