Advocacy for Thailand Karen Minority Rights

That was when the project stepped in.

With support from our local partner KDSF, Mae Hard villagers joined a series of community workshops designed to help them understand the ONLB policy and, more importantly, their rights under the Thai Constitution. Equipped with this knowledge, the villagers gained confidence to speak up. They made a collective decision to reject the imposed policy, and instead chose to strengthen their own land management systems—rooted in ancestral wisdom and proven sustainability.

Together with the project team, they built a comprehensive community resource management system. They mapped their land, documented their history, and created local regulations to formalise their practices. A village committee was formed to oversee land use and negotiate with government authorities. Their efforts paid off. Government officials not only recognised the village’s sustainable practices but began to see Mae Hard as a model of effective, community-led resource management.

Today, Mae Hard is not just surviving—it is thriving. What began as a response to a policy threat has become a story of empowerment and transformation. The villagers are now equipped with knowledge, confidence, and a united voice. They continue to protect their land, honour their traditions, and inspire other indigenous communities to stand up for their rights.

Your support makes stories like this possible. When you invest in local communities, you’re not just funding projects—you’re standing alongside people like those in Mae Hard Village, helping them reclaim their voice, their rights, and their future.