Thailand

About Thailand

Thailand, the country of pristine beaches, lush forests and smiles, is host to thousands of tourists each year and is, in many ways a very developed country, faring well internationally when compared to its peers in areas such as gender equality, food waste and economic opportunities. What is sometimes missed however, is that the Kingdom of Thailand is equally diverse in its role as the home for over 70 ethnic minorities, living in the rural areas of the country close to its international borders. Despite the seemingly high statistics of the country, Thailand struggles to close the gap between rural and urban areas when it comes to achieving the global goals set out by the UN SDGs. Ethnic minority communities in particular are often comparatively more disadvantaged due to their geographical location, ethnic status, language barriers and legal status in the country.
Our efforts are mainly focused on supporting disadvantaged Karen and Lawa communities in Mae Sariang District and Hilltribes in the Mae Hong Son Province.

69 million

Population

505 billion

GDP

76 years

Life Expectancy

The Challenges

The diversity and the vastly differing landscapes in Thailand mean the rural and urban gap is continuing to grow. Thailand has made significant progress in social and economic development over the last decades, shifting it away from being a low-income country. While the urban areas grow, the disadvantages are becoming more pronounced among rural villages habituated by ethnic minorities.

Education

7.2% of the Thai population live below the poverty line, with this number being four times as high in rural areas. With less than 50% of lower-secondary graduates having minimum proficiency in basic subjects, despite 15 years of free education for all, the need for more holistic, engaging and creative education is significant.

Health

Healthcare in the cities of Thailand is globally known as high quality, but moving to rural areas, communities are often faced with limited access to emergency first responders, health workers and hospitals. 10 of Thailand’s most common causes of pre-mature death are largely preventable through life style changes and by increasing access to quality first-aid and healthcare

Livelihoods

While only 7.2% of the population live below the poverty line, this number doubles when including individuals living only slightly above it (15.5%), and is as high as 33% in some of the most disadvantaged communities located along the North-Western border. With most of the rural population relying on agriculture as a livelihood, they become very vulnerable to climate change impacts.

Our Programmes

To ensure a truly sustainable approach we work towards the shared ambitions of the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEPs). The SEPs focus on building capacity, and sustainable and balanced ways of life through, for example, sustainable agriculture (subsidised for low income farmers) and environmental protection.

A key challenge in the Thai education system, particularly in rural areas where we run our projects, is the disparity in access to quality education. This lack of access can hinder their ability to develop the foundational skills needed to thrive in an increasingly globalized and technology-driven world.

Our Education initiatives are dedicated to empowering the local community through English Conversation and STEAM activities, equipping them with a strong foundation in English and boost their confidence when speaking with native speakers. Our English Conversation sessions help students practice real-life communication, enabling them to improve their language skills in a supportive environment. Through our STEAM activities, we focus on fostering essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. This learner-centered approach places students at the heart of the learning process, encouraging them to engage actively with the subjects.

A key challenge in Thailand is the insufficient access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene education, leading to the spread of preventable diseases. Additionally, the shortage of trained individuals for emergency response means that rural areas rely on distant healthcare services, delaying critical care.

We are committed to improving the health and well-being of local students and communities through the following key projects: WASH, First Aid Training, Reproductive Health, Physical, Social and Emotional Well-being and One Health. These initiatives empower local students and community members with the essential knowledge and skills to care for themselves effectively. By raising awareness and understanding of health-related issues, we help them improve their quality of life. Furthermore, the knowledge gained can be shared within the community, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

As most of the rural population relies on agriculture and handicraft making as a source of livelihood, we are continuously exploring opportunities for the development of Social Enterprises in the communities. Our aim is to aid the communities set up self-sustainable Social Enterprises that provide a source of income to the local community while addressing social challenges through financially and environmentally sustainable approaches.

Our projects provide local students with fundamental financial knowledge, including the importance of maintaining a savings account, budgeting, and managing resources effectively. Through hands-on activities related to social enterprise, students also gain experience in running small projects, which not only teach them about entrepreneurship but also enhance their social and interpersonal skills.

We partner with the Elephant Nature Park to work on Animal Welfare and Environmental Conservation. The ENP works to save and protect Elephants from the tourist market where they often end up in a circus or being ridden. The ENP also engages in other conservation projects such as sustainable coffee production.

We also work to raise awareness on Environmental Sustainability through delivering workshops related to recycling, waste management, sustainable lifestyle changes, sustainable food production and consumption, and also contribute towards community projects such as cleaning up plastic waste and recycling projects.

Through our workshops in Creative Arts and Career Developing Life Skills we aim to inspire creativity and critical thinking. By providing students with education outside of the traditional education system and style, we aim to prepare them for life outside and after school by enhancing their abilities within problem solving, conflict resolution, communication, social skills, team work and leadership.

A message from our Country Manager

“Thailand is a wonderfully diverse country where one must look beneath the surface to truly understand this, along with the challenges that come with diversity. With equality and education at the core of what we do, we can raise awareness and build capacity to allow each individual to realise their goals and potentials, regardless of where they were born, what their native language is or what gender they have. We can enable them to break free of stereotypes and arbitrary limitations and empower them to choose a dream for themselves that is bigger and better than what societal norms may have set out for them.”

Victoria

Thailand Country Manager

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