In July, I shall be flying to Northern Thailand for a month to help to build and install a gravity fed, clean water system in a local village.

In the Mae Hong Son province, around 40% of the villages do not have access to clean drinking water and have to travel for hours each day to collect this basic necessity. From brushing our teeth to flushing the toilet, it is often taken for granted just how much we rely on water in everyday life. Failure to have access to a clean water supply can lead to serious illnesses such as cholera and typhoid. Currently up to 200,000 people around the world die from typhoid alone each year

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The Karen Hillstribe Trust, is based in York and was set up by a student that previously attended the University of York where I am currently studying. The charity looks to help members of the community to build a better life for themselves through a number of self-help schemes which allows them to retain their unique identity and culture.

The main aims of the charity are:

1) Improving Health by installing clean water systems and latrines.
2) Increasing Access to Education by providing school buses, meals, dormitories and scholarships.
3) Securing Better Livelihoods by building irrigation systems and regenerating land.

I shall be helping to fulfil the charity’s first aim by ensuring villagers have access to clean drinking water. The impact that this small charity is having is incredible. Since 1999 KHT has been able to provide clean water and better sanitation for 60,000 people with typhoid levels dropping in the villages by up to 98% as a result of the new installed water taps.

I am honoured to have been selected to take part in this project however I need all the help I can get to raise the funds to provide the tools and materials to ensure this project can go ahead. All the money that I raise will be going directly to the charity whilst I shall be funding my own travel expenses separately.

I should be extremely grateful if you would consider supporting me in this worthwhile project. Any donation which you feel able to offer would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to find out more about the charity and the amazing projects they are supporting please follow the link below. Thank you!

http://karenhilltribes.org.uk/