The Karen Hilltribes Trust

10/03/2026

Karen villages are often built on the hills and many homes are built on stilts with space below for storage of crops, a place to do certain chores and to keep animals. Whilst many assume villages are built around a central focal point or resource, Karen villages utilise the space on the hills and one village may be spread across different levels.

08/03/2026

Today is International Women's Day!

It is a day to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women as well as to acknowledge the struggles women and girls continue to face. It is also a day to show solidarity and support to organisations and individuals that are working to make the world a better place for women and girls.

Karen women are a vital part of their communities but also face many struggles. You can read about Karen women and how they overcome struggles on our blog now!

The 8th of March marks International Women’s Day....

06/03/2026

Rice is not an easy crop to grow. Although it is a vital staple for Karen people, it is also one of Thailand's most exported crops.

Growing rice requires skill and knowledge. The Karen grow both paddy and highland rice. These require different forms of water management and highland rice is considered the more difficult crop to cultivate. Rice is also used in rituals and festivals and to make traditional rice liquor and important dishes.

We all love rice, but few people understand the hard work and struggle that goes into creating every grain!

04/03/2026

Billions of people across the world struggle to access clean water. Water is life and it has a huge impact on the health and development of human beings. Dirty water can cause parasites and diarrhoea, which are particularly harmful for children, the elderly and other vulnerable people such pregnant women or those with health issues.

KHT's water systems give Karen communities access to clean drinking water and ensure it is available in the dry and wet seasons. We are half way through our project season and we need to help another 5 villages. Please donate today so we can provide clean water to more marginalised Karen people.

02/03/2026

KHT's projects rely on the participation of Karen communities. Our team works with the village to construct the water or irrigation systems and this is a labour intensive endeavour.

Whilst we can buy and deliver many materials, things like gravel and stones are also sourced from the local area. Volunteers will scour the area, collect materials and ensure there is enough to support the construction.

The help of the local community highlights their commitment to have our projects in their village and ensures they know how to repair and maintain the systems.

26/02/2026

Another happy village! KHT's Flood Resistant Irrigation is completed in the village of Ban Hauy Kai Pa and it will bring directly improve the crop yields and incomes of 259 people and also benefit the village as a whole.
The villagers were deeply grateful to KHT and gifted our team with traditional Karen bags. Our irrigation systems not only help improve crop yields and income, but as our data has shown, they also help end food insecurity. This brings relief to families and empowers them to improve their health and lives.

23/02/2026

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today." — Malcolm X

We love seeing our Karen youth heading off to school in our school buses. The Karen greatly value education and see it as a route to security and prosperity. Karen youth have a lot to offer and their environment should not be an obstacle to their success!

18/02/2026

With a sizable Chinese population of over seven million, Thailand transforms every Lunar New Year. While the official festival lasts three days, preparations and celebrations begin a month in advance. Major cities are decorated with bright red lanterns, businesses offer discounts on goods, and families engage in spring cleaning, purchase new red clothes, and decorate their homes with lanterns and banners.

Mae Hong Son has a smaller Thai-Chinese presence, however it has one of the most famous Chinese towns, Ban Rak Thai. This picturesque town is a tourist destination and filled with charm! We wish everyone celebrating a very happy new year!

16/02/2026

November to February is flower season in northern Thailand. The sunflowers bloom and cover the Pa Tong fields in Mae Hong Son in November and Chiang Mia has a world renowned Flower Festival in February.

Just walking around the Karen villages we seen unique and beautiful flora and fauna, every day. There is so much natural beauty in this often overlooked part of Thailand.

14/02/2026

Happy Valentine's Day!
Valentine's Day often conjures images of roses, chocolates, and romantic dinners. But in the hills of northern Thailand where the Karen reside, love takes on a different meaning, expressed not through grand gestures but through quiet acts of care and commitment.
The Karen communities, commitment to each other is something to be admired and is reflected in their devotion to life-long partnership. Marriage is highly valued within Karen communities, and monogamy is the norm. Commitment is understood not only as a personal bond between two individuals, but as a union that strengthens families and sustains the wider community.
Love is also demonstrated platonically and unassumingly. It is seen in shared labour in the fields, in elders passing down stories to the next generation and in neighbours helping each other when times get tough. This Valentine's Day, we invite you to expand your circle of love...
Whether through a donation, sponsoring a student, or simply sharing our work with others, you can make a real difference in the lives of Karen people.

13/02/2026

Our projects not only address an immediate need for Karen communities, they also ensure long term development and support, especially for younger generations. Children benefit from improved health via our water systems, they benefit from improved safety and dignity via safe latrines at home and they benefit from improved diets and opportunities via our flood resistant immigration systems.
Children are vital to the growth and prosperity of a community, and the Karen are keen to ensure their children have what they didn't. You can help us support more Karen children by donating today!

11/02/2026

Help Alex Fundraise for KHT!

Alex is running the Ghent Half-Marathon and will be helping us build a water system this summer. Please donate and help him support a vulnerable Karen community.

Help Alexander Tomkinson raise money to support Karen Hilltribes Trust