Landmines were planted by different factions during the Cambodian civil war, a war which stretched for 30 years before it ended in 1998. Efforts to clear unexploded landmines and cluster munitions have been underway for decades. In 2020, the Cambodian government set an ambitious goal to make the country mine-free by 2025.
These remnants have found a new, peaceful purpose in handcrafted jewelry. The Rajana Association in Cambodia helps maintain and rebuild Cambodia's rich cultural traditions through teaching traditional craft-making skills that were nearly lost in the country's wars. Their jewelry is handcrafted from recycled brass from reclaimed bomb casings, transforming weapons of war into symbols of hope and resilience. The name Rajana means "design" in Khmer.
Hero Rats: Giant Pouch Rats have a keen sense of smell & are trained to sniff out the TNT in land mines in Cambodia. These rodents have sniffed out hundreds of land mines.