During April-May, COERR Mae Sod promoted several livelihood activities for new refugee groups that showed their interest in joining the cultivation and animal raising activities through the need assessment survey, group settings, training, follow-up and support of initial funds.

In Mae La camp During April 21-22, 2015 a training in Organic Animal Raising, such as fish, frogs, pigs and goats, was organized for 30 refugees, including 20 male and 10 female. Organic farming management was also introduced in order to reduce off-farm inputs and promote producing organic animal feed; breeding; water quality checking for fish and frogs, etc.

Refugees paid attention to the training in which their questions concerning organic farming were answered

Follow-up the animal-raising groups in Mae La camp

Follow-up the Beansprout growing group: Their products were sold and partly distributed to the vulnerable refugees.

During May 20-21, COERR organized the T-shirt silk screen printing workshop for 15 refugees in Mae La camp to be able to make designs, put graphic on T-shirts, printing process with several different colors on T-shirts, marketing, costing and profit, etc.

In Ban Umpiem camp, in April, 3 piglets were distributed to a pig raising group. From our follow-up visit in May, pigs were growing healthy.

On May 15th, a mushroom growing and food processing training was organized for 43 refugees to learn about growing mushroom and making fermented mushroom in order to preserve and to add its value. The mushroom growing class started with lecture and slide presentation, questioning and answering. Then a workshop of mushroom fermentation continued with trainees’ full attention since it was their first time to learn about fermented mushroom processing that they could bring such kind of food back home.

Follow-up and coaching provided to the mushroom growing group and the beansprout growing group

In Nupo camp, 5 new livelihood groups showed interest in seed cultivation, beansprout growing, pig and goat raising activities. Each group submitted their plan for starting activity. Then, on May 26th-27th , COERR organized the class for these 30 refugees to learn in theory, about organic animal raising, herbal treatment and disease control. In practice, a demonstration of making organic animal feed from fermentation of vegetables and other ingredients available in household for cost reduction purpose was provided to the interested trainees too.

Soap and Dish Washing Liquid Making and Fish Feed Making Training were organized in Ban Mae La camp on May 15th for 30 interested refugees and in Ban Nupo camp on May 26th – 27th for 40 refugees. The training aimed at enabling them to produce the product for household use and income generation purpose. It was expected that some trainees would become professional trainers in the future. These low-cost products were easy to make and generated good income.

Training in Mae La camp

Training in Nupo camp