ITDP was a programme we visited in Chiang Mai and in the hills around there. The families in the villagers very graciously hosted us and explained what this programme meant to them.
Mike and Becky Mann, missionaries in Thailand, have provided support to the hill tribe villages in Northern Thailand and surrounding regions for 14+ years. Through ITDP, the hill tribes now have an alternative to the lifestyle they had resulted to in the past: selling their children into prostitution, selling drugs, and committing crimes.
The coffee we use (and sell) at church comes from this programme.
ITDP has a mission to glorify God in all the earth by crossing cultural boundaries to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Their vision is to
1. Assist villagers in a holistic and sustainable way by increasing their economic and social opportunities.
2. Assist village leaders and project personnel in areas of empowerment, capacity building and participatory approaches.
3. Be a resource for northern NGOs / donors to assist resource – poor hill tribes in integrated development.
Check out a video here http://www.nextlevelmissions.org/SDCC2009.html.
The programmes they run include
WATER RESOURCE AND SANITATION
The goal is to improve the general health of villagers by assisting in the prevention of water and soil borne diseases. They support the construction of clean drinking water systems and bathrooms/toilets. This has also helped to build communities by providing water to increase agricultural yields and raising fish.
The programme has assisted 170 villages, 8600 households and 43,700 people with clean water.
AGRICULTURAL / MICRO-ENTERPRISE
Families are provided funds and taught practical skills in agriculture and other businesses that can enable them to be self reliant. The villagers continue to apply what they learn and greatly enhance their quality of life. Example projects; livestock, fisheries, cash crops, handicrafts, and village store co-ops
· FAIR-TRADE COFFEE / LANNA COFFEE
ITDP organized the first Fair Trade Co-Op in Thailand. This project teaches villagers how grow coffee and the Fair-trade Labeling Organization International, “FLO”, guarantees a fair
price for their coffee beans. This frees the villagers from the pressures of producing opium, selling illegal drugs, crime, and selling their children into prostitution. Coffee is roasted and sold locally as well as in local/international markets as a green bean. Markets include Starbucks, Unicafe, and Bon Café and The Anchor Church right here.
The villages grow and market approximately 100 – 200 tonnes of coffee each year. The Lai Mai coffee from www.brighthopeworld.com is purchased from this programme to support villagers establish a sustainable lifestyle so that their children do not become victims of poverty and injustice.
CHILD FOCUS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/VILLAGE SCHOOLS
Many of the villages are in remote areas and children do not have access to schools. Assistance is given to construct schools, hire teachers, and purchase equipment and supplies. In addition, it helps them get citizenship so that they can further their education and better enter Thai society. All work is coordinated with the local education department.
INTERNATIONAL WORK TEAMS
Next level missions runs short term projects of 7 to 21 days. These projects are a lot of hard work, sweat and compassion. You will experience everyday life, extreme conditions, interesting foods, and fun with your team and the locals. The water and construction projects are accompanied by vacation bible school and medical care. Be warned, taking part can change your life.
HEALTH
Assist with constructing community health clinics and its management. Nurses are hired and trained. This is coordinated with local government and hospitals. Families are introduced to disease prevention through training in proper nutrition, establishing family gardens, proper livestock management and training in hygiene and sanitation.
Check them out here
You can order coffee from Alison in the church office – 234 1390 or office@theanchorchurch.org.nz
