Water is essential to life. In Chiang Mai, Thailand, many mountain villages still lack access to clean water for daily consumption.

Last year, we initiated a clean water development project in Pa Kham, a Karen village located in the mountains, under the leadership of Ajarn Thianchai, a community leader. While the villagers had relatively decent living conditions, they still faced a significant challenge—access to clean drinking water.

Our team collaborated with the community to provide training on how to construct a water filtration system. During the training, we emphasized the importance of continuous development so that the progress would not stop with just one village. This principle soon bore fruit.

During Christmas, the Karen people sang carols in their village. As visitors passed through Pa Kham, they noticed the newly built water filter system. This sparked interest among the people of Mae Muang Luang, another nearby village, and led us to connect with a “Champion” named Mr. Dee-Por.

Mr. Dee-Por reached out to Ajarn Thianchai to learn more about the water filtration system. Ajarn Thianchai introduced him to our Transformational Community Development (TCD) team. Inspired by the success at Pa Kham, Mr. Dee-Por envisioned bringing clean drinking water to his own community. He believed that a water filter would not only improve the community’s health but also serve as a meaningful way to share love and care. His vision was clear—anyone in the village would be able to use the water filter free of charge.

Our goal remains to foster sustainable development that extends beyond a single village. The success of the Pa Kham community exemplifies this principle. Their active participation in the project has inspired neighboring communities to take steps toward improving their own livelihoods as well.

Thank you!

Written by Nut, GHNI TCD Worker