What does environmental action look like at the community level? In this World Environment Day webinar, VWB’s VETS program volunteers shared their experiences supporting climate-smart agriculture, soil restoration, and sustainable land management alongside local partners in Cambodia, Kenya, and Laos. From improving composting systems and biogas slurry use to introducing cover crops and training farmers in climate resilience, their stories show how grassroots solutions are restoring ecosystems and building a healthier, more sustainable future—from the ground up.
WEBINAR: Thursday, June 5th @ 10am-11am EST
>> Watch the Replay<<
MEET THE PANEL:
Harold Rudy
Sustainable Agriculture Advisor, Cambodia (VETS placement, 2024)
Harold is a lifelong advocate for sustainable agriculture, with over 35 years of experience in soil and water conservation, program management, and environmental policy. He spent his career at the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, where he helped lead the development of the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)—a farmer-led education program now recognized across Canada and internationally. Harold has contributed to sustainable agriculture initiatives in Latin America and Australia, and is the author of The Soil Fixers, a published history of conservation leadership in Ontario. Most recently, Harold served as a VETS volunteer in Cambodia, where he worked with VWB's local partner, Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF), to support regenerative farming techniques that restore soil health and improve food security.
In this webinar, Harold shared how AVSF and the Preah Vihear Meanchey Union of Agriculture Cooperative (PMUAC) are restoring degraded farmland in northern Cambodia using low-cost, regenerative techniques. He also reflected on how farmer-led solutions like soil pH testing and cover cropping are improving food security and soil health—and what lessons Canadian agriculture can take from these grassroots approaches.
Donald Hilborn (P.Eng.)
Agricultural Advisor, Kenya (VETS placements, 2024 & 2025)
Donald enjoyed a dedicated 37-year career as an Agricultural Engineer with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, where he supported livestock farms and led projects in soil drainage, renewable energy, and nutrient management. Now semi-retired, Donald farms seasonally with his spouse, Sue, growing strawberries, tomatoes, and asparagus. In the winters, he shares his expertise globally through volunteer placements in Africa. He has completed several international assignments, including: designing small-scale irrigation systems and screen house tomato production in Tanzania; advancing urban snail and tomato farming in Ghana; and serving twice as a VWB/VSF VETS volunteer in Kenya. There, he worked alongside extension agents and One Health champions at Wakulima Dairy, a cooperative supporting 8,500 small-scale farmers with climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture practices.
In this webinar, Donald discussed how Wakulima Dairy and its members are building environmental resilience through practical, community-driven soil restoration and organic waste management in Kenya. Drawing on his VETS volunteer experiences, he shared simple yet powerful techniques—like composting and biogas slurry application—that are improving farm productivity and closing the loop between livestock and land.
Dr. Alina Cota-Merlo (DVM)
One Health Advisor, Laos (VETS placements, 2024 & 2025)
Alina is a veterinarian and recent graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College with a strong passion for One Health and gender equity in global health. She has worked in large animal practice in Canada and brings a community-centered approach to her international volunteer work. Alina is currently serving as a One Health Advisor with CARE International in Laos—her second placement with VWB’s VETS program—where she is supporting the integration of animal health, environmental sustainability, and public health across multiple projects. In her previous placement with CARE, she delivered training on animal health, biosecurity, and gender equality, helping build the capacity of local partners and project participants. Alina is committed to advancing interdisciplinary collaboration that protects both people and animals in vulnerable communities.
Joining us live from Laos, Alina discussed how VWB's partner, CARE Laos, is integrating One Health into its programs to protect both environmental and public health. Drawing on her VETS volunteer experiences, she highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration to prevent zoonotic disease, strengthen sustainable health systems, and promote community-led action that links people, animals, and ecosystems.
