The Karen Hilltribes Trust (KHT) is a British registered charity that has worked with the Karen people living in Northern Thailand for over three decades.
As a community-led organisation, they partner with rural Karen communities to create sustainable solutions to improve community health, secure livelihoods and increase access to education.
By taking a holistic approach to the complex socio-economic issues at hand, the charity aims to achieve sustainable change and empower Karen communities across Northern Thailand to improve their own lives.
The charity’s mission is to partner with Karen communities to improve their health, livelihoods and access to education, and their vision is to secure a sustainable future for the Karen communities of Northern Thailand.
The Mae Hong Son Province is where KHT focuses most of its attention, although they do implement some projects in neighbouring northern provinces. Most of the Karen villages they work in are only accessible from smaller roads and mud tracks.
Remote villages can therefore be frequently cut off during the rainy season, which lasts from July to October each year. It’s estimated that about 64% of the population live below the global poverty line and many lack access to basic socio-economic services such as healthcare and education.
The charity’s projects are focused on promoting self-reliance, leading to improved well-being whilst helping Karen communities retain their unique identity and culture.
Not only does this approach guarantee that the charity’s projects have a positive impact in the community; it also ensures community ownership, and supports long-term sustainability. This creates impactful, cost-effective projects that promote sustainable outcomes for some of the poorest communities in Thailand.
In 2022 the Randal Charitable Foundation provided grant funding towards the construction of a gravity-fed water system and sanitation facilities in Thailand. Throughout construction activities, community members will be taught how to manage, maintain and repair the water system and sanitation facilities, to ensure their long-term sustainability.
To find out more about the Karen Hilltribes Trust visit here
