Handicraft Production

After many years selling Karen handicrafts on behalf of the village-level producers, in 2005 we were at last able to secure the co-operation of the Doi Inthanon National Park authorities, who gave permission for the erection of a Karen Cultural Centre at Km.18 on Highway 1009. Sales of handicrafts at the Centre, which is the outlet for over 10 villages, fluctuate very much over the year, but the traditional tourist periods can see considerable income earned by the producers.

Song & Dance Troupe

Our small song and dance troupe continues to practice and perform publicly. In this way we assist in maintaining interest among young Karen people in older cultural traditions.  We liaise with several of the most prominent Karen folk-singers on how best to promote cultural awareness and preserve old  songs, dances, folk tales and oral traditions for posterity.

Village Surveys

Our surveys of villages in our development plan are carried out every three to four years. Recent surveys on villages of which we have records going back to the late 1980s reveal some interesting trends. One of the most encouraging of these is that young Karen men and women are showing much more interest in their culture and traditions nowadays than they did twenty years ago.

Traditional handicraft skills, such as cotton cloth weaving, basket weaving, wood carving, household and agricultural utensil and tool production arealaso repidly disppearing, and the Foundation is attempting to preserve these throught finding new sales outlets for Karen-made products. This is a slow process, as there is a finite market world-wide for handicrafts. Talented and qualified volunteers with experience in design and marketing are needed urgently, in order to advise on what adaptations to traditional handicrafts can be made to produce more easily saleable products.

Competitions in a wide range of traditional arts and crafts are being organised, in order to create interest in these among young people.

Several very talented young artists have been identified and plans are being laid to give them and their work a much wider exposure, both at home and internationally. The book of traditiontal tales and songs, mentioned above, will be published to include art work by these gifted young people.