Kuan Niang ADP Sponsor Visit

(14/08/2006 - 17/08/2006)

Introduction

Kuan Niang district is located on the west bank of Songkhla Lake; about 70.5km from the city of Songkhla and 40km from Hat Yai district. The general features of the district are alternated between rise and low land. Some low land area is flooded for 4 to 10 months a year. The main income generating activities are : -

• Rice farming
• Planting - such as vegetable, rubber trees and fruit trees
• Fish farming, small scale fishery business (especially along the coast of Songkhla Lake)
• Animal husbandry - buffaloes, goats and poultry

The problems (based on initial proposal) : -

• Wide usage of narcotics such as heroin, opium, sedatives due to its location as centre of sale and distribution of drugs
• Poverty is mainly due to unsuccessful harvest which relies heavily on the climate
• 22% of students are underweight
• Some children are not in school because the parents can not afford it
• Only 40% of children 16 to 18 years old are in school - lacking of awareness on importance of education

World Vision Kuan Niang ADP started on 01/10/1999, as an emergency relief for the flood during that year. The ADP started with 200 children and has been increase to 1,000 children, sponsors from Malaysia. Statistic of 1,000 sponsored child : -

• Primary school - 383
• Junior high school - 425
• Senior high school - 182
• Upper graduation - 10

The overall goal of the project is to make everyone self sustainable with focus on the following areas : -

• Community Services
• Occupational Training
• Education
• Hygienic, Health and Environment

[Education plays an important role as belief of "breaking the cycle of poverty through education".] Targeted areas are four sub-districts covering 46 villages : -

• Rattaphum
• Khuan So
• Huay Luek
• Ban Riang

From November to mid December 2005, 3 sub districts of Songkhla province, namely, Rattaphum, Khuan So and Huay Luek had been flooed by torrential rains, causing immense property damages. The initial relief efforts saw 910 sets (in total) of supplies comprising rice, dry food and medicines being distributed for 7 days after the floods. Moo 3 (ie Village #3) of Huai Lek was the worse affected with water rising to 2m. Communities were evacuated and temporary shelters were set up in schools. Six schools were provided with rice and dry food to provide lunch for the school children. Total beneficiaries = 1,000.

This has been the worst flooding incident in 30 years. After the water receded, school uniforms and shoes were distributed, supplies to recover their livelihoods were given and boots were provided to prevent a water-borne disease, Leptospirosis. Due to the floods, some activities had been postponed and some progress has been set back. However, further help poured in from both government and private sectors help the communities return to their "normal" state.


The sewing group


This sewing group produce school uniform, some give to the children in Kuan Niang school, some are sold in the town to generate income for the society. Generally, the school uniform is sold at THB 200 per set.


Wat Tha Hyee School - Hydroponic Veggy Program


The school is educating the children with hydroponic veggy technology, which will use less resources to increase crops production. Generally in Kuan Niang, the crops production has been doubled and so as to their income.


Pak Ja School - Nano Filtration Drinking Water Production


Generally Kuan Niang residents are having water problem, as the village is nearby the sea. This nano filration drinking water production is donated by World Vision to the village. The water tank is used to collect raining water, and filtered into drinking water. The student can just drink the filtered water directly from the pipe. The nearby residents are allowed to collect water from this school as all are enjoying the clean drinking water that will bring them good health. (NB: This nano filtration system cost THB 150,000)


Baan Krob School - Educational Fund Program


Children lining up to deposit their savings. The money is invested into the community co-operative, and the children earn an itnerest of 3%. There is a similar savings group for adults as well. I was most amazed with the group savings system. This helps the local economy to grow without incurring the usual heavy interest rates. There are no cases of defaults, even without the conventional pledge or guarantee procedures!


Hyuow Crai School - Volleyball team


The female volleyball team has won the World Vision Cup trophy for 2 consecutive years.


Unmilled Rice Generating Group

 
Income generated from the unmilled rice generating group is to support the school operation and partly given to the workers. Each kilogram of rice is sold at THB 3.


Vegetable Organic Cultivation Program


The local farmer, commented that their crop production and income have been increased since after World Vision has helped them in the farming technology. Their quality of living also improving.


Songkla ADP Office

 

Final stop at Songkla Beach

 

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