Rice planting, Agriculture, Activities with kids and Embedding in the fishing Community
DaLaa Work Camp: DALAA-WC6709
Dates: 1-14 September, 2023 (Maximum of volunteers: 10)
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Koh Sukorn is a preserved island of Andaman sea in South Thailand. During this work camp, we will have a chance to join hands with the community members to preserve the local agriculture (rice planting) while we can learn about their way of living. Moreover, we will be creating activities and games with children and young people to open their views and let them learn about international culture together with the volunteers.
HISTORY and REASONS OF THE PROJECT
Sukorn Island (KohSukorn) is a small island situated in Palian district, Trang province. The island covers an area of 14 sq km. Like every year, we will be conducting activities with communities of Baan Laem and Baan Toong. In these 2 villages, there is population of 1,200 or 337 families, of which 95% are Muslims. The common occupations of the villagers are fishing, rubber tapping, as well as agriculture; growing paddy, watermelons, traditional way of growing vegetables, and keeping livestock. In general the villagers are very generous and still remain the culture of supporting and sharing with each other. Furthermore, they also believe that paddy and agriculture is the main food stability of the village.
Already some years, a group of local researchers had been working with the 2 communities mentioned above. In one community, the village members are still remaining their traditional way of living, while in another, people started to drop their old values and turning to development from the cities. Less and less people are working on paddy fields, or growing their own food supply as it is easier to buy. Therefore, these researchers aim to bring awareness to the locals to keep their old lifestyle and revive the tradition of growing paddy, other traditional agriculture, as well as developing local rice species and doing farmer’s co-operative. However, it is sad that in recent years, the researcher group has not been much active in the effort they created in the early stage. Though we lose their part, we anyhow have successfully continued activities (mainly agriculture and activities with kids) with villagers and develop good relationships through short term work camps and middle term volunteers.
DaLaa has been involved with the villagers of these two communities since the first work camp took place in December 2013. For more information, Koh Sukorn has been for a long time one of our long-term project sites that it has offered an opportunity to long-staying international volunteers to live with a local host family through their service. We had to stop the long-term program in 2023 because of the main host health issue but hopefully we can re-start at some point.
AIMS of the PROJECT
- – To support the initiatives of local agricultural activities
- – To fully and wisely utilize local resources
- – To be part of the communities
- – To let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in international/multi-cultural atmosphere
WORK AND ACTIVITIES
- – Working in the rice fields
- – Growing vegetables together with village members and kids
- – Learning and integrating in the fisherman’s lifestyle
REQUIREMENTS
The volunteers should be ready to stay in a remote area, to adapt to the local conditions with only basic facilities. Not many local people are able to speak English. Volunteers should be able to handle spontaneous working environment and constant changes in the plans. The mentality and way of thinking is very different from the western world. There will have activities with the children. To have responsibility for you, the kids and full involvement in community matters is a must. For the 2 weeks, you will be led by a DaLaa member/staff who will help to coordinate the project.
FOOD and ACCOMMODATION
Volunteers will stay at the local people house. You will need to bring only a light sleeping bag. We will provide with a small mattress and a mosquito net. The living condition is very simple than you would think. You may find it completely different than in your country. There are basic toilets and showers and a kitchen where volunteers will cook by themselves. They can take turn in daily tasks. The ingredients can be purchased at local grocery stores. It may be helpful if you bring some instant ingredients from home, so that you can share some of your traditional food with other volunteers. (No oven, only a gas and woks or pans). As mentioned, that it’s a Muslim village, so there will be no pork used in cooking.
**Please do not expect intensive comfort during your time at the project