Bangklam is the name of a Buddhist village and sub-district situated in Songkhla province, Southern Thailand. It is connected by neighboring villages and close to Hat Yai city, which is 30 minutes away. Most of the villagers make a living on their rubber plantation, orchards and some people are agrarians growing herbs like galingale. Villagers also form up in groups of agricultural self-sufficiency.
Bangklam is also famous for its fame in pottery, one tambon (sub-district) one product, which is widely well-known throughout Southern Thailand. Running through the heart of the village is a wide canal which is also called Bangklam and it is reserved by a group of villagers who have the same objective to sustain the canal and its surroundings in good condition. As well there is another group who share responsibility to look after the only one swamp forest in the village.

We were introduced to the village by a friend who lives in this area. With a chance to talk to the pottery group whom will be working with us on this construction project, we were motivated to collaborate with them on building a village hall. The hall is planned to be used as a community learning center and meeting place. Villagers and youths can use the place to gather up to share about their village matters.

- To build a village hall for the benifit of the village.
- To learn lifestyle of rural Thai village and its natural resources.
- To implant villagers and youths in voluntary service and responsibility as a member of the village.
- To exchange culture and language.

In a community residence.

7,000 Baht (approx. 180 Euro).

Bangklam, Songkhla province, Southern Thailand.

Kao Kor is a Buddhist village located in Promkiri district of Nakorn Sri Tammarat province, Southern Thailand. The population of the village consists of approx. 1,800 people living in. Main occupations of the villagers for which 90% of them are making a living on their rubber plantation while the rest is orchard owners and some are temporary workers earning wages from occasional hire. The name of the village was derived from their abundance in sources of bamboos in the past. It can be translated as “walking one step further, one bamboo grove is ahead”. So it became known as Kao Kor village since then.

Kao Kor is very outstanding for its being a model village following one of the campaigns launched by the Thai government known as “Community Solidarity and Anti-drug Campaign”. Year 2004, Kao Kor village won the Green World Award which brought pride and encouragement to the villagers.

Being led by a convinced, dedicated, and respected village head, the villagers become all united and dedicated to their village activities such as environmental conservation, setting up an orchid research group and seedling nursery. They even have their own justice system. For example, if one member gets caught of a wrongdoing act, the villagers will decide his charges by using a penalty agreed in the community-vigilante.

Being visited by DaLaa organizers, members and volunteers, we could learn from each other’s will and aims and there we had a chance to talk with the village head and villagers if we could organize a camp in their village in February 2011. They willingly accepted it as there was one of the aims to work with youths, so as DaLaa, and they believe that voluntary work will be an enhanced link to connect youths so they can dedicate themselves for the benefit of the village.

- Building a natural dike.
- Creating herb garden.
- Adjusting surrounding around the village waterfall.

- To support community work.
- To learn lifestyle of rural Thai village and its natural resources.
- To exchange culture and language.
- To implant village youths in voluntary service.

In a community residence.

7,000 Baht (approx. 180 Euro).

Kao Kor, Nakorn Sri Tammarat province, Southern Thailand.