A sense of survival
Plan International and Prudential Life Assurance work together to help Karen students in a remote Tak school prevent and mitigate disasters
EARLIER THIS YEAR, Thailand launched its first special economic zone in Mae Sot, a Thai border town in Tak province, well known as a trading centre and the gateway between Thailand and the neighbouring town of Myawaddy, Myanmar.
Despite flourishing as a trading town, Mae Sot is also well known for its vulnerability to natural disasters such as flooding and landslides as well as its potential for earthquakes, as it sits on Mae Ping fault lines in Northwest Thailand.
Like many border towns, Mae Sot is home to significant numbers of different ethnic minorities. Within the ethnic minorities, many face stigma and discrimination and have difficulties in accessing available government services such as basic education and health. Many ethnic minorities and communities in Mae Sot are also more prone to natural disasters and risks due to lack of support, services and understanding.
Prudential Life Assurance (Thailand) and Plan International are now working to fill this gap by building resilience to natural disasters in the Karen community and creating a safe school environment.
One of their projects – “Creating Safe School for Youth, by Youth” – is now being implemented in collaboration with the students of Karen Bwe K’Lar Learning Centre at Ban Pu Ter.
The centre is home to 120 students and in poor physical condition, putting it at risks of flash flooding and other disasters.
“We ask the students to assess the risk and the security of the area then we work with them to draw a map of their school and identify the risks and potential risks as well as the safe and unsafe areas.
The students can then pass on knowledge and information to their parents and friends who didn’t have a chance to attend the course, and share with them the areas identified as safe or unsafe. Using this data as a basis, the community can draw up a plan to prevent and mitigate disasters,” says Kanokporn Jareonrith, disaster risk management programme manager of Plan International Thailand.
“Sustainability is very important. We need to see results continuously, not just as a one-off. The project is good as the youngsters can practise and learn together side by side with us,” adds Kanlayanee Vajarobol, vice president of Prudential’s marketing brand & communication.
“We also enjoy local government support whenever we hold these activities. I’m not sure we would receive this kind of collaboration if we were in Bangkok.”
Plan International, Thailand’s work with Bwe K’Lar Learning Centre clearly showed that students and community members lacked knowledge and understanding about risks and hazards from disasters.
“No other organisation has ever come to address this issue. The students knew that prolonged heavy rain could cause a flash flood but the only thing they knew to do was to run home to their parents. Our project teaches them survival guidelines as well as what they can safely do to help others.”
Student Eh Moo Da, 15, is delighted to be learning. “Heavy rain caused a landslide near our school and we lost all our pigs and fish. We couldn’t do anything, we just had to wait for the river to subside.”
“The water tank is also there for community use and our playground is not just for students. All the children are welcome to play here,” adds 13-year-old Shar Kaw.
