An Opportunity to be the SCF volunteers!

Would you like to learn, share and work together with the SCF team and locals  through a buddy system?

The  SCFproject entitled " Enhancing the capacity to access safe drinking water, Baan Hua Nam Mae Hong Son" will be carried out around November or December, depending on the availability of the villagers at the site.

Please let us know you would be our volunteers.

The SCF team then and now !

 It has been some 17 years of working together on water issues with marginalized communities in northern Thailand. 

We began our missions with  two Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during 2009 -2010. The volunteers included Thai and Australian named "Dai Dai Dai" team which means "I can, You can, and We can".  During  the 17  years of our journey, some members quit and some new people get in. To keep the volunteers life security along the way of hard work with SCF is quite a challenge.

My  sincere appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the SCF team, my heroes. Hope we keep creating  positive changes for marginalized people together  on this  Never-ending Journe.

 The Dai Dai Dai team, 2009 -  2010

                                                                  The SCF team, 2026

A need of safe drinking water

 The next SCF project is "Enhance the capacity of Baan Hua Nam Mae Hong Son School" to access safe drinking water" It aims to provide a sfate drinking water for the school and villagers as well as  training them to be able to be "Stream Detectives".

There are options for the water filter! But we seek for the one which does not need electricity, effective, not expensive, simple, easy to install and maintain by locals.

The photos and an infographic below share the project information. 

Please feel free to share your ideas. Let's create positive impacts together !

The school teachers and kids

                                                        The school located in a Karen village 

the school building 

investigate the school water source

the existing water filtration at the school

A never ending journey !

 A big challenge to our 2025 journey  was Kok river degradation  from mining operations in Myanmar. Our Kok river became  muddy and contaminated with arsenic and other heavy metals at higher amount than the standard. However, a few water projects were done to prove the power of  teamwork. And we are ready for 2026 missions.

All forms of your supports will be very meaingful and heplful  to enhance the marginalized communities capacity working on environment protection and natural resources reservation.

For more information please contact muaykae@gmail.com. 

The Environment Day at Romthai

 Today the SCF team joined a campaign "SAVE KOK RIVER" at the bridge over Kok river, Romthai village, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

This is one of the civil society movements against illegal miming oprations in Myanmar release toxic wastes into Kok river. The arsenic contamination is the most serious problem.

The activities  today reflected the power of locals and civil society  against the mimings. Three letters were paepared to the Thai Prime minister, Myanmar President and China President to stop the illegal minings.

We hope the leaders of the three countries hear our voices  well and react properly  to solve the problems.

Illegal Mining Operations in the Shan State Spells Disaster for the Kok River at Romthai

 

Illegal mining operation in Shan State released toxic wastes into Kok river  cause adverse  environmental impacts to people live along the watershed  in Chiang mai and Chiang Rai, Thailand.

 

Romthai village is located in Thaton subdistrict, Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai, near the border of Thailand and Myanmar. This quiet border village is ~15.53 miles from the gold mining operation

The Environmental and Pollution Control Office 1 (Chiang Mai) conducted water quality tests in March, April and May. The water test reports revealed arsenic contamination in Kok river water is higher amount than standardard at 0.26 mg/L, 0.37 mg/L and 0.30 mg/L respectively. The standard figure must be  less than or equal to 0.01 mg/L, so Kok river is in danger !

It is our rights to  a healthy environment ! So STOP  releasing toxic wases into KOK river!

(Environmental and Pollution Control Office 1 Chiang Mai report)

SAVE OUR RIVERS

Last year during September - October,  there was a big flood along Kok  and Sai river, Chiang Rai, Thailnd.  Both rivers originate in Myanmar near Thailand border. In 2025 the local communities along Kok and Sai river basin are facing another threat !   There are gold mining operations in Shan state which cause big deforestation areas. The operations  also release toxic wastes into the rivers.  

Water in the two river is very turbid and  contaminated with arsenic. The report of  Environment and Pollution Control offfice in Chiang Mai revealed the water test result that  there is 0.026 mg/l  of arsenic contamination in Kok river at a village located near the minings. The arsenic contamination  figures in both rivers are higher than the standard water quality index of 0.01 mg./l. The contamination affected local communities living along the rivers, aquatic animals and crop productions. Besides no remidy implementation for 2024 flood victms, there is no implementation of policy for early warning system, prevention and evacuation plan. Locals are now worried about the 2025 flood with toxic to their villages. 

Our rivers are  very sick ! How to be safe from the flood ? What to do ? Where is the safe place to go ? What will happen when people have to touch the contamiated flood? HOW TO STOP TOXIC WASTES FROM  GOLD MINING OPERATIONS IN MYANMAR ? 

(This article seeks advices for maechnisms against this international treat !)