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160,000 Karen Hill Tribe people in Thailand lack access to clean water and basic sanitation. We are looking for a generous individual to match a recent gift of £50,000 which will provide 5000 Karen people with a year round supply of clean drinking water. Our track record speaks for itself - since 2000 we have installed 80 water systems in remote northern Thailand, benefitting over 30,000 people and reducing levels of Typhoid by up to 90%. Improving health is the forst step towards a better future for the Karen.

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Categories

  • Disaster Relief Disaster Relief
  • Poverty Alleviation/Relief Poverty Alleviation/​Relief
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other

    Situation

    Background: The Karen are the largest ethnic minority in Thailand and have lived for centuries as subsistence farmers in small mountain communities. The difficult terrain has restricted development and kept the region largely inaccessible, making it the poorest part of Thailand. Their recent settlement has given rise to serious health problems, caused by pollution of the river water which is used for drinking. This has led to a reduction in the life expectancy of the Karen and increased cases of malaria, typhoid and other diseases. Recent UN figures suggest 40% of rural Mae Hong Son province is still without a sustainable source of clean water. This equates to around 160,000 Karen people at risk to serious health problems. The Project: Over the coming 12 months, we will install a clean water system and latrines in 16 remote Karen villages. Villages are identified and prioritised for a water system according to their level of need and access. A full survey of the social and geographical situation of the village is carried out by our Karen manager, in co-operation with the village headman. All reports are then returned to the UK Trustees for final approval before work can be carried out. The survey provides key details such as village demography, levels of typhoid and malaria and if a water system has been installed before. We use an innovative gravity fed system, devised by a Karen hill tribesman and Project Manager with the Karen Hilltribes Trust. The systems are simple, easy to maintain and require no electricity, providing villages with year round access to potable drinking water. We will also install latrines in every village to improve the overall level of sanitation. As an organisation, we believe strongly in following the needs and requests of the Karen people. All our work is in partnership with the local communities. We employ an experienced Karen manager who is a local councillor, representing the Karen people at the provincial parliament. The Karen manager uses his local knowledge and organises a team of skilled Karen volunteers to fully install the systems. They provide all the labour for free, which is their commitment to the project. Results: 5,000 Karen people will directly benefit from the installation of 16 water systems. Our records show that levels of disease fall significantly following the installation of the clean water systems and their success has led to increasing demand for systems throughout the Karen area. The introduction of our water systems has led to a decrease in the number of reported typhoid cases by up to 90% in some villages. In addition from the clear benefits to health there are a number of indirect benefits for the Karen people. The drop in water related diseases means the farmers can spend more time to grow their fruit and rice, which helps generate a sustainable income. The labour force is stronger and the extra time available is used to extend and develop crop production. Children are freed up from working in the field and they can go to school and have further training.

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Disaster Relief Disaster Relief
  • Poverty Alleviation/Relief Poverty Alleviation/​Relief
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other