Promoting Women Education and Self-esteem for
Leading Holistic and Sustainable Development in
Lao PDR
Project Number:22-0510-68
Project Period: 2009-2013
Project Holder: Heifer Project International (Thailand)
Heifer Project International Thailand will implement this project with project partner namely Andaman Resource Restoration (ARR)
Andaman Resource Restoration (ARR) was established in 1995 through collaborative efforts of social workers from Phuket Environment Club, Ping Kan Pattana (Supporting Each Other for Development) group, Social Volunteer Foundation, Wildlife Protection Foundation of Thailand with Royal Patronage, as well as government officials and academics. The organization’s goal is to involve participation from all stakeholders to support communities in managing coastal natural resources. Its focus is on promoting awareness of basic rights and engaging the communities in participatory development through the use of local knowledge, wisdom and traditional culture.
ARR operates in Phang Nga and Phuket province, which have been its main target area for group development and networking with more than 40 organizations. Some of the groups that were established include Coastal Resource Protection Volunteer Group at Ta Sanook Village in Phang Nga Province and Resource Management Group at Ta Rai village, Phang Nga. Others include saving groups, women groups, and a fishermen network.
Project Profile:
This project will target communities along the Phang Nga – Phuket coastline, which have unique traditional cultures and ethnic identities that are closely linked to the sea. These communities depend directly on the natural resources of the coastline, which were devastated by the 2004 tsunami and are damaged further by commercial scale fishing, mining and over-exploitation of mangrove forests. This project will support 575 Muslim and Moken families in six communities in Phuket Province. Families will undergo Values-Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) training and establish at least 30 self-help groups (SHGs). Of the SHGs, 20 percent will be women-only. Heifer will provide 105 goats and $12,191 in funds for livelihood and income generating activities to seven original groups (2 SHGs will receive goats and 5 SHGs will receive funds). Self-help groups will be trained on VBHCD, Cornerstones, Participatory Self Review and Planning (PSRP), group saving management, improved animal management, natural resource management, livelihood skills and co-learning. The original families will pass on all livestock, funds and knowledge. Moreover, this project hopes to empower SHGs to take the lead in participatory natural resource management, as well as establishing a network of government agencies and non-governmental organizations on sustainable community development and natural resource management.
Local Conditions:
Communities along Phang Nga - Phuket coastline have long been relying on surrounding natural resources. Unfortunately, much damage has been done to the natural environment unknowingly by locals who lacked knowledge, outsiders who overexploited the area as well as government policies that allowed mining, industrial scale charcoal production and aquaculture. All of this resulted in the destruction of the natural environment and imbalance of the ecosystem. There has been a drastic decrease of marine life.
Some of the target families only have a small piece of land, without proper ownership, to earn a living from. Some community members were driven to build their houses in mangrove forest areas. Moreover, much of the land in the area is not suitable for agriculture or commercial aquaculture.
The majority of the community members rely on fishing and small-scale fish farming to earn a living. With all the obvious damage humans had caused the coastal environment, the locals began to realize that the marine resources, which their lives depend on, are beginning to run out. Therefore, they started to cooperate to rehabilitate and manage local marine resources with assistance from ARR.
In 2004, the Indian Ocean Tsunami struck southern Thailand. The target communities were devastated. Many lost their lives or their loved ones. Houses, boats and other necessary tools to make a living were destroyed. Although it has been almost five years since the disaster, members of the target communities are still struggling to make enough income for their families.
This project will work with 7 self-help groups by focusing on one livelihood activity designed to increase income or ensure economic security such as goat-raising and seafood processing. With these activities SHGs will learn group and fund management, cost analysis and bookkeeping to enhance productivity and accountability.
This project will focus on:
- Bringing out community and personal values and using them to build community cohesion
- Empowering target families to be able to envision the future for their communities and take steps towards that vision
- Food and economic security to end poverty
- Promote, advocate for and raise public awareness on participatory natural resource management and sustainable community development
Objectives of Strategic Plan(s) related to this Project
I. Strengthening VBHCD Program
Objective 1.1:
By 2014, Heifer Thailand will have served 11,235 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 inputs, the SHG will manage passing on the same value in money or in kind to the next POG group. Training on bookkeeping will ensure accountability in fund management and POG.
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) |
