Mae Sam Laep village is situated in Mae Sam Laep Subdistrict, Sop Moei District, Mae Hong Son Province. The community consists of indigenous groups, such as Tai Yai, Karen, and some Muslim population. Our village lies along the Thai-Myanmar (Kayin/Karen State) border, where armed conflicts between the Myanmar military and the Karen army have resulted in many internally displaced persons. Since Thailand does not legally recognize the status of the indigenous people, the indigenous people of Mae Sam Laep do not have access to equal protection. Human rights have thus been violated, for example, land rights and rights to live and make a living in the forest, and an access to resources. Moreover, the village area was declared a national park forcing villagers to build houses in areas prone to disasters, such as flood, landslide, and wildfire during the dry season. Some of the community members do not have Thai nationality, which limits their mobility, employment and education opportunities, and self-development. As a result, the villagers of Baan Mae Sam Laep have been facing extreme poverty. Women and LGBTIQ youth have been experiencing gender-based violence. The Covid-19 pandemic has done nothing but exacerbated it.

 

“I feel proud. I cannot believe my own eyes that I can weave these beautiful Karen rainbow fabrics. Weaving makes me happy. Every time I weave, my children are around me watching me do the work. It is an opportunity for me to teach them and talk to them more as well. Furthermore, since I have started weaving seriously and become the sole breadwinner of the family, my husband, who is also stateless and jobless, has started to take a supportive role and help with chores, so I can dedicate more time to weaving.”

“I am stateless. I could not find work. I simply stayed home and took care of my kid day in, day out. I was constantly worried about where I would find money to buy food and to buy snacks for my kid. However, after I have received training and become a part of the “Indigeneous Youth for Sustainable Development – The Karen Rainbow Textile Social Enterprise” Project, I have gained skills, knowledge, hope, and courage, and I have income. I can buy snacks for my kid and things that I want. I have got my first pair of nice shoes for myself. I have started to recognize my own values. My husband has started to help with the kid and chores while I weave. Moreover, he has begun to support me to attend training and participate in the project fully.”

“I have never had the opportunity to study because I had to flee the war since I was a kid. Even now that I am this old, the war is still not over. The war has not only made people in the village live in fear, but it has also destroyed my and my fellow villagers’ weaving skill and culture. Even my own mother does not know how to do it. However, after I have participated in the “Indigeneous Youth for Sustainable Development – The Karen Rainbow Textile Social Enterprise” project, where our women were there to help teach each other weaving skills, I am now able to weave and have income to support my family. I have money to buy the first school shoes for my kid. Most importantly, I now have money and a job. I now have the power to negotiate with my husband..”

 

This project has an aim to solve the poverty issue in a participatory and sustainable way with an emphasis on the empowerment of stateless indigenous LGBTIQ youth and women, so that they:

 

1. Have understanding and knowledge about human rights, gender rights, and gender equality;

2. Have leadership, skills, knowledge, ownership, and ability to run the Karen rainbow woven textiles participatory;

3. Can develop skills, ability, and craftsmanship to weave Karen rainbow textile, which is a succession and advancement of the Karen indigenous culture.

 

If successful, the Karen rainbow woven textile business will not only increase the status and income of women, but also improve poverty and gender inequality among local stateless indigenous women and LGBTIQ youth in a sustainable way.