This sustainable development project is namely Lahu Next – Better and Sustainable people who live in the backcountry in the North of Thailand This sustainable development project is namely Lahu Next – Better and Sustainable
OBJECTIVES AND GOALS
The Lahu are an ethnic minority originally coming from China and Tibet. Today, they live in the mountains in northern Thailand as well as in the border areas of Burma, Laos, and China. The Lahu, living in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai, are divided into four tribes: The Black Lahu, the Yellow Lahu, the Red Lahu, and the She-Leh. The names are characterized by their traditional clothing – for the Black Lahu, it's kind of a black cloak with cream-colored stripes. The sleeves are in strong red and yellow colors.
There are a number of villages in Mea Hong Son, Northen Thailand where the Black Lahu hill tribe are living such as Jabo, Baan Phaphuek, Hauy Hier, etc. The reputed and well-known village is Jabo Village where is a natural scenic beauty, especially the sea of fog suitably for taking photos early morning and a number of homestays for accommodating tourists domestically and internationally. The Jabo has become one of the tourist attractions in this province.
On the other hand, Baan Phaphuek village is accommodating 100 houses including 150 adults and 30 children. The villagers are the farmers planting red beans and corn majority. Economically, selling the red bean once a year is only a major income for these whole villagers which is quite challenging for them for a selling price that is set by middlemen. There are a number of farmers who are sick with gastro as they had meals out of time. This village is located between the Jabo and Huay Hier Villages where is geographically difficult to supply water from the natural sources in the mountain, even having some water but is insufficient to consume and do agriculture.
With the limitation and neediness, PHC considered promoting the long-term health and well-being of the Black Lahu hill tribe at Baan Phaphuek village for 6 years since 2021 under the theme of "Lahu Next" – better and sustainable. The ultimate goal is healthy, well-being, and equality.
2021
- PHC has incorporated a group of leading teenagers in the village, rural HCPs (Dr. Supat Jaignam, Hospital Director at Khun Yaum Hospital, Mea Hong Son, Thailand), and local volunteers in bringing the medical necessity from diagnostic to dispense and donated necessary drugs for a community medicine dispensary.
- PHC organized the "Virtual Garage Sales for Children Well-Being" to sell second-hand quality products donated from associates to associates. We received 30,000 THB and spent that oney to renovate the Children Day Care Center at Baan Phapuek Lahu village for taking care of toddlers whose parents must work in the daytime
- PHC introduced and trained locally rural teachers with new teaching tools that could increase the quality of children's education. Computers and sports equipment were donated to the school.
- PHC educated people in the community to separate garbage properly to avoid increasing garbage in nature and trained them on how to do the Social Marketing for promoting the Black Lahu Hill Tribe Culture and tourist destination for increasing income locally
2022
PHC will continuously promote healthcare and well-being by providing the basic needs such as bringing medical necessities from diagnostic to dispense, drug donation, sharing new teaching tools and knowledge with rural teachers, and equipe know-how on basic digital marketing to promote the tourism and handicraft products.
This effort will sustainably increase the well-being and the equality of villagers. Economically, sufficient water, a basic need is to basically build the opportunity for this village in building ecotourism as it is surrounded by scenic beauty and tourist attractions.
