Preserving the Karen Culture through the Mae Lid Project
- Muhammad Mudassir Afzal
- Feb 22, 2014
- 2 min read
PROJECT IDEA
Build a cultural learning and job training centre for the Karen to preserve their culture and empower them by expanding their income opportunities.
The objective of the Mae Lid Project is to develop and foster a sustainable community development program in Mae Lid, Mae Hong Son, Thailand. We aim to provide occupational training and opportunities, academic scholarships for high school and university students, and a community fund to support the needs of the many subsistence farmers across the Mae Lid area through a sustainable, community-focused volunteer and homestay program. Empowering locally-driven, grassroots development to foster at the village level ensures the communities more closely experience the type of development that is in line with their cultural beliefs and community desires. This allows their rich culture to remain a strong component of their lives and not eroded by adverse development practices from external programs.
WHAT IS MAE LID?
Mae Lid, like many communities in Mae Hong Son province, is comprised of the Karen ethnic group. Historically and today, the group has been marginalized with fewer educational and occupational opportunities outside of agricultural-based jobs. While the government has acted in recent years to improve these shortcomings, educational and occupational gaps still exist for many Karen.
PROJECT GOALS
The Mae Lid Project seeks to provide employment training and opportunities, scholarships for residents, as well as cross-cultural experiences for volunteers and homestay guests.
1st year goals ending December 2014:
Coffee shop and job training centre completed
30 students trained in coffee making
30 volunteers or home stay participants
15 scholarships funded
$500 ending balance in the Community Fund
Possible Operation Groundswell group volunteering on site
2nd year goals end December 2015:
Tour guide, massage, and cooking programs running
10 students placed in jobs
50 volunteers or homestay guests
30 total scholarships
$1500 disbursed from Community Fund
Operation Groundswell group volunteering at site
CONNECTION TO OPERATION GROUNDSWELL
Operation Groundswell has not previously worked in the Mae Lid, Mae Hong Son, Thailand area. However, Ryan Drysdale and Sidney Jhingran, Southeast Asia Animal Conservation Program Leaders, have explored the idea of expanding a Southeast Asia program to northwest Thailand in the future. Mae Hong Son province offers more undisturbed cultural experiences, environmental exploration, and an opportunity to explore social justice issues including refugee situations along the Thai-Burmese border. The 50% population of ethnic minorities in the area could also offer rich and varied learning opportunities about many local and global issues facing the area.
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