Samsara Foundation, Thailand
Encyclopedia
Funded by individual gifts and contributions from a variety of organizations, Samsara Foundation supports the education of underprivileged rural children. According to the organization, its mission is "to contribute to the education
and health
of underprivileged children in rural areas of Northern Thailand
. Our intention is to help eradicate poverty...."
Samsara was established in 2001 as a charitable foundation under Dutch
law. The foundation considers education
key to poverty
alleviation and to the development of Thailand
from a poor to a more developed society. Now headquartered in Chiang Mai
, in 2008 the organization received foundation status from the government of Thailand.
- especially in one of the country’s poorest provinces, Mae Hong Son
. Priority is given to very basic and concrete projects like the installation of water purification
systems, the building of kitchens and dormitories and the provision of educational tools.Besides these projects, Samsara provides scholarships for individual children who have promising school results but may not have the means to continue their studies without financial support.
Samsara focuses its efforts on remote mountain villages, home to many hill tribes like the Karen people
and the Hmong
. The average annual income per family is around 10,000 baht (approximately €210, US$333).
District and with the directors of the schools involved.
Samsara’s philosophy is to seek and actively promote the participation of the community. Villagers therefore do most of the construction work voluntarily. Many of them are parents of the schoolchildren. This contributes to a better relationship between school and village, and promotes support for education within the community.
Most of the schools in the mountains of Mae Sariang
District (185 schools with 27,000 children) are only accessible in the dry season. The rainy season
makes it difficult to use the small, muddy and slippery roads. Construction and monitoring therefore must be accomplished in a seven-month period (November through May).
One Samsara project may provide several different benefits to a single school or similar benefits to several schools. Further, some schools have been the recipients of improvements from more than one project.
Since 2002 Samsara Foundation has provided the following facilities, services and amenities at schools in Northern Thailand: 41 school dormitories; 25 school canteens; five school libraries; 16 toilet buildings; water purification installations at 73 schools; ten cement rainwater collecting tanks; for 48 schools, books; for 44 schools, furniture and small facilities; for 100 schools, medicines; for 40 schools, teaching materials for children with special needs; for many children, hundreds of one-year scholarships.
, several Rotary clubs, and such other organizations as the Alberta Government's Wild Rose Foundation and Wilde Ganzen foundation of the Netherlands. Another major partner is the Mae Sariang school district, which participates actively in helping to implement foundation projects.
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
of underprivileged children in rural areas of Northern Thailand
Northern Thailand
Thailand's northern region is geographically characterised by multiple mountain ranges which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar and Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them...
. Our intention is to help eradicate poverty...."
Samsara was established in 2001 as a charitable foundation under Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
law. The foundation considers education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
key to poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
alleviation and to the development of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
from a poor to a more developed society. Now headquartered in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
, in 2008 the organization received foundation status from the government of Thailand.
Focus
Samsara works in Northern ThailandNorthern Thailand
Thailand's northern region is geographically characterised by multiple mountain ranges which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar and Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them...
- especially in one of the country’s poorest provinces, Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son ) is a town in north west Thailand, capital of the Mae Hong Son Province. It is located in the Shan Hills, near the border with Burma along the banks of the river Pai...
. Priority is given to very basic and concrete projects like the installation of water purification
Water purification
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, materials, and biological contaminants from contaminated water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose...
systems, the building of kitchens and dormitories and the provision of educational tools.Besides these projects, Samsara provides scholarships for individual children who have promising school results but may not have the means to continue their studies without financial support.
Samsara focuses its efforts on remote mountain villages, home to many hill tribes like the Karen people
Karen people
The Karen or Kayin people , are a Sino-Tibetan language speaking ethnic group which resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma . The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people...
and the Hmong
Hmong people
The Hmong , are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China...
. The average annual income per family is around 10,000 baht (approximately €210, US$333).
Operations
Projects are managed by director Annelie Hendriks - the founder, a volunteer and a Dutch national. Ratana Keunkeaw, a Thai citizen, assists her. They work in close collaboration with the Department of Education in Mae SariangMae Sariang
Mae Sariang is a small town and district alongside the Yuam River in Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand, along the Myanmar border. The areas around Mae Sariang are mountainous and forested...
District and with the directors of the schools involved.
Samsara’s philosophy is to seek and actively promote the participation of the community. Villagers therefore do most of the construction work voluntarily. Many of them are parents of the schoolchildren. This contributes to a better relationship between school and village, and promotes support for education within the community.
Most of the schools in the mountains of Mae Sariang
Mae Sariang
Mae Sariang is a small town and district alongside the Yuam River in Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand, along the Myanmar border. The areas around Mae Sariang are mountainous and forested...
District (185 schools with 27,000 children) are only accessible in the dry season. The rainy season
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
makes it difficult to use the small, muddy and slippery roads. Construction and monitoring therefore must be accomplished in a seven-month period (November through May).
One Samsara project may provide several different benefits to a single school or similar benefits to several schools. Further, some schools have been the recipients of improvements from more than one project.
Since 2002 Samsara Foundation has provided the following facilities, services and amenities at schools in Northern Thailand: 41 school dormitories; 25 school canteens; five school libraries; 16 toilet buildings; water purification installations at 73 schools; ten cement rainwater collecting tanks; for 48 schools, books; for 44 schools, furniture and small facilities; for 100 schools, medicines; for 40 schools, teaching materials for children with special needs; for many children, hundreds of one-year scholarships.
Scholarships
In 2008 Samsara began an initiative called “Tomorrow's Leaders”. Under the terms of this program, hilltribe children with top school marks will be offered an opportunity to continue their education at vocational school or university for up to six years. Samsara's ordinary scholarship program funds uniforms, school fees, learning materials and (if necessary) dormitory accommodation for children from very poor families.Partnerships
Samsara's work is made possible through partnerships with a number of individuals, family foundations and with internationally active charitable organizations. The latter include Rotary InternationalRotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, several Rotary clubs, and such other organizations as the Alberta Government's Wild Rose Foundation and Wilde Ganzen foundation of the Netherlands. Another major partner is the Mae Sariang school district, which participates actively in helping to implement foundation projects.