Bringing clean water to the hill tribe children

Funding from the “Make an Impact on Tomorrow” (MIT) initiative helps improve water supplies and sanitation for hill tribe children in Thailand.

The project was initially brought to life in 2011, by Henkel employee Apichaya Sukpaita from Yamahatsu plant. The aim was to improve the living conditions for children from the Pangthong Learning Branch of Ban Mae Omki School, situated in the northwest Tak Province of Thailand. The school, which has around 80 students and four teachers, did not have clean water supplies and proper sanitation. Thanks to Henkel’s “Make an Impact on Tomorrow” (MIT) funding, and collaboration with several suppliers in Bangkok and government officials in the Tak Province, Apichaya was able to accomplish the project.

Apichaya had to overcome some difficulties in order to complete the project; amongst which was a lengthy the mid-year rainy season, as well as the mountainous location of the school which made traveling and transportation of construction supplies difficult. However, through the perseverance of the team and Apichaya’s dedication the project came to a successful conclusion in December 2011. Today, the school enjoys the following benefits from the project:

• Water storage facility: Five large water storage tanks, including a water pipeline system that connects the main water line from the water source in the forest. This facility helps to preserve water which can be used during the water shortage period in summer.
• Clean drinking water: Three water purifiers for purifying drinking water for the children, teachers and villagers; about 200 people benefited from this.
• Sanitation facility: A new building with four toilets and two bathrooms to provide good hygiene for the children.
• Learning supplies: On the school’s request, 80 school bags were donated to the children.

Encouraged by the success of this MIT project, and with the support of Yamahatsu plant manager Tammo Sassen, Apichaya submitted a proposal to provide clean water supplies to another four learning branches under the Ban Mae Omki School. In March 2013, the proposal successfully secured funding under the MIT initiative. This time around the project is geared towards installing eight additional water storage facilities and four water purifiers.

Immediately after the approval, all necessary equipment was installed at the village ready to be used before the rainy season starts. The new equipment was transferred officially in August 2013 to the headmaster of the school by Apichaya and her three colleagues from Yamahatsu Peter Pawlenka, Sutian Kudaram and Baramate Songte. Through Henkel’s support, nearly 1,200 children and more than 500 villagers are expected to benefit from the new MIT-funded project.