THE CHUAY DUAY – ACTIVE PARTICIPATION PROGRAMME

Introduction

The Maekok River Village Resort is far more than just a resort hotel. The project management team has set a number of goals to be achieved:

1. To establish and maintain the property as northern Thailand’s premier ‘family friendly’ resort property.
2. To establish a top class ‘student centre’ teaching an extensive curriculum of non formal education, environmentally orientated subjects, and outdoor activity & survival skills.
3. To redefine the role of tourism in terms of how it integrates with, and benefits the local grass roots community.

Note* See the Maekok River Village Resort page and the Family Tour Bargains page for details on what we are doing to achieve goal number 1.

Note* See section 10 The Student Centre for information on what we are doing to achieve the objective outlined in goal number 2 above.

Note* Review the projects outlined below to see what we are trying to do in order to achieve the objective outlined in goal number 3 above.

1. TRADITIONAL VILLAGE AND ORGANIC FARM

The project has acquired 15 rai of prime farmland adjoining the resort site. It is slated for use as follows:

A. TRADITIONAL VILLAGE

Two rai of the land has been set aside for the establishment of a ‘typical’ rural northern Thai village, as it would have been 50 – 60 years ago before the introduction of electricity and petrochemicals.

The village will probably consist of 2 or 3 houses, a rice barn, a rice mill, a fish pond, orchard and animal housing areas.

Each building/room will be designed as authentically as possible. The village will operate as a ‘living museum’ and will be staffed by elderly people from the *Mae Ai Hospital - Old Peoples Welfare Project. They will dress in the costume of the era, and perform household and village chores common to the period.

The elderly, supported by handicraft instructors bought in from around the country will teach handicraft skills to those villagers or those unemployed people returning from the cities. The skills will be used to produce modern crafts using traditional techniques.

Disenfranchised teenagers (generally orphans or from troubled homes) again drawn from those on the Mae Ai hospital’s ‘welfare programme’ will be employed on a daily basis to work alongside foreign volunteers in developing the organic farm.

Vegetables grown will be donated to the Hospital at Mae Ai, excess produce being sold to the local hotels and those in Chiang Mai.

Once established - funding for salaries and day to day running costs will be derived from entrance fees charged to the ‘lunch time guest trade’ (Some 50’000 plus tourists take lunch and the river trip from Ban Thaton to Chiang Rai every year).

Active Participation by foreign ‘paying’ volunteers.

There are two ways that guests can participate in the project:

1A - Daily Basis.

Guests at the Resort (or staying elsewhere) may pay a participation fee of Baht 500.- for the day. They will work alongside the local villagers on building the village.

Your money pays for:

Baht 200 – The salary of 2 local workers (your team) for the day.

Baht 200 – Food/water & local whiskey for your team for the day.

Baht 100 -- Building equipment fund donation. (recorded in the project guestbook)

A typical daily routine:

0800 hrs – Start work – constructing the buildings, museum displays, gardens, orchard, farm etc. as part of a 2 – 3 person team (1 foreigner per team).

1000 hrs – Break for water and relax.

1030 hrs – Back to work, continuation of tasks.

1200 hrs – Lunch ( communal lunch with workforce)

1300hrs - Back to work, continuation of tasks.

1600 hrs – End of working day – Enjoy local whiskey, local food and some time socialising with the workforce.

1700 hrs – End of the day.

1B - 2 Days and Longer

For a daily charge of Baht 900.-, the project will provide volunteers with basic accommodation in the Student Centre dormitory, communal breakfast, lunch and dinner, and access to the swimming pool. Steam room and recreational facilities of the student centre (Cable TV, etc.). For Baht 400.- only. The remaining Baht 500.- will be utilised as explained in item 1.Daily basis, above.

1. JOINING A WELFARE PROJECT FOR THE DAY – MAE AI HOSPITAL

There are 3 main ‘welfare projects’ operating at the Mae Ai Hospital.

1. The Orphanage – for the children of AIDS or HIV infected parents.
2. The Old Peoples Home – for those who have no support from their offspring or relatives, or those who have no living family.
3. 4WD Doctor – health visits to remote hill tribe villages ( generally every Thursday)

2A - Daily Basis.

Guests at the Resort (or staying elsewhere) may pay a participation fee of Baht 250.- for the day. They will work alongside the local villagers on building the village.

The funds will cover transfer costs from Maekok River Village Resort to the Hospital at 0830 hrs and the return trip at 1600 hrs. Plus a picnic box lunch (either Thai or western food).Volunteers may request to be put on a particular project (A.B or C) but this is ultimately at the discretion of the hospital staff.

It would be considered normal procedure for volunteers to make a small donation to the hospital to support these projects.

2B - 2 Days and Longer

For a daily charge of Baht 500.- the project will provide volunteers with basic accommodation in the Student Centre dormitory, communal breakfast, picnic lunch box,and communal dinner. As well as transport to and from the hospital , access to the swimming pool, steam room and recreational facilities of the student centre (Cable TV, etc.). For Baht 400.- only. The remaining Baht 500.- will be utilised as explained in item 1.Daily basis, above.

Become an ‘active participation’ volunteer by filling out the form below:

Inquiries are welcomed.