The Karen village of Wao Gaw Ki has a daily struggle to maintain a fresh water supply. 

Their water source  is a small mountain stream which the villagers have redirected using bamboo as a channel.

The water is often contaminated with animal droppings and sometimes the water dwindles to nothing because the bamboo channel has been trampled by animals. Education and health workers who visit the village encourage them to use clean water, so achieving this aim is the goal of this project.

The existing water pipe

A young Karen man from Thailand, Daepoe has offered to assist the villagers to improve their situation and help them build a better water supply system by using plastic poly pipe. It would be much stronger and would avoid contamination from animal droppings. 

Daepoe has calculated the amount of pipe needed for the project, he and his friends will organize to purchase and deliver it to the village and assist the villagers with the installation. The young men will volunteer their time but need the funds to purchase the pipe and cover the transportation costs.

Budget and Plan

Poly Pipes to be purchased in Mae SariangThailand -          22,527 Baht

Delivery of pipes to the Salawin River -                                      3,000 Baht

Delivery by boat to the closest river bank to Wao Gaw Ki -   5,000 Baht

                                                                                              Total    30,521 Baht equivalent to Au$1,220

Contigency, fundraising and bank transfer costs                                                                              $180

                                                                                                                                            Grand Total $1440

Typical boat to be hired for transporting the pipes up the river

The villagers will meet the boat and between them and the young volunteers the pipes will be carried on foot to the Wao Gaw Ki. The volunteers will then assist the villagers with installing the pipes, replacing the existing bamboo channel.

In the long term there may be more sophisticated solutions to securing a clean water supply to Wao Gaw Ki. However while the dangers of being in the 'no-mans land' of a longstanding war still exist, this project offers an achievable outcome, delivered by a fellow Karen speaker, who has volunteered to navigate the considerable logistical challenges in the field. 

There is also already an understanding amongst the villagers that the simple solution of plastic piped water from further upstream as a replacement for the bamboo channel will resolve their immediate water issues. 

Our challenge is to empower this young man to lead the project to a successful conlcusion.

This project will make a difference to an entire village, including these kids.