CMIRC has been approached by the Rotary Club of Fig Garden, Fresno, California to be the local partner on a Global Grant, "Thailand Water and Sanitation Project GG-2233068". It is anticipated that other Rotary clubs in the US will contribute and the Integrated Tribal Development Program is the Cooperating Organization with Executive Director Michael Mann (below) https://itdfinternational.org/
The project is planned to last for three years and will install clean water systems in some 10 remote villages in the Mae Chaem and Omkoi areas as a lead-in to other developments. In some cases, this involves installing over 20 kilometers of piping
The US Rotary clubs are working with a local philanthropic family, the Hanson family. Dr. Eric Hansen was born in Thailand. His parents were physician missionaries in Thailand for many years. The Hansens have a deep love for the people of Thailand and over the years, have invested significant sums of their personal dollars to help the people of Thailand, particularly the people of the hill tribes of northern Thailand. Every year, Doctor Hansen and his wife Darlene travel to Thailand to help install sustainable clean water systems and sanitation systems in the villages. They help provide education and healthcare as well. They co-founded the Lanna Foundation in Fresno https://lannafoundation.org/.
The Lanna Foundation works closely with the Integrated Tribal Development Foundation (ITDF), headquartered in Chiang Mai, and works to raise funds and awareness of the ITDF .
ITDF has been serving the hill tribes of Northern Thailand for 25+ years, providing holistic and sustainable development for the betterment of these non-citizen refugees. The first and most important step in the development process is providing a clean water system. Along with this, sanitation is considered critically important.
All water projects include the provision of squat toilets (one per hut) and gardens for each home. ITDF staff remain in the villages providing education and as much follow-up as needed to ensure that the water system is sustainable and functioning, ensuring that sanitation projects are completed and that effective gardening is initiated. The water systems are the first step in a three to four year process designed to help families move out of poverty.
There are additional steps, including agricultural education incorporating micro-loan projects that help with raising pigs, chickens and growing coffee. The cost to install a water and sanitation system is between US$12,000 to $15,000 per village. The Fig Garden Rotary Club of Fresno contributed $15,000 to this effort four years ago and we are hoping to have an even larger impact, with the partnership of CMIRC and the impact of a Global Grant, if approved by Rotary International.
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