The Post-Disaster Community-Based Development Programme of Baan Nam Khem Village, Thailand
Challenges and Objectives
Baan Nam Khem lies on the borders of the Indian Ocean along the Andaman Sea coast. The southern region of Thailand, predominantly a fishing and agricultural community, faced significant devastation during the 2004 Tsunami, losing approximately half of its population and experiencing both physical and emotional trauma which is quite challenging for recovery and development. Despite post-tsunami reconstruction efforts, the community believes more is needed. The community’s focus lies on enhancing the current tsunami mitigation plan, specifically by constructing tsunami evacuation towers, improving the warning system, and educating and training the community in tsunami preparedness. These measures aim not only to provide physical protection but also aid in psychological recovery from the lasting trauma caused by the 2004 Sumatra Tsunami and lead to the sustainable development of the community.
Baan Nam Khem community has been jointly driving lessons and the process of people and working with civil society and related stakeholders since the 2004 tsunami in Thailand. After 16 years of unceasing work effort, the Phang Nga Civil Society Association of Happiness and the Faculty of Learning Sciences and Education at Thammasat University established 'The Phang Nga Development Learning Institute of Happiness' took place on September 29, 2020, in order to open a communication space and convey the process of working development in Phang Nga province to outsiders and general society and able to self-manage, which will lead to the sustainable happiness of community development in the future. The aim of the project is to recover the community in all dimensions after the disaster and build the community’s capacity in a more resilient and sustainable way.
Collaboration Partners and Roles
Phang Nga Civil Society Association of Happiness & Baan Nam Khem villagers groups share the integrated and inclusive knowledge they have been trained and learned for 19 years on community-based disaster risk management to the public and those who are interested, which also committed to preparing their houses joining the program homestays for visitors. Organizations like the Chumchonthai Foundation, Community Organizations Development Institute (Public Organization), Phang Nag Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office, Phang Nga Provincial Chamber of Commerce, Phang Nag Provincial Governor’s Office, and Phang Nag Provincial Cultural Office all support, coordinate, and arrange domestic and international CBDRM/CBDRR related lecturers/training/workshop to the community. Leadership for the future program, Thammasat University cooperates and helps establish the Phang Nag Civil Society Association of Happiness, whereas the Faculty of Learning Sciences and Education provides the knowledge and support for the process & activities of learning design for the program.
Revitalisation Activities
The programme was developed in 2005 and officially established in 2020. It carried out a variety of revitalization initiatives to meet the community’s requirements in terms of the environment, society, and economy. With respect to the environmental aspect, the project promoted a self-sustainable community development programme in recovering the disaster-affected community inclusively and sustainably based on their local resources and valuable knowledge and experience, including the adaptive approach of civil society movement progress, learning and understanding the natural hazards in the area, and know how to handle and cope with them to ensure the balance of the environment and sustainable development.
On the social aspect, the programme recovered, educated, and empowered the community through learning and sharing with academic, and external experts and professionals who supported the community through capacity building, technical experts, and training. The trauma of the village members from the dreadful disaster turned out to be their valuable experience when they were equipped with well-constructed knowledge management, which they can gain the physical and mental benefits from sharing this lesson learned. The community received recognition and awards for being the best practice and original model of community-based disaster risk management that can be self-sustained in the changing context.
Regarding the economic aspect, the initiation of a well-constructed and designed community-based disaster management program generated income for the community in both direct and indirect ways. They gained direct income from arranging a community-based disaster management training/ workshop for tourists, related government officers, staff from private companies, and those who are interested in learning. The other handmade and homemade community products can also generate indirect income in line with the training/ workshop for the community.
Revitalisation Outcome
The main improvement in this case is the socio-economic aspect; the community-based disaster management program has been developed to share knowledge via training/workshops, generating revenue for the community and its members.
Apart from the tangible income, the community and collaboration partners have been learning and developing the unique adaptive approach of the civil society movement, building their capacity, learning progress, and pride.
Sustained management; they are the main actor managing and handling this programme. The collaboration partners agreed to continue working together for another 3 years to observe the sustainability of the program, as well as develop more issues requested by the community.