Koh Yao 2

Koh Yao is composed of 2 islands: Koh Yao Yai and the smallest Kho Yao Noi and covers about 140 Sq.Km. The islands are situated in Phang Nga province, but it’s easier to reach the place from Krabi in the East or Phuket in the West. There are other smaller islands around in the same area. 99.9% of the population is Muslim. The ancestors of Koh Yao community migrated from Trang province to Koh Yao Yai since the 18th century to escape the Thai-Burmese war. Like most of the islands in South Thailand, the place became more and more popular for tourism in the last 20 years. Some investors, from Phuket and other places came to build resorts. Impacts on the local communities and the environment were not much taken in consideration. Nowadays they start to realize the loss for the social and natural environment. English language is an important tool for the local people. It is necessary to work in the tourism sector, but most of all it is needed to communicate, to understand the foreigners coming on their land, to get a chance to defend their values and lifestyle as well. In 2015, Mr. Wira Suebpong, the Director of Baan KlongHia School and Mr. Anucha Ban-amad, the Director of Baan PruNai School, have set up a network of the 13 schools on Koh Yao to seek an alternative way to develop education which will support students to learn happily and effectively, as well as maintain the voluntary mind for their own community. The two directors met Mr. Boonchan Saengfai who invited DaLaa association and discussed the possibility to organize an International short-term work camp in August 2016 with few of these schools. The results were positive, we renewed the experience with them since then until the present year.