Thailand, Phang Nga

GVI’s programs in Phang Nga are multi focused contributing to both community development and conservation efforts and contributing to SDG 3- Good Health and Well-Being,  SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 14  -Life Below Water, SDG 15 – Life on Land and SDG 17 – Partnership for the Goals.  Through all programs we work closely with partners and community members to increase educational opportunities, raise awareness on critical global issues and collaborate on making steps towards improving the issues.  

In 2019 we taught English to youth and adults in rural communities to improve the community’s access to higher education and further employment opportunities in tourism and other industries in which English is required.  As English skills are limited amongst rural teachers we offer teacher training to ensure sustainability and growth.  In 2019 we taught an average of 125 students aged 2-18 on a weekly basis, teaching English and extra-curricular workshops to a total of 575 youth throughout the year.  In addition, we provided 750 hours of English teaching for adults aged 18-73 throughout the year.  We offered health checks for 400 community members as well as 26 hours of health and well-being workshops for 300 participants.  

We also worked in partnership with the Royal Thai Navy base to protect the endangered Green Sea Turtles through providing over 450 hours of turtle husbandry support to assist with the care and release of turtles to help maintain and increase the declining populations.  As plastic pollution is a threat that is greatly affecting Thailand, we worked with stakeholders to remove the trash from the beaches and oceans and educated people on the alternatives to plastic. In 2019 we collected over 2500kg/5520lbs, including over 5,000 plastic bags, 6,000 plastic bottles and over 3,000 straws. Over 20 workshops were held to raise awareness on plastics, the effects on the environment and prevention and solution.