Kamphuan Community Learning Center · Coca-Cola Thailand, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, and...

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very community needs a meeting place where people can come together to meet, talk, learn, share experiences and stage social and sporting events. Such a venue, particularly in the post- disaster context, helps a society to restore a sense of solidarity, rebuilds social relationships and enhances confidence in the community’s strength and culture. The Kamphuan Community Learning Center, inaugurated on December 18 2006 was designed to provide a setting for such activities...and more. A private-public partnership between USAID, AIT, the University of Rhode Island, the University of Hawaii-Hilo and The Coca-Cola Company, the Center provides Kamphuan with a venue for community learning and training, seminars, meetings and various outdoor social events. Housed within the Center are a conference room, meeting areas, computer lab and the Kamphuan Tsunami Museum. The Museum serves to commemorate the tragic victims of the catastrophe and raise awareness on disaster preparedness. Video kiosks in the Museum recount local survivor stories and provide practical advice on what to do in the event of another such event. Moreover, the Center provides training and educational materials focused on such vital post-disaster issues as community based disaster management, livelihoods development, microfinance and environmental stewardship. The Kamphuan Community Learning Center and Tsunami Museum have become examples for other tsunami affected communities and the model is currently being replicated in both Indonesia and India. Post-Tsunami Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods Project Theme Paper E Where Traditional Culture Meets the Global Community Kamphuan Community Learning Center Kamphuan Community Learning Center

Transcript of Kamphuan Community Learning Center · Coca-Cola Thailand, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, and...

Page 1: Kamphuan Community Learning Center · Coca-Cola Thailand, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, and other local partners. It is a model project, meaning that knowledge and lessons learned

very community needs ameeting place where people

can come together to meet, talk,learn, share experiences and stagesocial and sporting events. Such avenue, particularly in the post-disaster context, helps a society torestore a sense of solidarity,rebuilds social relationshipsand enhances confidence inthe community’s strength andculture.

The Kamphuan CommunityLearning Center, inauguratedon December 18 2006 wasdesigned to provide a setting forsuch activities...and more.

A private-public partnershipb e t w e e n U S A I D , A I T, t h eUniversity of Rhode Island, the

University of Hawaii-Hilo and TheCoca-Cola Company, the Centerprovides Kamphuan with a venuefor community learning andtraining, seminars, meetings andvarious outdoor social events.Housed within the Center area conference room, meeting areas,computer lab and the KamphuanTsunami Museum. The Museumserves to commemorate the tragicvictims of the catastrophe andraise awareness on disasterpreparedness. Video kiosks in theMuseum recount local survivorstories and provide practicaladvice on what to do in the eventof another such event.

Moreover, the Center providestraining and educational materials

focused on such vital post-disasterissues as community baseddisaster management, livelihoodsdevelopment, microfinance andenvironmental stewardship.

The Kamphuan CommunityLearning Center and TsunamiMuseum have become examplesfor other tsunami affectedcommunities and the model iscurrently being replicated in bothIndonesia and India.

Post-Tsunami Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods Project

Theme Paper

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Where Traditional Culture Meets the Global Community

Kamphuan Community Learning CenterKamphuan Community Learning Center

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n November of 2007 legalownership of the Learning

Center was officially transferredback to the community ofKamphuan. Managed by a LocalGoverning Board and a Bangkokbased Advisory Committee, theLearning Center is working tobecome financially self-sustainingby marketing its services toindividuals and organizations. Inaddition to selling training servicesfor such disparate activities ascomputer/ internet skills building,English language classes andaerobic dance, various NGO’s,educational groups andgovernmental organizations rentout the conference room andmeeting areas for their events.

On any given day, a visit to theLearning Center illustrates howwell the community has assumedownership of the facility. Childrenplay football on the manicuredgrounds by the riverside whileinside the computer lab a local

entrepreneur works next to a youngstudent. With assistance from theCenter staff, the entrepreneur ispainstakingly, slowly researchinge-commerce on the internet for thefirst time while the student’s fingersfly over the keyboard in electronic

Giving Back to the Community

chat. This demographic diversity inusers confirms that the Centerreaches across sectors to become avital resource for the community.

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he Learning Center, with itsstate of the art computer

facilities, serves as a bridge thatconnects the local population withthe global community and thedigital age.

In October of 2007 the KamphuanCommunity Center was proud to beselected by the Royal ThaiGovernment as one of the NationalInformation CommunicationTechnology (ICT) centers forThailand. Initiated by the Ministryof Information CommunicationTechnology (MICT) this projectis known as the ThailandKnowledge Center. The KamphuanCommunity Computer Facilityis one of only 21 centers, and theonly one in the southern region, tobe selected to participate in theproject.

The goal of the ThailandKnowledge Center Project is toprovide linkage between thevarious centers and to improve

understanding of computers andinternet technologies for the ruralcommunities of Thailand. TheMICT and USAID sponsors weeklong training courses at theLearning Center for communitymembers on internet usageand Microsoft modulesWord, Excel, Publisher andPowerPoint. Participants includelocal entrepreneurs, governmentofficers, teachers, students and

members of the microfinancegroup. Additionally, MICT issupporting training of trainercourses for Learning Center staff sothat in the future they can providethe training courses.

For more information on theThailand Knowledge Centerproject please go to http://www.tkc.go.th.

National Hub for Information Technology

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Page 4: Kamphuan Community Learning Center · Coca-Cola Thailand, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, and other local partners. It is a model project, meaning that knowledge and lessons learned

he Kamphuan CommunityLearning Center is a 500

square meter, two-story buildinglocated adjacent to the centralmarket of Suk Samran Sub-district,on scenic riverfront property.

The building and surroundinglandscape is a model of greendesign utilizing low costinterlocking brick technologyand landscaping appropriate forlocal culture and environment.Recycling, energy conservation,appropriate sewage technologyand water use practices aredisplayed with informationalbrochures and posters. The North-South orientation of the buildingallows the air to pass throughthe building, minimizing theuse of fans or air conditioning.Roof orientation is such that theinstalled solar panels permitoptimal solar energy capture forpower generation. Green landscapesurrounding the building takesadvantage of the natural flora

of the local area. Displays provideinterpretative educationalinformation of the greentechnology while the TsunamiMemorial room offers educationalmaterials and survivor testimonialson the impacts of the December2004 tsunami.

The Center’s indoor and outdoorareas are designed for multipleuses. The large outdoor meetingarea can host multi-village

meetings and workshops. Theconference room and classroomcan be used for trainings ormeetings. The computer room hassatellite internet connection and isused for computer training,school education programs andby business owners for theircommunications, sales andmarketing. The landscaped groundsof the Center are used for public andsporting events.

Facilities-“Green and Clean” Construction

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TConstructed wetland for wastewater management

Energy efficient rooftop solar panels

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he KCLC serves to catalyzecommunity stewardship-

where local business, socialentrepreneurs and communityleaders are the drivers of socialprogress.

Microfinance. The Center helpsstrengthen village microfinancegroups through continuingeducation, training materials, andpublic celebrations of progress andby facilitating cooperationand linkages between businesses,families and financial institutions.

Enterprise Development. TheCenter’s vocational training buildstechnical skills and providespractical “how to” materials for themicro-entrepreneur. Trainingcourses or Training-of-Trainersworkshops enable businessmanagers and local groups toenhance existing or develop newsmall businesses. Workshop topicsinclude business planning, financialaccounting, production, marketing,sales and entrepreneurship skills.

Skills Development. The Centeroffers a variety of educationalclasses such as English andcomputer skills training, bothcritical to enhancing business andindividual leadership opportunities.Training is targeted at differentlevels and sectors. Local demandand input drives decisionsto provide training in other skillsets.

Overarching objectives of the Center

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Integrated organic duck/fish/vegetable farming

Muslim headscarfproduction

Bead jewelry production by local women’s group

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Environmental Stewardship.The Center serves as a model andtraining facility for environmentalawareness and sustainable buildingpractices. Its structure andsurrounding landscape demonstratelow-cost interlocking bricktechnology, environmentally-friendly design and landscapingappropriate to the surroundingenvironment. Recycling, energyconservation, waste management,appropriate sewage technology andwise water-use practices in theCenter afford an opportunity fortraining and outreach.

C o m m u n i t y R e s i l i e n c e .The 2004 tsunami was a reminderthat a community’s actions affectits resilience and vulnerabilityto natural hazards. TheCenter’s activities focus onstrengthening this resilience and thecommunity’s ability to reboundmore effectively when futurehazards strike.

Communi t y S tewardsh ip .Building leadership amongmembers of the community-youngand old, women and men-iskey to building and sustaining avibrant, healthy, and resilientcommunity for future generations.Leadership training activitiesand environmental stewardshipprograms are held at the Center andtarget both individuals and groups.

the Center address issues suchas secure land and property tenureor streamlining the businessregistration process. Moreover,the Center helps the business

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E n a b l i n g B u s i n e s senvironment. The Center andits governing board are advocatesfor a supportive enabling businessenvironment. Discussions at

community work throughindependent business associationsto advocate policy reforms.

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Post-Tsunami Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods Project 7

USAID’s Post-Tsunami Sustainable CoastalLivelihoods Program

USAID’s Post-Tsunami Sustainable CoastalLivelihoods Program

Overview of Project

When the tsunami of December 2004 struck Thailand’s Andaman coast it carriedaway not only the lives of over 5000 people but it also washed away the livelihoodsfor tens of thousands left behind. The disaster devastated the local economy bydestroying fishing boats, engines and gear. The huge wave also took in its wake, homes,public buildings, and coastal infrastructure, including roads and bridges. The tsunamihad its greatest impacts on rural coastal communities, many of which were alreadypoor and economically vulnerable with limited livelihood options. Recovery isespecially difficult in these poor communities because many of those that survived lostthe capacity to practice their livelihoods.

The USAID Regional Development Mission/Asia responded with the Post-TsunamiSustainable Coastal Livelihoods (SCL) demonstration project that helps coastalcommunities of Southern Thailand rehabilitate livelihoods, become more resilientto future natural disasters, and adopt livelihood practices that use natural resourcesmore sustainably. Instead of just building back the way it was, this project strivesto build it back better.

The project has a 30 month time horizon, with an end date of September 30, 2007.It is implemented in a partnership with the Coastal Resources Center of the Universityof Rhode Island, the Asia Institute for Technology (AIT), University of Hawaii,Coca-Cola Thailand, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, and other local partners.

It is a model project, meaning that knowledge and lessons learned from what isdeveloped and put in practice can be used in other at-risk coastal communities inThailand or other countries in the Asia region.

Five tsunami-affected villages in Ranong Province were selected for the demonstrationinitiative. Located within Laem Son National Park, these villages have a populationof 5,000 and are dependent on fishing and agriculture for their livelihoods. Therelatively small, compact area makes it suitable for modeling an integrated approach tocoastal disaster rehabilitation.

The SCL project seeks to build coastal community resilience with a focus on rebuildingthe economic basis of livelihoods rather than on physical reconstruction, and on givingcoastal people the skills and resources for self-recovery. Key elements of resilience includebuilding livelihood opportunities that do not degrade the natural environment, protectingecosystems, reducing vulnerability to natural hazards, and strengthening local governance.Project interventions combine ICM and hazard management frameworks.

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USAID Post-Tsunami Sustainable CoastalLivelihoods Project

USAID Post-Tsunami Sustainable CoastalLivelihoods Project

Theme Papers

This paper is one of a series of elemental theme papers from USAID’s (SCL) Sustainable CoastalLivelihoods Project. USAID SCL Theme Papers are intended to provide an overview of ourexperiences, lessons learned and approach to rebuilding and rehabilitating communities ina post-disaster context. Each paper will address an issue that has been undertaken in the course ofour efforts to assist in the rehabilitation process and the building of Coastal Community Resilience.

The papers will be based loosely upon the five main elements of the SCL Project:

1. Build a common vision for action.The project works closely with local government authorities and community leadersto build local ownership and establish a common vision for rehabilitation. Theproject’s activities are accomplished by community efforts and collaboration.

2. Reestablish and diversify environmentally sustainable livelihoods.Microfinance, livelihood training, demonstration of new livelihood practices,small grants, and cash-for-work are strategies to reestablish and diversify livelihoods.

3. Natural Resources Management and Environmental StewardshipTrainings and extension activities are focused on enhancing the capacity oflocal communities to better manage their ecological environment. Specific activities includetraining modules on solid waste management, monitoring and rehabilitation of coastalhabitats such as coral reefs, beaches, mangroves and sea grass beds, and the developmentof marine park co-management plans.

4. Enhance community readiness and resilience to hazards.(CBDM)The project builds readiness and resilience to natural hazards in communities throughmapping of areas at risk to inundation, delineation of evacuation routes, training, villagedisaster management planning, evacuation drills, and First Aid training.

5. Share experience and best practices.Regional learning workshops and study tours are convened to share lessons learnedwith others in tsunami rehabilitation, disaster preparedness and issues associated withcommunity resilience.

Each paper provides a summary description of the Project’s approach to particular issues or the abovereferenced cross cutting elements. The description represents a summary of the lessons learned by theProject and illustrates the approaches utilized to overcome specific obstacles encountered throughout thematuration cycle of the program.

While providing a useful overview of Project activities to our regional partner institutions, SCLtheme papers are primarily intended for our Global partners in development, disaster preparednessand community resilience. The Papers aim to raise awareness of the Project’s activities, accomplishmentsand lessons learned and to pique the interest of individuals and organizations to seek more informationso as to contribute towards the ongoing discussion about strategic direction in disaster preparednessand community resilience.