In the province of Mae Hong Son – Thailand’s poorest region – the villagers of Ban Paw Naw Khi face severe threats to their livelihoods. Time and again, heavy floods destroy the traditional wooden dams and irrigation canals of the local Karen community. Without a functioning system, crop cultivation is impossible during the dry season, leading to months of food insecurity and mounting poverty. Furthermore, following each rainy season, approximately 300 trees previously had to be felled annually to painstakingly rebuild the temporary makeshift structures. Together with our trusted partner, the Karen Hill Tribes Trust (KHT), we are planning the implementation of a sustainable solution starting in March 2027. We have enjoyed a successful partnership with KHT for many years; we value the organisation for its high level of professionalism, its deeply rooted local presence through its sister organisation, The Foundation for Karen Hilltribes in Thailand (KHTF), and its impressive project track record – having successfully built over 121 such systems since 2007 with a failure rate of under 4%. At the heart of the two-month project is the construction of a permanent, flood-resistant irrigation system (FRIS) made of steel-reinforced concrete. Implementation takes place directly on site through close, hands-on collaboration: whilst the local KHTF team oversees technical supervision and surveying, around 20 volunteer helpers from the village pitch in daily. In this way, not only is the water supply for all 197 villagers secured for the long term, but local awareness of self-reliance and the protection of the surrounding forests is also strengthened. We are particularly delighted to have already received a one-off grant of €5,000.00 from the Georg Kraus Stiftung for this vital undertaking. We also share a long-standing, trusting partnership with the Georg Kraus Stiftung from previous projects, and we are deeply grateful for this renewed and valuable support in realising our shared goal. Upon completion, scheduled for April 2027, ownership of the system will pass directly to the village community, which will handle minimal maintenance work with the assistance of a newly established committee
This work thrives on the support of dedicated people. Small steps can lead to big changes and every contribution helps immensely. The extent of this support is entirely up to each individual. After all, great things can only be achieved when many hands pitch in.