Empowered youth take action on climate change

Ban Huai Suea Thao is a small village in Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand located in a forested watershed on a high mountain. Villagers here suffer the consequences of the overexploitation of natural environments. Over 800 families in this community face water shortages and flash floods yearly that take their toll on the quality of life of adults and children.

Wanida, or Da, 15, a WV youth leader who was born and raised in this community says: “Our community is a little village in a huge forest with the Huai Suea Thao stream running through it. The stream nurtures the watershed. But because the mountain has been deforested, we faced heavy flash floods in the rainy season. We were trapped in the village. Children neither could go to school nor their parents to work. More importantly, it could be dangerous to venture out. On the contrary, during the drought season, we would go without clean water because the stream would dry up, leaving us with only muddy water.”

Thawinee, or Yogi, another WV youth leader in Mae Hong Son and Da’s best friend who also grew up in this community, shares: “As I was growing up, I also grew my awareness of our community’s water situation that was getting worse and worse each year.”

Wishing to solve the problems and make a difference to give the community a better quality of life, sufficient water and safety from flash floods, the adolescents were unsure how they would deal with the challenges alone because the issues seemed too huge and out of their hands.

One day, things were about to change when Da and Yogi, among other adolescents in the community, joined the “Youth-initiated Project and Proposal Development” training conducted by WV Thailand’s Mae Hong Son Project, which is part of the youth life skills development work that aims to support sponsored children and other adolescents in the project area to grow essential skills and preparedness to adulthood. In that event, Da and Yogi acquired thinking and leadership skills. The youth was provided with a space to share opinions and contribute ideas in addressing key youth and community problems. That was the beginning of the “Check Dam Construction at Ban Huai Suea Thao Community Project” which was successfully carried out by Da and Yogi, as well as their peers, with collaboration from everyone in the community, including the sub-district administrative organisation, community leaders, volunteers and local people.

Da shares her feelings on the day the construction was completed, “We chose to do the project on building check dams made of locally available materials that can be found in the community. The check dams will slow down strong flash flooding in the rainy season and store water until the drought season arrives. Thank you for giving me a chance to be part of community development. I never thought I would be able to do it. I’m proud that even though I’m just a teenager, I can do something to benefit the community. Today, we have completed what we initiated. Thank you.”

Yogi adds, “I’m glad to see that other adolescents and people in my community see the importance of our check dam initiative. On behalf of the youth, I would like to thank all of the supporters, especially sponsors, donors and WV Thailand for allowing us to develop different skills. Also thanks to all adults for supporting necessary equipment and supplies and labour in building the check dams. Thank you.”

The check dam construction project led by Da, Yogi and other youth leaders from Mae Hong Son was selected to be showcased in the ‘Youth Forum 2023 – Creativity & Diversity’ along with other youth-initiated projects from nationwide in September. Da was her group’s representative who joined this event to present their project.

Water is life and essential for human beings. Although it is a replenishable resource, we cannot either produce more or reduce the volume of this gift of God as we wish. In some years, the absence of rain causes water shortages for farming and consumption. Meanwhile, in other years, a large volume of water leads to flooding that causes the loss of agricultural yield, assets and even lives. As days go by, the situation is becoming more and more aggravated. They are impacts from the overexploitation of water, among other natural resources, that lead to global warming and climate change.

The unbalanced ecosystem has serious impacts on everyone, including children and adolescents. Da and Yogi, among other youth leaders in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, have started and taken action to address climate change that undermines the rights of children and youth to safe environments. Is it time for all of us to take some action to bring back the balance to the Earth?