Life Development Center

http://www.ldcl.org

Projects

Since 2004 to the present (2008) we are focusing on four development issues

Community health care and relief project – this project we focus on two areas are

In Thailand we focus on HIV/AIDS and illicit drug prevention and care and promoting food safety production and consumption (More information)
In Myanmar we focus on Malaria, Tuberculosis, Diarrhea, Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS prevention and care (More information)

Community development and empowerment project – this project includes community based organizations and faith based Organizations (CBOs and FBOs)
(More information)
Poverty alleviation project – we focus on creating environment friendly income generation projects (More information)

Planting Trees
Bio Gas
Women and children’s development – we focus on women’s groups and school children (More information)

Day Care Center
Rice Mill

More Information about the projects

Community health care and relief project

Objectives
- To prevent evitable communicable diseases among tribal communities
- To assist in health emergency relief
- To improve tribal health conditions and livelihood
- To promote community health care

Project activities
- Provide information and training
- Produce and distribute information materials in indigenous languages
- Assist fundamental needs of Aids patients and referrer
- Promote and campaign self health care among tribal community
- Promote and campaign producing and consuming food safety

In the past decade Life Development Center has been doing community health care promotion and several types of alternative development projects in the north of Thailand. In the north of Thailand LDC starting doing HIV/AIDS and Drug prevention campaigns among the Lisu community with different approaches such as giving information, providing training, workshops, study visits as well as producing and distributing HIV/AIDS and drug prevention information materials in Lisu language for promoting public awareness. The significantly benefits and influenced of health care promotion project are radio programs and community volunteers outreach programs. We reached over 100,000 Lisu populations in Thailand, Myanmar and China.

3-4 community volunteer teams have been formed and assisted in HIV/AIDS and drug prevention campaigns alternatively. In 2003-2004 LDC was supported by UNDCP/UNODC for joint radio programs with Chiang Mai Thailand Radio Broadcasting Station and Far Eastern Radio Broadcasting Station from Manila Philippines. These two radio programs were vastly impacted to the Lisu people in remote areas especially in Myanmar and China. As a result of our surveyed and observation by visiting communities revealed that these radio programs were significantly benefits and influenced to the Lisu people in Myanmar, China. We received a very good responding from the audiences.

What we have been done in the past a year are; illicit drug and HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns through community groups/community volunteers because we realized that without community people involvement would be impossible to reach to all communities in remote areas. We have been taking very effort to tackle community problems solving by community mobilizing. Two tribal community development network groups were formed, the first group is Lisu community development network group which was formed since 2002 consisted with seven community groups from two provinces in the north of Thailand, second group is Borderless Ministry Network Group which was formed in February 2007 consisted with twenty local Christian churches leaders from three provinces in the north of Thailand. LDC goal is to strengthen these two network groups and enlist them involve in tackling community problems.

Since the beginning LDC focused on HIV/AIDS and illicit drug prevention among tribal communities by various approaches but in the past two years these two problems are seems not serious as before yet we still mobilizing prevention by community groups. One of the problem that we are very concerned and tacking is over using chemical fertilizers and Pesticides in agriculture

Modern agriculture or intensive agriculture imposed farmers to use different kinds of chemical fertilizers and pesticides consequently caused environment degradation and health problems. A lot of farmers used chemical fertilizers and pesticides without knowing the dangers. Recently Chiang Mai public health care center reports that 70-75% of agriculture products in the fresh markets contaminated high pesticides and toxins that caused several kinds of sickness for producers and consumers. Therefore, since last year we are promoting food safety productions and consumption by giving information, providing trainings and supporting villagers to initiate organic farming.

We also preparing for expanding LDC projects into Myanmar as soon as received funds. Because in the past four years we received huge assistance requirement letters from our Lisu people in Myanmar. Health problem, political problem and economic problem in Myanmar are worst than Thailand. The majority of tribal people in remote areas suffering from different diseases and poverty, Malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis and diarrhea are severs diseases among rural people in Myanmar yet due to political and economic crisis situations in Myanmar most of rural people are unable access to medical care services. Establishing Ngo and working directly with community also seems not impossible.

Recently we had visited to our Lisu people in Myanmar in December last year, discovered that there is a high potential approach to rural people in remote areas through religion affair/local Christian churches and Christian organizations in Myanmar. We have very good connection/contact with many Christian churches and organizations in Myanmar. Christians are very influenced to Myanmar government since British colonized. They have been a wide range of networking in many parts of the country. We had discussed with many Lisu community leaders and Christian leaders in Myanmar most of them are willing to give a hands for helping people in needs. They have a wide range of networking covered over 400 Lisu communities in Shan state and Kachin state. The Myanmar government is not interferes them. Therefore, we plan to work through them to avoid government interfering and would be able to assist rural people in remote areas. Working through the Myanmar government is insecure and rarely able to contribute the means and assistance to local people in remote areas due to corruption and instability of the government.

The project will do both proactive and reactive strategy approaches to prevent and assist patients. Reactive strategy approach is focus on providing medical care and medical supplies through Christian religion intervention or outreach teams because they already have some qualified staffs who have been trained in medical school and they are doing medical training and outreach regularly twice a year in many different remote areas helping people. Proactive strategy approach is focus on giving information, educating people by providing training for community leaders and villagers, produce and distribute malaria, TB, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS diseases information materials in Burmese and indigenous languages
Community development and empowerment project activities

Objectives
- To create opportunities for underprivileged peoples’ development potentials
- To facilitate and enable for cooperating and partnership/alliance
- To enable development and empowerment dialogue
- To create opportunities for children/women’s development
- To eliminate gender disparity by promoting gender equality
- To promote and advocate human rights and saving scheme

Project activities
- Provides various development skills training, seminars, workshopsstudy visit and
meetings
- Provides financial and technical supports for initiating community development
projects
- Facilitate for coordinating and development of partnerships/alliance
- Initiate saving schemes

We are very concerned about the involvement of community people in community/social problems solving, since we have very limited resources and manpower it would be impossible for us to reach every tribal community by ourselves, thus we have been taking very effort to mobilize by community people through community volunteers, CBOs and local Christian Churches by assisting in community groups’ formulation and development for foster community involvement in community and social problems solutions.

In the past many years LDC assisted community groups and network formulation and development among tribal community for several groups in the north of Thailand, at least seven Lisu community groups were formed most of them are women’s groups. These seven Lisu community groups had established as a community development network group in 2002, Some groups are conducting different types of alternative development projects such as rice mill project, handicrafts project, organic farming project, ecotourism project and day care center project but due to limitation of fund some groups are pending for funding. They recruited two or three representatives from each group to serve as network committee members. This community development network’s committee members are meeting regularly 2-3 times a year for further development and empowerment. LDC also encouraged them to initiate saving scheme and outreach program. In addition, LDC ran local Christian Church’s leaders development pilot program since 2004 by initiating capacity and integrity building training program for three years. We gathered them for conducting seminars, workshops and meetings several times for discussing local concern problem issues and creating opportunities for advocacy and modeling recommended behaviors. We have learned that in many countries faith based organizations playing a major role in community problems solving and humanitarian works, thus we would like to bring them involve in community problems solutions and make healthy church and self-support churches. There are more than 300 local Christian churches scattered in the north of Thailand yet a few of them involved in community problems solving, most of them are not aware and ignored the problems.

Development of partnerships and alliances

Life Development Centre seeks for partnerships and alliances from different network groups for multilateral cooperation and empowerment. LDC is a member of Center for the Coordination of Non-governmental Tribal Development Organizations, Northern Thailand Christian Organizations Network, International Indigenous Alliance. LDC also cooperating with CBOs, FBOs, Ngos, and GOs. LDC staffs involved as team work with many organizations and participated in several meetings, workshops and seminars hosted by other organizations. LDC assisting and strengthening tribal community based organizations (CBOs) and faith based organizations for establishing and development of partnerships and alliances in locally, regionally and internationally, especially Lisu people in Myanmar, China and Thailand.
Poverty Reduction Program

Thailand is agriculture country. The majority of Thai farmers are overwhelming by capitalism and modern agriculture, over using agrochemicals vastly impacts on health, evironment and natural resources. To keep balance between development activities and natural resources sustainability is a critical issue for this generation. Therefore, we are campaigning public awareness among ethnic minority communities and enlist people to participate in environment justice.

In the past three years we had enlisted many different tribal communities groups involved in natural resources and environment conservation programs. We mobilize by community groups both CBOs. and FBOs. We are working with more than twenty tribal communities in the north of Thailand and supporting several CBOs and FBOs. doing different alternative development initiatives. We are focusing on environmental friendly projects. For the first 2-3 years we are focusing on educating, raising public awareness, giving information and modifying negative traditional beliefs and reinforce positive ones. then for the next step we will focus on enlisting peers to discuss local concerned, addressing cost/barries, capacity building and creating opportunities for modeling behavior practicing. Under UNDP/GEF supporting LDC is conducting biogas project, organic forming project and reforestation project at Maekon village Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai province.

The projects activities we have been done in the past 2 years
We had provided different aspects of training programs for different tribal community groups such as global warming and climate changed problems, the dangers of using agrochemical and also arranged two study visit programs on organic forming, natural resources and environment conversation projects fields. More than a hundred villagers were participated. We also cinvened group's discussion and meeting several times in several tribal communities. We enlist different groups participate project activities. Five women groups, twelve local Christian groups and some schools are participating. We are working with Lahu, Lisu, Karen and Thai peoples.

Life Development Center has provided eighteen pig manure biogas ponds for reducing using firewood among tribal communities. We have supporting different tribal community groups doing natural resources and environment conservation projects. More than 4,000 trees have been planted for reforestation. LDC is also establishing organic farm and biodiversity conservation demonstration garden in Chiangdao area. This demostration garden is located in the midst of beautiful nature among different tribal communities. More than twenty kinds of fruit garden. This complex garden is an organic farming and biodiversity conservation study center for villagers and students, it also a relaxing garden for those who love the nature. All visitors will be served organic foods. There will be 17-20 kinds of vegetables and fruits all year around. You can also enjoy different excursions such as natural study trails, sightseeing tribal communities and mountain bicycle. Home-stay/accommodations also available to serve you. Thank you very much for all sponsors.

Objectives
- To reduce poverty among vulnerable marginalized tribal people
- To enhance living conditions of tribal people
- To prevent sex commercial and drug trafficking
- To promote self-reliance and environment friendly income generation projects

Activities
- Provides technical and revolving funds for community groups
- Provides vocational training and study visits
- Promote and initiate environment friendly income generation projects

As we all realized that poverty is a vital problem for many people around the world. The majority of tribal population in Thailand are farmers and living in poor living conditions. The average annual income for the family is around 5,000 - 25,000 baht which was lower than Thai national minimum annual income or less than 1 U$ per day as United Nations defied which caused a lot of tribal people lured into the cities for seeking better opportunities for employment and development. Many young people got involved in drug dealing and sex commercial due to poverty. For these reasons LDC taking very effort to initiate poverty alleviation projects in many rural areas for creating environmental friendly income generation and community economics sustainable projects.

Currently LDC supporting seven tribal community groups creating several types of community income generation and alternative development projects such as, rice mill projects, weaving and local handicrafts project, integrated agriculture project, organic farming project, ecotourism project etc. LDC also provides vocational training programs study visits programs and revolving funds for initiating environment friendly income generation projects in many different areas. LDC is also promoting and supporting community groups initiating saving schemes and preparing for conducting microfinance. The Fellowship Church in Norway is the major support for LDC in the last three year we are very grateful for their generosity.

“Involving people evolving behavior Change”
“Enabling learning and Development potential for the Villagers create ownership”
Women and children's development project

Objectives
- Reduce gender disparity
- Promote gender equality
- Promote and support women and children's development potentials

Activies
- Support children's education and development projects
- Support women's development projects

LDC also promoting and supporting women and children’s development among vulnerable ethnic minority groups because we all aware that gender disparity ideology is a very strong social mainstream that caused a lot of women and children being treated unfair in many ways. Gender disparity is a very sensitive issue among many ethnic minority groups, most of tribal people regard women children as inferior or beneath so women and children do not have much chance for education and self development potential. Promoting gender equality among ethnic minority groups is very sensitive and to be aware, it will easily offend and leads to family conflicts while gender equality promotion is also importance. What we are doing is create an opportunities for women can work and develop their own potential through various interventions for avoiding confrontation promotion.

We believe that if women and children have opportunities to work together they have opportunities to build up their own capability and present their talents to their family members and to the public which leads to public perception and accepting. Some women’s groups in different villages which supported by LDC were proved their acquisitions and talent among their families and public for example some of them have been a credit for the whole village to receiving government funds, some of them invited to serve as village school committee members, some of them invited to serve as village committee members and some of them selected to serve as local government officers.

Women and children are a fundamental of family and community therefore, LDC aware about their dignity and power for changing society. We attempt to foster women’s group to work as network and connecting to many other women’s groups in locally, nationally, regionally and internationally. We also supporting children’s development programs such as, nursery school, Sunday school programs etc.

Day Care Center
Followship Church in Norway is supporting one day care center project through LDC at Banmaisahasamphan village Pai district, Maehongson province. There are 25-30 kids most of them are Shan people. The center starts Monday to Friday from 7.30 am. to 5 pm. Mrs.Malee Laoyipa and Ms.Esther are baby sisters in this center.

Rice Mill Project
Women's group at Nambosapeh village is doing mini rice mill project which is supporting by open hands foundation. They earned in amount of 4,000-6,000 baht per month (U$U 140-200) This amount of income they divided into three portions for the first 15% is for group development and administration, another 15% is supporting assisting other people who are in needs such as Aids patients, poor people, emergency cases and the last 70% is for the members and maintenance costs.

Local Christian churches leaders’ training

More than 30 local Christian churches leaders have been trained, and they have been formed as a “Borderless Ministry Network Group” for helping each others. They are arrange meeting regularly 3-4 times a year for further discussion and planning for initiating holistic development programs. 14 people were selected to serves as committee members. We enlist and foster them to involve in community problems solving, if we can help them to work together it would be very powerful community groups for caring community problems and presenting the salt and the light of the world. LDC taking very efforts to establishing multilateral cooperation and networking for initiating holistic development among vulnerable ethnic minority groups, without community people involvement would be impossible to solve community problems.

Global warming and climate change have been a sever problems that affected to all creatures which we can not ignore. Therefore we combined environment protection interventions into our project activities. We are very concerned about environment degradation and climate change. We are taking very effort to enlist multilateral social sectors involve in environment protection programs, our mile stone is enlisted 3-4 community groups involve in environment protection programs through different approaches such as reforestation, promote organic farming and public awareness campaigns as well as constructing water shade dams, planting trees and provide biogas ponds.

In 2007 we had planted over three thousand trees and more than a hundred of water shade dams are constructed in different tribal communities for reforestation, 200+ people from different groups are involved, and we hope that we would be able to bring more people to involve in this program. At least 8,000 – 10,000 rai (2,000-4,000 acres) of forest will be preserved by the communities within five years.

Environment Friendly Projects

Currently there are four tribal communities involved in environment and natural resources protection in Chiang dao area. Approximately 6,500 rai (2600 acres) was preserved by villagers for reforestation

We provide pig manure biogas ponds to the villagers for reducing using firewood. According to our baseline surveyed found that villagers used firewood 1,500 – 2,000 kilograms per family per year, this amount of firewood cut 2-3 trees of 20 years old, pig manure biogas pond can reduced using firewood 50 – 60% not expensive, easily to install, utilize and maintain

In 2007-2008 we planed to support 20 pig manure biogas ponds in four tribal communities. This kind of biogas pond is very useful for villagers, and easily install with very simply techniques and materials

Chiang Mai public health officers randomly tested agriculture products in fresh markets and found that 70-75% of the products have high pesticides and toxin contaminated, over used pesticides and chemical fertilizers in farming have caused many serious health problems for farmers and consumers. Its also caused land degradation, water pollution and biodiversity destruction. Few of farmers aware about this problem, therefore, we promote and support villagers to do organic farming to reduce natural resources, biodiversity destruction and health problems

While global environment is in crisis creating environment friendly initiatives is vital to save the planet earth. Since hill-tribes people earned their living by agriculture and livestock it would be impossible to stop them to do agriculture so what we need to do is to introduce mutual benefits project both natural resources and villagers so that both of them can survive

Home Stay, organic garden and variety of attractive activities are available now. (More information)

Life Development Center
P.O Box 300 Chiang Mai, Thailand 50000.
E-Mail: ldc@loxinfo.co.th