We don’t usually think about overcrowded slums and packed out apartments when we’re discussing going green. However, ISOS is proud to announce it’s first “green” project to assist the urban poor.

Project Managers: Dwight Turner, Hy Martin

Target: The urban poor (Bangkok’s poorest residents including Thais, refugees, and Burmese migrants).

Goal: Make a garden accessible in poor communities to educate residents, supplement their diets, and instill proper care for the environment.

Benefits: More discretionary income. Gardening is highly therapeutic, educational and the activity will encourage the interaction of foreigners and Thais without requiring much translation.

Potential Sites: Khlong Toey Slum, Bangkok Refugee Center, and if the budget allows we hope to add additional locations.

Activity: “Play In The Dirt Day”

• We will arrange a day for volunteers and the local community to join hands and “play in the dirt” by building a garden in an area accessible to the urban poor.
• Upon completion everyone will have lunch together and community residents will return home with seedlings to nurture.

Need: Appropriate space for a garden. Materials, gardening tools, and a group of carefully selected species to plant. Also long term community support to insure gardens reach full potential and are properly cared for.

Cost: ISOS events and donations from volunteers will fund this project. Sponsorship is desired. Please contact us to sponsor a garden.

Check out the original Urban Garden Project website and imagine the impact similar activities can have in Bangkok. Thank you for previewing our concept and make suggestions by leaving a comment.

“…economic downturn is making everyone sweat, especially the people at the bottom of the ladder.”

When: From Now Until Song Kran 2009

Why: SongKran, the Thai new year, is about showing other people relief from the heat! We just seem to forget that when half of your neighborhood is in yellow shirts and the other half is in red shirts and there’s this water fight that has spun out of control. The recent economic downturn is making everyone sweat, especially the people at the bottom of the ladder. We will collect goods and donate them to LWC who will distribute them to the over 8,000 Burmese they care for. Click here for more on the LWC

“We just seem to forget that when half of your neighborhood is in yellow shirts and the other half is in red shirts and there’s this water fight that has spun out of control.”

What: ALMOST whatever you got. Send us your used things that are still in good condition and donate toothbrushes, bags of rice, baby formula and the other things on the list that you can grab when you do your regular shopping. (Hint: The biggest needs are baby clothes, baby formula, and women’s undergarments.)

“Don’t do it alone! Sanuk is better shared.”

How: DONATE!

• Don’t do it alone! Sanuk is better shared. Network! Grab your family members, teammates, religious groups, and anyone else and collect your things for DONATION.
  
• Next, send us an email to insearchofsanuk@gmail.com titled: ‘The Heat Made Me Do It’ Tell us what you’re donating and how much you have. We will respond to make arrangements for pickup, but if you want to deliver that’s even better.
  
• Check here. We’ll report the results of all your donations.
  

Email: insearchofsanuk@gmail.com

Click here for the facebook invite ;-ว

The Story: We heard about Living Water Center (LWC) after 100 Friends got word of our work with the Bangkok Refugee Center. LWC specifically aims to meet the needs of Burmese migrants who find themselves in Bangkok.

Target: Migrant workers in Bangkok who are working in the construction industry, factories, and industries involving children.

Goal: To provide assistance for Burmese migrants physically and mentally.

Projects: Caring for migrants in every possible way (food, toiletries, counseling, listening, etc…). We should point out that a large chunk of their of the work LWC tackles includes traveling to detention centers and caring for migrants who have been detained. The new ISOS project: the Living Water Donation Drive !

Need: Financial Support & Donations in Kind (giving goods and resources)

Final Word: ISOS had an opportunity to meet the founder of this organization, the inspirational Mrs. Daw Tu Lu and her family. They persevere in reaching out to this vulnerable group despite the disparaging global economy where people’s willingness and ability to give is drying up. Do take some time to get more details from their website, send them a note to commend their work and contribute!

Website: Living Water Center