Huai wad village was involuntary relocation from their homeland under the government policies on war of drug and Tham Pha Tai National Park in 2003. The Lahu at Huai wad faced many difficulties to live their life in the new place. Poor soil and lack of water and sources of income generation were the main challenges.
Have been working together there for some 10 years. We saw some babies grown up before our eyes. They were the young kids working actively with us on water projects in 2010. Such a great thing!
We visited Huai Wad in April 2012, feel good to be back with many smiling faces of our Lahu frends again. Some familiar faces disappeared as some passed away and some moved to other villages. The young kids grown up to be guys and girls.
It was a good and happy time to meet them and discuss with them again after some months of busy works which keep us lost contact with them.
Our friends stop growing rice as they can earn more from corn. They buy rice from local people in the villages nearby. They open new land more and more for corn plantation to get more and more money. Many trees were cut down many new houses were build and there were many new small trucks in the village. Also they built fences around their houses. They stop thinking about set up hill water to the village. The head of the village metioned to us that "The hill water is for hill people, we are now people in town so we better look for electricity and tap water".
The journey of IDPs oat Huai Wad is going to a turning point. The future is based on what they priactice and decide today. Still a long way to go and more to learn.
No comments:
Post a Comment