This year was very strange. In the past we have never faced any rain storms at this time of the year. Usually in winter the area will be a bit cool in day time and cold in the evening. The area should be dry and easy to access.However this year we faced a rain storm just a few days the KFAM main on-site date. So we had to change the plan from our original plan and base ourselves in Morgrota in The-let-per-kee school which is a lot easier to access immediately. The first day on-site we faced problems straight away and had many obstacles to overcome. The amount of rain water in the previous days were more than enough to make the road very muddy and slippery. We had to change plan from transferring the stuffs from 6 wheels truck to 4 wheel drive trucks earlier than we had hoped. We couldn’t go any further without changing vehicles. The food truck team also faced the same thing from the other side of mountain. Their delay caused us many concerns but luckily there made it safely. This year there were very few volunteers compared to other years. Luckily we had 13 soldiers from the special force to volunteer with us this time. Otherwise it would have been even more difficult. The last checking of the construction couldn’t be completed. There was more rain on the second day and we couldn’t enter 2 more schools ; Kanechuekee (คะเนจือคี) and Morgrota (มอโกรทะ) even with 4 wheel drive, it was impossible to enter. We received photos from the teachers to show the final look of all the constructions we couldn’t see. Luckily, there was a team that were base in Telerperke school (ทีเลอเปอคี) and they had activities together. They managed the activity and also carried out a big cleaning excercise in the school and the village with the kids for half a day before the rain started in the afternoon. The raid was so heavy we all couldn’t continue any activity. It was such a lonely and depressive afternoon. Almost all constructions are finished within 3 months of our projects except the new canteen in Morgrota which is 80% completed. The rest have been done very well. Everything beautiful, useful, good price and good quality. The solar cell systems this year were highest expense compared to what we have done before. Howevert the quality was also the best compared to what we had. They are big solar panels ( around 1.5 times bigger than before), good batteries, could provide more than enough electricity for the whole school. They will also be able to add a fridge in the future. There is some money left around 3000 baht. We added our personal money to make another 6000 baht for them to get one fridge for a school. The constructions this year are 7 solar cell systems, 1 new canteen, 3 teacher shelters, 2 toilets, fixing the kitchen, fences and more. Extra items for each school are notebooks, printers, sporting equipments, lawn mower, chickens, frogs, ducks and so on. You can see in detail in our full projects detail. The second day the was raining badly for the whole afternoon. It stopped in the evening. ….. No one could have predicted that the kids in the village would come back to see us! No appointment. No one called them to gather here. They all just wanted to come to see us. They thought maybe we could do some activites with them again. That’s why they all came and waited at the front of the school. We created some activities for them right away. We thought of it as it is a practice round for tomorrow. The electricity from the solar cell was not enough as it was raining the whole afternoon and there was no sun light. We had to use eth power generator for some music. Can you imagine? Life without electricity, just to add some music, it was already so much fun. It was a great night and the kids didn’t want to go home. We all had some concern that if on the main activity day it rained again, what could we do? kids from many schools will not be able to join. We can’t have some activities. We can’t distribute the stuffs. Things will not be as good as we expected. We were blessed and it was a day with clear blue sky on the main date. It was as if the rain a few days ago had never happened. We were able to do all the activities. The kids and villagers had so much fun. The vice village chief said this was the biggest event in their life. He thanked us many times. He said we made such a great experience for all of them. That morning we went to the shop (that we call it seven doi) to purchase some stuffs to be prizes for villagers when they play games with us. We got dish washing soap, the whole boxes of instant noodle, shampoo, soaps and so on. The shop owner was very happy and had big smile on his face. We had games and activities which switched from the kids game to the adults game. We can’t believe even when adults played the games, the kids had a lot of fun and the villagers cooperated with us so well. Everyone did their best to win the prizes. Especially the mamas, when the price was milk powder they came from everywhere to participate the game. Somebody explained that milk powder for them is a luxury. Even from the district they have free milk, they still have to spend time, money and effort to get that milk. So most of hill tribe kids didn’t have enough milk since they were young. That’s why those mamas want the milk so badly. This is also one thing we have to consider to add for the next year projects. We should add some prizes for the villagers. Especially the stuffs they can use in daily life. We should get some milk for young kids and sanitary napkins. We didn’t give sanitary napkin for the last couple of years. We should get it for the schools and let them distribute it by themselves. We got a lot of prizes from sponsors this year for the kids. We played games from morning to afternoon there are still some prizes left. It was so much fun. The stuffs for each individuale kid were a lot as usual. It was difficult for kids to carry everything. The parents had to come to help them. There were smiles on everyones faces. The food was also very good. The second day that it was raining, we made pork leg stew and rice (ข้าวขาหมู). It took quite a while before we distributed it. As the rain made it impossible for the kids from near by schools to join we called villagers to get it instead. On themain activity date we gave pork noodle soup. There was a lot of pork and pork balls there were Lots of veggies to make it healthy too. The kids enjoyed it so much. Each of them asked to refill their plates 3-4 times. Next time we think that we have to prepare an amount of food enough for 3-4 times of total amount of kids. They have never had this big meal with big protein like this in their life. At Snack time we also gave them fruits and mixed dessert with coconut milk (รวมมิตร). Everyone had fun together and ate together. Distribution of the stuffs went very well. We have to compliment the kids in this area have very good manners and are polite. The parents were also nice and helpful. Don’t forget our project has started since 3-4 months ago in this area. They also helped the schools to do the constructions. When we had activities, they also cooperated very well. When we giving the stuffs there was no fight. Everything went well. There are many things we have to consider for the next projects on KFAM 2024-2025. 1. Spec of solar cell system. This year it was the most expensive we have ever done. The quality and the capacity to produce electricity is enough for the school now and in the future. If they would like to add a fridge to help them keep fresh food for the kids or they get sponsor for computer, they will also have enough electricity for the future as well. The size of solar panel was double size of the years before. Easy to take care of. We will try to get this as a standard for the future projects. 1. Reducing garbage : this year we successfully reduced a lot of garbage from the event in the mountain. We provided them proper metal plates, spoons, forks, cups in the amount that is enough for kids at all 7 schools. After the event, we distributed to each school evenly. They can use it in the future. We reduced the use of paper cups for coffee and plastic spoons in the morning. We just used stainless steal cups and spoons. On the main date we provided food and desserts for more than 300+ people, we didn’t have single use plastic either. (There was a bit of mistake with first 30-40 bowls.) If in the future they will have an event like this in the group, they will also be able to borrow from each other. So even though the cost was higher, we think it was worthwhile to invest for a long term solution. 1. Second hand stuffs : we got a lot more compared to last year projects. We have to continue promoting it. We have to expect the same amount or more than this time. It might be un useful for some people in the city. But it is really beneficial for the kids and villagers in the area. 1. Volunteers : this year we had too few of us. We had only 6 and last time there were 20 of us. If there was not 13 soldiers that volunteer with us, it would be even more difficult than this. We have to promote a bit more. 1. Prizes/rewards for villagers and extra stuffs : we should arrange some prizes which are useful for daily life. We have to think about the villagers are also family of the kids in the school. If they have a better life, the kids also have better life as well. We should get some more milk powder, dried food, soaps and more. One more thing is sanitary napkin for the schools. We will let the school be the center to distribute it. If someone needs it, they can come to ask the schools. 1. Short video presentation : KFAM projects each year do a lot of things. We help many schools , many different constructions and many different extra stuffs for each school. We will try to do some better presentation for sponsors where their money went to. We will try to start from this year. Please stay tuned. 1. Students from Ujae school ; they were the only school that the kids couldn’t come to the main activity date due to the dangerous muddy road. They were so sad. They were looking forward it for months. We will consider to get them to join the activities for next year projects (if possible). Because they are so remote. We will try to consider all possibility solutions to make their dream come true. Thank you so much to all sponsors. The money and stuffs from each sponsor, it reached to the kids as our concept/ our main goal to maximize the benefit of every single baht here. Thank you to all teachers from this group and Omgoi district for this cooperation together makes it all happen. Thank you to Special force 5th devision, Mae rim, Chiangmai to help us with quality manpower. Thank you to KFAM family and volunteers all on-site and off-site for spending your time, your money to do it every year. Thank you to villagers, all parents that have helped us last couple of months to make these good things happens for your kids and your community. We can tell you the cost of projects compared to the quality of things that we got, was well worth it. We maximized the benefit of every single cent. We all have our own career. We all did this for free. We spend our own money on it. We asked sponsors and help from all over the world to make it happen. We make it beneficial for many people now and in the future. Thank you so much everyone.
See you again when we announce next projects on October 2024. We might challenge ourselves again to do things we have never did before: raising bees to protect the schools from wild elephants.