Pilot Sustainable Community Development Project in the Northeastern Region (PSCD/NE)
Project Number: 22-0510-23
Project Period: 2009-2013
Project Holder:
Heifer Thailand will partner with 3 community based organizations to implement this project namely:
1) The Statutes of Caritas Tharae-Nongseng Archdiocesan Episcopal Commission established since 1975. The organization’s mission is to provide livelihood options and community development in 4 districts in Sakonnakorn province, Northeastern of Thailand;
2) People Forum for Restoration Numpong-Phasak Agroecology-Thai-Volunteer Foundation. The Forum works with local groups around the Numpong-Phasak , Petchaboon province and;
3) The Association of Community Forest Network-Northeastern, which has been registered with the government since 2005. The association aims to encourage awareness in restoring forest community and forest management
The project will operate in 3 main provinces, Petchaboon, Sakonnakhon and Surin provinces in the northeast region. Heifer Thailand, in collaboration with partners will select community facilitators, identifying needy families, and provide support for planning, monitoring and evaluation of the project. The project partners were selected from 12 potential partners. Eventually, Heifer Thailand will provide a series of trainings including HPI’s VBHCD approach, Cornerstones and proposal writing to ensure effective application of VBHCD approach in this new project.
The project will operate in alignment with VBHCD approach in 9 targeted communities (1 original and 1 or more POG groups in each community) by strengthening the capacity of the SHGs to increase household income, improve food security and natural resource management, and promote sustainable agriculture and small farmers’ participation in a holistic development of the community.
Project Profile:
With the largest population living below the poverty line, the northeastern region is the most disadvantaged region in Thailand. The main cause of poverty is a shortage of water, and drought has hurt main crops like rice, cassava, corn and sugarcane. Most farmers are also unable to afford adequate education and nutrition in addition to their lack of food and water security. This project will provide appropriate training on Values-based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD), Heifer Cornerstones, personal leadership development, gender equity, saving and credit management and household accounting to encourage sustainability and self-reliance. The project will ensure that self-help groups and members take leading roles in sustainable development in alignment with the VBHCD approach. Over three years, 215 original families in Petchaboon, Sakonnakhon and Surin provinces will receive 166 cows, 43 water buffalos, 95 pigs, 2,600 poultry, 7,300 tree seedlings, and 1,400 pounds of crop seeds. These families will pass on the gift to another 286 families. The 215 original families will make up nine self-help groups – including three women’s groups – and will receive training on topics such as group management skills and original placement materials. These families will also form self-help groups – including three more women only groups. The project will increase the families’ capacity and skills in livestock management, agroforestry, environmentally friendly farming techniques and community sanitation. The passing on the gift model will be applied to promote community unity and harmony. Heifer Thailand will work with three non-governmental organizations as partners to implement this project.
Project areas: 3 communities in Petchaboon, 3 communities in Sakonnakhon and 3 communities in Surin provinces.
Local Conditions & Opportunities for Assistance:
The northeastern region of Thailand is widely known as the poorest area in the country. From the survey of National Statistic Office (NSO, 2006), there are more than 3.6 million people living with income less than 40 baht per day. Agriculture is their main source of nutrition and income. However, this area is a high and dry plane, which resulted in limited options for the farmers who are only able to grow crops requiring less water. Most of the land can only handle one season of crop per year, which is mostly is rice. For the rest of the year, millions of young workers migrate to work in factories or companies in Bangkok to earn their living. The consequences of high mobility of the young population are diverse. Many of them leave their home since young age so there is less attachment to their hometown. Traditional knowledge and value of rural communities are being demolished and dying with the older generation. The family and social networks are broken. When these migrant workers have children, they will be sent back home to their grandparents because the migrant workers do not have time and/or cannot afford the expenses. HIV/AIDS infection rate is likely high in these young migrants. Freedom to be away from home and loneliness are factors contributing to unprotected sex. In the worst scenario, young people are working in restaurants, karaoke, pubs and bars as commercial sex workers.
The project will target 3 communities in Petchaboon, 3 communities in Sakonnakhon and 3 communities in Surin provinces. In each province, the communities are reasonably close to each other. Travel time between them is less than half hour by motorcycle. These areas include both highland and lowland.
HPI’s VBHCD will reinforce local values to help these poor communities to work together to create cohesion. Self-help groups will be established to foster cooperation between their members and within the communities. The SHGs will be empowered and their capacity built to encourage sustainable community development through a series of training. Cornerstones, PSRP, and group management will be used as key training topics to strengthen the groups. The SHGs will in turn pass on their knowledge and resources to other needy groups. Ideally, the results of these trainings and POG will bring the harmony and social capital back to the communities.
The project will promote self-reliance and sustainable development. It will provide capacity building and opportunities for project families to increase farm productivity and diversify sources of income, nutrition, as well as providing draft power and organic farming techniques in an environment friendly ways. The project will support project families with livestock, feeding, shedding, medicines and technical knowledge to improve their animal production. The expectation of the project is to diversify the farm activities and increase additional income source for these poor farmers. If the locals choose to stay home with family after cropping season, they can have the opportunity to enhance their economic status.
The project will motivate people, including women and youths to participate more meaningfully in strengthening their communities. It also emphasizes increasing biodiversity in community forests and effective management of natural resources.
Project Goal:
The project is aimed to increase the families’ capacity and skills in livestock management, agroforestry, environmentally friendly farming techniques and community sanitation. The passing on the gift model will be applied to promote community unity and harmony.
Objectives of Strategic Plan(s) related to this Project:
KEY ISSUE 2: IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
- Improve accountability of HPI/TH program management
- Strengthen monitoring and evaluation system of HPI/TH program
- Improve accountability of project partners in financial and program management
KEY ISSUE 4: VALUES-BASED HOLISTIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH
- Develop training modules to enhance VBHCD approach
- Enhance staff, current and potential project partners and self-help groups to internalize values-based holistic community development (VBHCD) approach
- Adopt Values-based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) approach in HPI/TH program
KEY ISSUE 5: PROGRAM GROWTH
- Make the best use of animal-based development in the HPI/TH program
- Strengthen partnership with qualified entities to assist diverse target groups
KEY ISSUE 7: GENDER EQUITY
- By 2009, HPI/TH and its partners will have integrated gender equity into all projects
Passing on the Gifts
Livestock
For every animal received, the recipient will pass on one offspring of the same size and value in good condition to the next qualified recipient family. Pass-on animals and agricultural inputs ceremony will be conducted and witnessed by the project partners, SHG members and Heifer representatives.
Farm inputs
For farm inputs and supplies such as seeds, planting materials, seedlings, etc., the recipients will pass on the same values.
Knowledge, skills and values
Project families will pass on knowledge, skills and values acquired from the project to the next in-line recipient or other members of the group. Passing-on will be done through group training, mentoring and/or coaching.
Funding source: Heifer Project International |
