The Hill Tribe Youth and Community Training Centre is a project that is being undertaken by the Borderless Friendship Foundation (BFF) in Huayjakan, Northern Thailand. The much needed centre will become an important hub for education for young hill tribe people and the wider community. Structerre has donated services and fundraised money along with other WA Businesses to allow this essential project to get underway.
The Borderless Friendship Foundation (BFF) works with 350-400 people in rural Thailand and other neighbouring border countries. Their mission is to enhance the lives of children, women and vulnerable people and strengthen culture, family involvement and community engagement.
Chris Marsh, Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Heirisson Perth and a contractor for Structerre, approached us to work alongside him in the design of the Community Training Centre that will improve the quality of life of those in the Huayjakan region. Our approach was to keep the design simple, firstly to keep costs to a minimum and secondly to provide the local hill tribe people and volunteers the opportunity to participate in the construction.
Education is the key to creating opportunities for the Hill Tribe locals and their children. The centre can potentially reach over 10,000 hill tribe people from different communities and will grant them access to the following:
- Health and sexual education
- Organic farming training for young people and the community
- Training in microcredit and saving
- A shop for selling clean water
- A central place for cultural celebrations
- A place for elders to hand down traditional handicrafts to younger generations
- Emergency accommodation for at-risk children until they can be permanently placed
To date, Structerre has donated $15,000 worth of detailed drawings, metal trusses and wall framing materials towards the construction of this vital hub. The construction of the Community and Training Centre has gained a lot of support from WA companies and organisations:
- Plunkett Homes (Geraldton & Metro) – donated $3,000
- WA Country Builders (Geraldton & Albany) – donated $3,000
- Rotary Club of Heirisson Perth – donated $10,000
Chris Marsh is currently in Huayjakan overseeing the construction of Phase 1 of the project, alongside BFF President, Pramote Eua-amnuay, and other local volunteer supporters. On behalf of Structerre we would like to acknowledge Chris Marsh for driving this valuable project and all the businesses to date for digging deep and giving this project the generous support it needs.
Click here to find out how you can help the Borderless Friendship Foundation make a difference.
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