Banphai: a story of success

Banphai, Thailand has improved a lot over the last twenty years.

 

Bhanpai has access to potable water and a sanitary

When Plan first arrived in the area in 1986. It took the organisation some time to build the community’s trust. Our social workers had to thoroughly explain to the community about our work and what working with us would mean for them and their families.

Since then, Plan has developed that trust and succeeded in helping Banphai with its health, education and livelihood. Women and children now actively contribute to the development of their community, children complete their education and attend child-centred programmes where they are encouraged to share and foster understanding among people of different cultures, and the area has healthy homes with access to potable water and a sanitary environment.

Connected to the land

More than 90 per cent of people in the Banphai area are involved in farming. As early as 1997, Plan introduced permaculture as a sustainable farming practice.

Permaculture emphasises a chemical free form of farming using organic fertilisers made from manure, rice straw, fresh plants, fruits and herbs.

In the Nong Song Hong District, 127 families became members of a permaculture group and received training and initial capital from Plan to establish permaculture farms. These families are now able to support themselves, having sufficient food to feed their families and a little left over to sell at the local market.

At school

Plan provided computer equipment for children

Computers and access to the Internet are important if children are to fully participate in the global economy.

Information Communications Technology (ICT) is nothing new for city kids, but in 2002 the children of Ban Nong Waeng Yao were excited when Plan launched an ICT project in their school. The community committee worked with teachers to select the first students for computer training and in 2003 students undertook advanced training at Khon Kaen University. The computer room has been upgraded and currently every student trains for at least 2 hours a day.

In 2004, Plan further supported this project by providing computer equipment and installing a network. The teachers have made their own learning and this has stimulated more curiosity about learning and inspired creativity. All the children have an opportunity to use the computers to do their reports and the School Board members are using the school computers to do some of their administrative work and newsletters.

Moving on

With such great success stories and sustainable projects now established and confidently managed by the community, Plan are now moving to working in the northern provinces where the needs of local communities are still high. Plan will be working with tribal villages near the Lao and Myanmar borders, where the heavy burden of HIV HIV/Aids on families in rural villages will be getting special attention.