Our Story
[2003] — The beginning.
The Maddox Foundation, founded by Angelina Jolie, started with one aim: to work alongside local communities to clear the most heavily mined land in Cambodia. The work was built on collaboration with rural communities from the very start. The first task was clearing landmines: making the land safe enough to live and work on again.
[2006] — The work widens.
The Maddox Foundation established our own satellite office in Battambang, Cambodia.
As the threat from landmines became less urgent, the land that had been cleared could now be protected and used by the local communities to build meaningful infrastructure. We expanded into environmental conservation, livelihood programs, and building clinics and schools.
This was the year that we took up the responsibility to protect the 60,994 hectare Samlaut forest, officially named Samlaut Multiple Uses Area. Local people were recruited and trained to be rangers and began to patrol the forest against logging and poaching.
[2017] — Protecting the forest.
In partnership with the Battambang Forestry Administration and local authorities, we set up 11 community forestry schemes across four communes in Samlout. Rangers from the Ministry of Environment's Protected Area Law Enforcement Unit began to patrol the forest against logging and poaching.
[2011] — Expanding Stewardship of the Forest.
As continued to protect the SMUA in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, In partnership with the Battambang Forestry Administration and local authorities, we set up 11 community forestry schemes across four communes in Samlout.
[2018] — A Permanent Base, and a Home for Students.
It was a big year for the Maddox Foundation.
A dedicated headquarters opened in Samlout, giving the all-Cambodian team a permanent place to work full-time in the field. It also serves as the base for the ranger unit patrolling the protected forest.
In facilitating and encouraging the local youth to complete their high school education, the first ever student dormitories were built in Samlaut high school. Hundreds of students from remote villages benefit from this dormitory every year.
[2016] –– Rangers become Government Officials.
The locally recruited and trained rangers were recognized and converted to be government officials under direct supervision of the Ministry of Environment.
The partnership with the Maddox Foundation remains ongoing.
[2019] — The Beekeeping Program.
Learning from unsustainable projects around cultivating wild honey, we started to train local farmers on sustainable beekeeping techniques, with local women being encouraged to participate.
The revenue from beekeeping has demotivated farmers in using pesticides on their farm.
[2022] – Climate Interventions.
In partnership with the International Center for Environment Management, we expanded the work with ranger and communities in reforestation and natural landscape preservation.
Tree nurseries were constructed, with thousand of tree seedlings being distributed and transplanted every year.
[Forward] — What's next.
Our focus now is conservation and improving livelihoods for the communities we work in.
[2009] – Healthcare and Clinics.
We built a new health center in a remote site of the Samlaut village, officially named Boeng Ron Health Center. It was later upgraded with a maternity ward and ophthalmic ward.
The clinical base services were then combined with the outreach health services where young mothers and children under 5 were followed up and educated in health and nutrition.