Empowering Marginalized Communities in Northern Thailand
Project Number: 22-0510-25
Project Period: 2009-2013
Project Holder: Heifer Project International (Thailand)
Heifer Project International Thailand will implement this project with two qualified project partners Capacity Improvement of Tribal Community in Namfang Basin (CITC) and Give Happiness Coordination Center (GHCC)
Capacity Improvement of Tribal Community in Namfang Basin (CITC)
CITC was established in 2001, but officially registered as a community based organization in 2005. After HPT facilitated the establishment of the organization in 2001, CITC has been collaborating with HPT to address the issues of poverty, health, education and the environment in 25 communities in the Namfang Basin area. Presently, CITC has a wealth of experience through implementation of largely HPT projects for 700 families in three districts. The organization specializes in integrated agriculture, livestock, natural resource management and self-help group formation.
Give Happiness Coordination Center (GHCC)
GHCC is a non-profit charity organization. The establishment of the organization was crucial to draw together different people interested in working towards solutions to social and developmental problems. With a need to create a network to coordinate different organizations working towards sustainable community development and self-sufficiency, GHCC was founded in 2005 and was officially registered. It has a goal to create happiness in communities through giving and sharing by implementing activities regarding livelihood, benefits, environment and volunteer work.
Project Profile:
This project will assist 1,170 minority families in nine poor communities in Northern Thailand. The target families—234 original and 936 pass on recipients—will be empowered through Heifer’s Values-Based Holistic Community Development approach. Participants will form at total of at least 55 self-help groups (SHGs), and at least 20 percent of those will be women-only groups. The 234 original families will receive 234 sows, 936 piglets, 9,000 fruit saplings, about 5 tons of crop seeds and 258 pounds of vegetable seed. Three grinding mills will be provided to four self-help groups to be used for swine feed production. The SHGs will have a clearly defined business plan to manage the mills’ operations, group ownership and pass on. Capacity building activities will include a series of training on Cornerstones, group formation and savings, improved animal management, natural resource management, sustainable agriculture techniques, income generating activities and co-learning among project participants. Within the five-year project period, the original families will pass on all of the received inputs, in equal quality and amount, as well as knowledge gained the families identified to receive benefits through passing on the gift.
Local Conditions:
Highland ethnic minority groups in Thailand comprise around 1.5% of the country’s population, or approximately 1 million people from the total population of 63 million. Most of ethnic minority groups settled in mountainous areas in the north and west of Thailand. Their cultures, way of livings, languages and religions are diverse and different from the majority Thai. Intentionally and unintentionally, they have been discriminated and marginalized out of mainstream social and economic development. In addition, they are facing the pressure of increasing population while having to make a living from limited resources.
Currently the most pressing social issues of highland ethnic minority groups include:
- land tenure (limited ownership of land; the natural resource conservation areas were drawn around their communities at a later date);
- occupation insecurity (unstable market prices of cash crops and insufficient saving to be able to invest in better agricultural technology);
- environmental degradation (because limited amount land can be accessed, they are driven to practice over-cultivation, resulting in land degradation and some illegal encroachment into conservation area);
- poverty (having little opportunity for livelihood, they are driven into indebtedness, urban migration, and child labor)
With the above issues in mind, in order for ethnic minority groups to combat poverty and become self-reliant, the project will provide capacity building to increase farm productivity and diversify sources of income, nutrition, as well as organic farming techniques. Also, the project will support participant families with livestock, as well as knowledge on feed, shedding, medicines and other technical aspects to improve their animal production in an environmentally friendly way. The expectation of the project is to diversify farm activities and increase additional income source for the target groups. As an alternative to urban migration, the locals may choose to remain in the community after harvest season with the opportunity to enhance their economic status. Moreover, savings by the groups will reduce the problem of indebtedness.
Objectives of Strategic Plan(s) related to this Project
1. Strengthening VBHCD Program
Objective 1.1:
By 2014, Heifer Thailand will have served 12,500 families by VBHCD approach to achieve holistic development and sustainability.
Objective 1.2:
By 2010, Heifer-Thailand will have utilized triadic model to strengthen effective cooperation and coordination among HPT, PPs, CFs and SHGs.
2. Program and Operational Accountability
Objective 2.2
By 2011, Heifer Thailand will have strengthened and maintained financial transparency and accountability in project administration of CP, PPs and SHGs.
3. Communication and Networking
Objective 3.1:
By2014, Heifer Thailand will have been well recognized for its work as a VBHCD organization.
Passing on the Gifts:
Livestock
For every animal received, the project family will pass on one offspring of the same size and quality to the next qualified family. Passing on the gift ceremonies will be conducted and witnessed by the project partners, SHG members, Heifer representatives and other organizations.
Other inputs
For other farm inputs and supplies (agricultural equipment, seed, saplings, and handicraft and food processing material) the recipients will pass on the same values in money or in kind.
Knowledge, skills and values
Project families will pass on knowledge, skills and values acquired from the project to the next POG families and among members of the group. Passing-on will be done through group training, mentoring and/or coaching.
Funding source: Heifer Project International (Thailand) |
