In the highlands of northern Thailand, families in Karen hill tribe communities are finding new ways to strengthen their livelihoods through farming.
For one woman, that started with learning how to make better use of something she already had.
Her greenhouse had fallen into disrepair and, without the technical knowledge to manage it effectively, she had struggled to use it to grow crops and earn a consistent income.
With your support, Global Mission Partners is able to work alongside the Social Development and Service Unit (SDSU) of the Church of Christ in Thailand, helping Karen hill tribe communities build skills and strengthen livelihoods through practical training in greenhouse farming and pig raising.
Through the project, the woman learned skills in greenhouse crop management and was able to repair her greenhouse and begin growing again.
Since restoring the greenhouse, she has already harvested crops twice and earned more than 3,000 Thai baht from selling the produce.
Other families are putting new skills into practice too. During the past year, 10 households have completed greenhouse installations or repairs, while nine households have been supported to raise pigs.
SDSU staff continue to visit participating households to monitor their progress and provide practical support when challenges arise. Staff also stay in contact with families between visits, giving participants an opportunity to raise concerns and seek advice.
For this woman, the training has helped bring an existing resource back into use. With two successful harvests behind her, her greenhouse is once again producing crops and providing an additional source of income for her household.
Across the participating communities, families are building practical farming skills they can continue to use into the future. By working with the resources already available to them and developing the knowledge to use them effectively, families are finding practical ways to strengthen their livelihoods.