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KHOM LOY DEVELOPMENT
FOUNDATION
Khom Loy Development Foundation is a
non-profit, non-denominational
foundation that works with the Burmese refugee and ethnic
minority hilltribes of Northern Thailand to find innovative and
sustainable ways ways of dealing with social deprivation. Our
current project include Agriculture/Microfinance, Water/Sanitation, Education
, and the Izara Arts
Handicrafts/Income Generation
project . See a short film about our projects
here.
Who does KLDF work with?
Over the last
100 years, Burmese and ethnic minority tribal people have migrated to Chiang Rai province, in the North of
Thailand, to escape war, hardship and military dictatorship in neighbouring areas. The current
population is estimated at over 550,000 in Thailand alone. In
addition to the Burmese refugees (mainly the Shan people), there
are 6 separate tribes: Akha, Karen, Lahu, Mien, Lisu, and
Hmong. All are originally from different regions, and all have
their own individual cultures and traditions. None of their languages is
from the same group as Thai.
What sort of problems do they
face?
Insufficient land to pursue their
traditional agricultural lifestyles, leading to
them becoming dependent on low-wage, seasonal labouring
jobs at below minimum-wage
Lack of Thai nationality
for an estimated 50% of the hilltribes, meaning
they cannot move out of their immediate area to seek work, nor receive
education or healthcare.
High levels of malnutrition, HIV/AIDS,
poverty
Racial discrimination when they move to
cities, resulting in below-minimum wage jobs, and in some cases, being
trafficked into the sex trade (elsewhere in Thailand or further afield) or
indentured labour.
Loss of their history and traditions as
their culture breaks down.
What is Khom Loy doing to help?
We use
innovative and sustainable ways of helping hilltribe people help themselves, giving villagers options
to design the future for themselves and their children, as
well as to improve their quality of life.
All of our projects are based upon a model of village
participation combining western knowledge with a desire to solve problems that
villagers themselves choose.
Our current
projects include agriculture projects to grow
more food, water/sanitation projects
to bring clean water and simple toilet facilities to villages,
education projects to help the next generation complete school
and obtain better jobs, and handicraft
projects
to generate income for women
in remote communities.
How can you help?
Learn more about Donating. |
