1011CA
Community Living & Agriculture - Baan Santad, Chiang Rai

21 Nov. - 04 Dec. 2010

Project: Baan Santad is the name of a rural village which is approx. 15 kilometers away from its district Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, Northern Thailand. In the past the villagers lived a life so simply by working on their own land planting crops and making a bit of handiwork as to earn extra living. This village was once recognized as an agricultural village before the idea of selling their own land to urban people. One of the causes having made a continuous change to the village was from the policy “community development in rural areas”. Ones who sold their land bought houses and resettled in big cities of Chiang Rai. By this occurrence it affects the number of less students enrolling in the village school of Baan Santad. The parents consider sending their children to the city school would make a better opportunity for them in education. The core value of seeking better education in big city has become a common issue talked over the villagers. Nowadays, the villagers realize and are aware of the past happenings. They have set up a village agriculture center where villagers and interested outsiders are welcome to learn their ways of self-sufficiency and their projects. They’ve developed and turned some pieces of land in the village into biologically agricultural demonstration gardens. After this project was released, they got partly funded from the Thai government. This village is a hometown of our work camp leader, Joe. After his return from the project survey we all agree to support the village as the information received shows a determined intention of the villagers. Likewise, it’s a good opportunity for volunteers to get to know a rural lifestyle of Northern Thai culture.
 
The main themes of this work camp are to

• Learn “Self-sufficiency of Agricultural Ways” of the village
• Volunteer in the Agriculture Center on daily works
• Make bio-gas ovens from manure and leftover food
• Organize activities for the village kids (optional)

 

Aims of work camp:

1. To learn and live in “Self-sufficiency of Agricultural Ways”
2. To support the village
3. To build friendly relationships between volunteers and local people

 

Accommodation:At the village’s learning center

Fee: 7,000 Baht (about 155 Euro)

Location: Baan Santad, Chiang Rai Province, North of Thailand

Meeting point:21st November 2010 at Mae Sai police station, 10 o’clock in the morning

Infosheet : If you are interested, ask your organization for a more detailed info sheet of this project.