The Girl in the Window
Hello everyone!.
My name is Marina (Latdavanh Keodala), the founder of NaturePreneur. I am a Laotian conservationist and storyteller dedicated to the intersection of environmental science and digital advocacy with an academic background in Conservation and Ecosystem Management at TAFE NSW, Sydney, Australia under Australia Award Scholarship
My education in conservation didn’t begin in a classroom. It began behind the glass of a car window. As a child moving from the southern plains of Salavan and Champasack province to the busy streets of Vientiane, my life was defined by long road trips. Back then, Laos was a "sea of green," with forests covering over 80% of the country. But as the years passed, that sea began to shrink.
The Hardest Choice
At fifteen, I made a choice that felt like a betrayal to those I loved. When I told my family I wanted to dedicate my life to conservation, they didn't see a hero—they saw a daughter choosing a path of struggle. They begged me to choose banking or medicine. They wanted me safe; I wanted the world to be whole.
I taught myself English in the quiet hours. I applied for scholarships while facing a wall of rejections. I held onto my values when I was the only one in the room who believed in them. Finally, at nineteen, I won a scholarship to study in Australia. That moment changed everything. It taught me that if you stay true to your values, even when it's scary, you can find a way forward.
Conservation is About People
When I returned home, I realized that science and policy are only half the battle. Real change happens when you involve the people. I founded NaturePreneur because conservation shouldn't feel like a set of strict rules alone—it should also feel like a shared responsibility.
Play: We developed a board game (with acedemic support from WCS Laos) that teaches villagers and youth about wildlife laws through fun and strategy rather than lectures.
Tools: We created "Save the Pangolin" keychains with QR codes, turning every smartphone into a tool to report wildlife crime instantly.
Empathy: We use Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) to move away from "authority" and toward a place of shared love for our land.
The Road Ahead
What started as a solitary dream has grown into a community of over 1,700 supporters. Our next mission is the Guardians of Wildlife Club, where we empower youth in trafficking hotspots to become national leaders for nature.
My goal is to see Laos return to 70% forest cover. But I know now that we won’t get there just by planting trees. We will get there by planting seeds of duty and love in the hearts of the people who live among them. The forest shaped the girl in the car window; now, I am dedicated to shaping a future where that forest thrives for generations to come.