Our work in Thailand has just begun with a few rural communities in the North Eastern and Southern regions of Thailand.  With economic empowerment as the first strategy to uplift these communities out of poverty, we are piloting several social enterprise projects with partners like Population and Community Development Association (PDA) led by social entrepreneur Mechai Viravaidya of the Cabbages and Condom restaurants; and Sustainable Development and Research Foundation (SDRF) known for their years of development work with the rural poor.

•  Self-sustainable economy:   In the North-eastern region of Thailand where there exists a high concentration of poor rural communities, we will be setting up School Farms in Nang Rong and Nong Bua Lamphu in partnership with PDA who has extensive expertise and grassroots networks. With the aim of creating a self-sustaining economy, the food grown is used both to feed the children in school as well as generate profits which will go towards supporting the school.  A community-based approach is used where the students, teachers and parents are mobilised to raise fish, pigs and to grow suitable crops and vegetables within the school compound.  This will not only feed the children but create a self-sustainable supply and possibly profits for the school.
   
• In the Isan region of North East Thailand, MILK will be supporting a livelihood programme in Udon Thani with SDRF to enhance the fresh water fish farming programme.  This aquatic farm which grows Telapias fries for the villages aims to create sustainable livelihood to help many impoverished families in Udon Thani.
•  
• Rebuilding Fishing Communities in Tsunami-hit Kho Yaow Island: In partnership with SDRF, we also aim to help 14,000 people from the marginalised fishing communities in and around Kho Yaow island, Phang Nga Province that was badly hit by the Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 2004.  A key problem is the dwindling supply of high end marine life in this area due to the impact of the Tsunami.  A long-term sustainable approach to build up the fishing communities requires strategies to revive the marine ecology and fishing industry in the area.
  
•  Breeding programmes are developed to help fishermen farm local varieties of garoupa fish and lobsters which are high-end marine products demanded at high prices at local and foreign markets. SDRF will also focus on reviving the marine environment to a natural level of activity which can ensure the sustainability of the fishing communities’ long-term livelihood and training the fishermen to better manage their marine resources.

 In the long run, as people become economically empowered and wealth grows in the community, it is our aim that the social, educational and political well-being of the community will also grow in tandem.