Thailand

Community Description
The community of Ban Rai is located in the province of Sukothai, which is the original capital of Thailand. The region is rich with history and contains ancient ruins of the Sukothai empire. The people of this region are proud of Sukhothai's history and celebrate it through festivals and visits to the historical parks.

Forty kilometers away from the historical park lies the community of Ban Rai. The majority of the income in Ban Rai is generated from farming, with over 80% of the land is dedicated to farms. There are a total of 3,616 people living in Ban Rai. 735 people work as farmers, which is 80% of the people who are of working age.

Farmers make a living harvesting rice, tobacco and bananas. Within the community there are two income generation groups. One group makes and sells cloth and the other makes and sells brooms. The average household income in Ban Rai is 41,828 baht a year, which converts to about $1,200 a year.

Local community resources include 4 schools, 2 temples, a daycare, a health station, a night clinic, a cloth weaving center, a post office, the Service Area Office, and a police station.

Ban Rai School was founded in 1946 and is the largest of three elementary schools in Ban Rai. The school consists of 12 teachers dedicated to teaching 232 students, ranging from ages 4-12.

The water supply within the community is limited during the daytime and is often unavailable altogether. At these times, students do not have access to clean drinking water and must drink rain water, which is often contaminated by bacteria in the water tanks and debris and pollutants in the atmosphere. Furthermore, there is insufficient water for cooking, cleaning, and use in the bathroom.

Project Description
This project is to purchase and install a water tank and water purification system for the Ban Rai School.

Project Impact
The 232 students and 12 teachers at Ban Rai School will be directly affected by the availability of clean drinking water.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Kelsi George

Comments
This project will provide the school with a safe and secure source of water. The project arose from a need recognized by the director and teachers of the school. This assures that it will be used and maintained as a valuable school and community resource.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$500.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 - This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Kelsi George of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Kelsi and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Thailand.

Community Description
The village of Non Khun is a small rural community sustained mostly by agriculture. The weather is hot and dry, and 95% of the income of villagers comes from planting rice and secondary crops, such as chili peppers, corn and tomatoes.

The village relies on rainfall during the months of May through October for the sucess of the crops. Often the rainfall is not sufficient, and crops suffer. In addition, many people do not have enough water for drinking, bathing and cooking.

Despite the hard conditions of the area, the community remains motivated and proud of the crops that they produce. The villagers are able to send most of their children to school, and the communtity works hard to support the schools and the education of their children.

The students at the Non Khun School presently have no acess to clean drinking water, and must either bring water from home or drink from spigots on the school property. Water from both of these sources is unsafe for drinking.

The school currently must buy bottled water for cooking lunches for the students at the canteen.

Project Description
This project is to install a filtered water system at the school. Water will be filtered through a carbon and resin based filtering system that is attached to a holding tank outside of the canteen. The water in the holding tank will be pumped from the ground source near the school.

Two spigots will be attached to the canteen wall, one providing water for students, teachers and staff to drink and fill their water bottles or glasses, and the other for the cooking staff to use in food preparation.

The filter system components will be purchased and installed by PCV Sarah Brooks, together with the construction manager.

All project funds will be used for the purchase of the tank and filtration system.

Project Impact
207 students and 12 staff members at the school will benefit from clean water. The surrounding community, consisting of over 200 families, will also have access to the water when attending school functions, or when needed.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Sarah Brooks

Comments
Although water is currently available at the school, it is not potable. This project provides a simple and inexpensive solution to the problem.

The project will eliminate the need to purchase water, and thus save money for the school that could be better used for educational purposes. Students will have clean water to drink, and be relieved from having to bring their own water to school each day.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$500.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 - This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts and Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Sarah Brooks of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Sarah and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Thailand.

Community Description
Jom Jang village is located on the banks of the Mekong River, approximately 18 kilometers east of the provincial capital of Nong Khai, Nong Khai Province, Thailand. The majority of the village residents are farmers and fishermen, earning their living from the land and river.

Jom Jang has two community income-generating groups consisting mostly of local women farmers. Both groups share approximately 48 members. Ms. Yun Surisa heads the village women’s group and Ms. Kulab Pengsaka heads the village’s Home Stay group.

The two groups have enjoyed a certain amount of success, which in turn has resulted in some provincial and local government groups visiting the village’s community center. On a typical day, it is not uncommon for the village to have numerous groups visit.

Both income-generating groups work together to prepare for their guests. They cook meals, prepare the area for the traditional Thai dancing and set up tables to display their local food products. If the guests are spending the night, they further prepare their homes for the guests’ arrival.

The groups now wash dishes in an open area using water from the community water supply. Dishes from events are carried to the open location in large plastic containers where group members squat to wash and rinse the dishes on the ground. As the groups have nowhere to dry the dishes, they are dried in the same open area on the ground

Project Description
This project will provide a small covered area containing a set of sinks for the purpose of washing, rinsing and drying dishes.

The area will be covered by a roof and built with a concrete slab. As a result, the groups can set, wash and dry the dishes in a covered area, free of dirt, insects, bugs or small animals.

The covered area, concrete slab and sinks will be built per the plans prepared by an engineer of the local government who donated her time assessing the area and preparing the design plans and budget.

In addition, many group members, government workers and villagers will be donating their time to assist builders in implementing the project.

Project Impact
In addition to directly benefiting approximately 24 members of the women's group, this project will help ensure proper sanitation and cleanliness for the hundreds, if not thousands, of yearly visitors that have lunch, dinner or breakfast in the village.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Jeremy Johnson

Comments
This project improves the sanitation at a heavily-used public facility. It is a simple solution that will have a big impact for a small budget. The cleanliness of the dishes and utensils will be maintained, resulting in improvement of the public health of the community.

Dollar Amount of Project
$475.00

Donations Collected to Date
$0.00

ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW

Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you "naming rights", if that is something you would like.

Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.

Dollar Amount Needed
$475.00