DALAA PROGRAM FOR 2015
SHORT-TERM WORK CAMPS (STC)
CAMP CODE / KIND OF PROJECT / PLACE/PROVINCE / DATES / VOL
STC5803 / Construction Work,
Activities with Kids
and Environment / Kok Payom,
La Ngu district,
Satun province / 18 – 31 March, 2015 / 15
STC5804 / Non Chemical
and Self-sufficient Agriculture / Baan Kok Riang,
Klong Hoi Khong,
Songkhla province / 23 April – 6 May,
2015 / 15
STC5805 / Creative English teaching and activities with kids / Koh Nangkham,
Pak Payoon,
Pattalung province, / 18-31 May, 2015 / 10
STC5806 / Non Chemical
and Self-sufficient Agriculture / Baan Kok Riang,
Klong Hoi Khong,
Songkhla province / 10-23 June, 2015 / 15
STC5807 / Creative English activities with children, cultural exchange
and learning fisherman lifestyle / La Ngu district,
Satun province / 21 July –
3 August, 2015 / 15
STC5808 / Activities with Kids,
Agriculture and Construction work/Renovation / La Ngu district,
Satun province / 2-15 August, 2015 / 15
STC5809 / Construction work,
Self-sufficient Agriculture
and activities with kids / Cha-uat district,
Nakorn Sri Tammarat province / 9-22 September,
2015 / 15
STC5811 / Activities with Kids / Bulon Leh Island,
Satun Province / 16-29 November, 2015 / 10
STC5812 / Non-Chemical Agriculture and Activities with Children / Sukorn Island,
Trang province / 17-30 December, 2015 / 15
DESCRIPTION of the Short Term Camps
SHORT TERM General Information:
§ There will always be a DaLaa Work Camp Coordinator(s)
§ Besides the main project there will be time for Thai language / culture and other activities
§ Volunteers have to be 18 years or older
§ No special skills are required, only positive motivation and being open minded
§ Living conditions will be in Thai style (willingness to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living)
§ For every STC we provide an info sheet with more detailed information
STC5803 / CONSTRUCTION WORK,ACTIVITIES WITH KIDS AND ENVIRONMENT / 18 – 31 March, 2015 / 15
VILLAGE BACKGROUND
Kok Payom is a small fishermen’s village with a population of about 600 located 7 kilometers away from the town of La Ngu in Satun Province, Southern Thailand. The village is next to a big river and because it is only 10km for the sea the water is salty and there is a tide. It is a very peaceful location surrounded by an area of mangrove forest. Almost all the families of the village are linked to the fishing industry, usually being involved in either fish or shrimp farming and there is a strong community with many of the families having lived in the village for over 100 years. While fishing remains a strong industry their traditional way of life has changed a lot and the village faces lots of challenges.
The community has recognized these problems and is working hard to find solutions to the environmental and social issues they face. They greatly welcome visitors, activists and volunteers who can contribute to these efforts. Becoming part of this close community is a special experience for our volunteers and you will learn a lot about village life away from the rush of the city. Lead a life as easy-going as a countryman!
The villagers of Kok Payom are Muslim so there is no pork and alcohol in the village. Women should dress modestly although you will discover when you live there that the villagers are very relaxed.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
During the past 5 years that DaLaa volunteers have been working with the villagers and children, there have been a big improvement and continuation of useful activities and construction. Community members started to be aware of environmental problems and how to preserve the local beliefs and lifestyle, as well as letting young generation learn about all those local values and wanting to remain this precious natural resources and life style. In 2011, there was an initiative of starting “Klong Toh Lem Academy”, an alternative school on the other side of the canal, in the middle of mangrove forest where children can learn about environment, local values, wisdoms, and language in a very natural method of learning. The informal class at this alternative school is conducted every Sunday. There are approximately 20-25 children, aged between 7-12 attending. So far, the main school building and other necessary structures have been constructed from collaboration of both villagers and international volunteers. However, there is still some work that needs to be done.
ACTIVITIES
As discussed with the villagers and the project coordinators, possible main activities agreed will be:
· Building a compact pier at Klong Toh Lem Academy’s side
· Organizing activities with kids on Sundays at the mangrove forest
Other activities, possibly if time allows, cultivating seedlings in the nursery, planting trees in the mangrove forest, visiting villagers’ homes, helping on village matters, etc.
**Please bear in mind that the proposed activities above are something that we and the host project have agreed on before the camp taking place. In reality, activities can be adjusted or changed according to the very usual phenomenon of unexpected weather conditions that may result in re-scheduling of the plan (rains/heat may cause difficulty working outdoor), or number of volunteers participating may cause the preparation in case there’s less than estimated. Nevertheless, we will try to keep the plan fit, and you will be informed about exact activities to do 1 month at the latest before the camp begins.
AIMS OF PROJECT
§ To support and be part of Kok Payom local community
§ To bring awareness among locals to preserve their community values and life style
§ To build a good relationship between volunteers and local people
§ To learn about local cultures and wisdom
ACCOMMODATION: Community meeting place, simple conditions
FEE: 7,500 Baht (approx. 190 Euro)
LOCATION: Kok Payom village, La Ngu district, Satun province, Southern Thailand
MEETING POINT: Wednesday 18th of March 2015 at 9 o’clock in La Ngu town
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STC5804 / NON-CHEMICALAND SELF-SUFFICIENT AGRICULTURE / 23 April –6 May,
2015 / 15
VILLAGE BACKGROUND
The village is known as Baan Kok Riang which is situated in Klong Hoi Khong district of Songkhla province, Southern Thailand. The approximate number of villagers settling in this village is about 1,200 or 140 homes. Most of the villagers own fruit orchard and rubber plantation, and nearly all of them are Buddhist. There are a few Buddhist temples in the area and lots of rubber plantation lined up on the sides of the road. Some people living in the village commute to work to nearby town for factories that export rubber and processed seafood products.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
This is one of our long-term project sites. We in DaLaa, were first introduced to this village, Ban Kok Riang, through a recommendation from one of the Hat Yai University clubs called Backpackers. The club is quite active in organizing activities involving environmental conservation, trekking, and initiating activities with the local communities. Some of these activities they did together with the villagers in Baan Kok Riang were planting trees at Pa Dam Watershed Waterfall and also by the roadsides as well as organizing activities with the kids and adults in the village. Whenever they organize projects in the village, DaLaa will be always invited to join. As up until now, it has been going on for almost 8 years and the university club is still keeping in touch with the community in the village and initiated beneficial projects that support the community.
Mr. Suthep Suwankrajang, host and project coordinator, known as Lung Jaeng, has an interest to produce his own organic food. He himself does not have any agricultural background; however, he took the initiative wanting to turn his land properties covering approximately 1 hector of empty land into a place where everyone can learn and experiment on non-chemical agriculture. This has helped generate motivations for the other villagers to follow in their footsteps. The main purpose for this effort is to try to create a learning space functioning sort of as a working model for the surrounding community members, especially for the new generation, to grow healthy organic non-chemically induced rice, vegetables, and fruits. According to Lung Jaeng’s observation, our societies nowadays are so used to the convenient way of living and buying everything from the market without realizing that most of the food products sold in market heavily contained dangerous chemicals and pesticides, which would eventually lead to severe health problems. Unfortunately, the project initiator started their own plans, without having much support from anyone else.
Since 3 years, Lung Jaeng started all by himself, growing vegetables and fruit trees such as pineapples, coconuts, mangoes, papayas, aubergines, Chinese lettuce, etc. Moreover, he and his few friends also grow rice for their own families during August-October and harvest during January. Apart from him, there are also other few friends in the same village, Lung Sian, and Lung Chiaw, who have been supporting and coordinating with his initiatives. They always come by for a visit and give Lung Jaeng advice on how to grow vegetables.
DaLaa sees this a meaningful project for us and volunteers to be involved in, as well as taking the opportunity to learn about this highly sustainable self-reliant living, especially the most crucial during the initial time of the project when there are a lot of work to do and things to get improved around.
Since August 2012, several long-term volunteers had participated in the project site, as well as short-term work camps and a few weekend camps were organized there. We also did basic construction such as building toilets and digging out wells.
By sending volunteers to work with Lung Jaeng, DaLaa hopes that we can support him with manpower, energy and skills from the volunteers, and also help him to promote the idea of non-chemical agriculture among the villagers.
ACTIVITIES:
· Work on the vegetable gardens, planting vegetables and nursing young plants
· Help on community work if asked by the village
AIMS OF PROJECT
· To support the initiatives of the local host and the continuation of this project
· To build good relationship between volunteers and local people
· To learn ways and exchange knowledge of non-chemical, self-sufficient agriculture through a concept of ‘learning by doing’
ACCOMMODATION: The host’s vicinity area. Sleeping in tents pitched inside/outside the house compound
FEE: 7,500 Baht (approx. 190 Euro)
LOCATION: Baan Kok Riang, Klong Hoi Khong, Songkhla province, Southern Thailand
MEETING POINT: Thursday 23rd OF APRIL, 2015 at 10 o'clock in the morning at HAT YAI TRAIN STATION
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STC5805 / Creative English teachingand activities with kids / Koh Nangkham,
Pak Payoon,
Pattalung province / 18-31 May, 2015 / 10
VILLAGE BACKGROUND
Ban Koh Nangkham Nua is a Muslim community. It is a small village situated in Pattalung province and close to the middle part of Songkhla Lake which is Thailand’s biggest lake. The community area is a small island inside the lake so the main career of the villagers is fisheries. Some work on rubber and palm plantation, fruit orchards or shrimp farm. During free time, some villagers gain some extra income from making and selling local desserts and fruit preservation, for instance.
In the villager, there is one government primary school. It’s been open since 1956. The school offers classes from kindergarten – grade 6. At the moment, there are 146 students, and 12 teachers. There is one mosque. You may find more information about Songkhla lake on this following website;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkhla_Lake
The main aim for short-term work camp at Ban Koh Nangkham Nua School is to be part of a learning process for students and villagers. Volunteers will be arranging creative activities with students. In return, the volunteers can also learn about local fisherman lifestyle of Songkhla Lake.
In small communities in Thailand, local people hardly have contacts with foreigners, while students are getting pressured from current educational system to study English but they never have a chance to meet any foreigners. Therefore, the work camp will give them a chance to gain motivation to learn and explore the cultural diversity by doing creative activities with international volunteers.
Having international volunteers to learn about local fisherman’s lifestyle, it will help the fishermen to feel more motivated to preserve their local knowledge and wisdom. Apart from that, volunteers can also become the link between children and villagers to take part in this community learning activities.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Mr. Somhit Chobngam, the acting school principal of Ban Koh Nangkham Nua School, contacted DaLaa to discuss on the possibility of hosting a short-term work camp as he saw the importance of improving learning methods for the students. To have a group of international volunteers in his school, he hopes that children can learn about language and cultures naturally by doing activities with the volunteers. They may gain more motivation to learn English in the future. At the same time, volunteers can learn about fisherman’s lifestyle from the community members in return.
This will be our first collaboration between DaLaa and the school. We believe this work camp will be a good opportunity to have an involvement from teachers, local community leaders, religious leaders and other local sectors. They will have a meeting to set up responsibilities and participation of the community members in our activities. The volunteers and DaLaa will cooperate with them on this process so that we have the same understanding and creating the activities in the direction that everyone agrees.
ACTIVITIES:
· Children and adults can learn English with volunteers
· 2-way learning process between local children/ villagers and volunteers
· Better understanding towards local culture
· To build a good relationship between volunteers and local people
· To be part of Koh Nangkham community
ACCOMMODATION: A teacher’s house. Simple living conditions
FEE: 7,500 Baht (approx. 190 Euro)
LOCATION: Koh Nangkham, Pak Payoon district, Pattalung province, Southern Thailand