The Karen Hilltribes Trust

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The Karen Hilltribes Trust

The Karen Hilltribes Trust is a community-led organisation that works to empower the Karen people living in Northern Thailand. Charity Number: 1093548

Based in York and northern Thailand

05/08/2026

“Overall, my experience as a volunteer at KHT was one of the most rewarding in my life and I can’t help but to appreciate and thank the staff both in and outside Thailand in putting in the work to better the lives of the Karen in Northern Thailand. I cannot wait to volunteer next year, and I implore you to do so as well."- Charlie, KHT volunteer in Ban Mae Sa Laap

We love the cultural exchange that happens between volunteers and our staff and beneficiaries. Volunteering with KHT is about real connection and really getting into the hard labour of building a water system! We look forward to welcoming more volunteers and if you are interested, get in touch!

31/07/2026

A year after KHT worked with the village of Ban Sob Mae Lau, the villagers are able to access clean water all year round. Before KHT's intervention, the water available in the village was scarce in dry season and muddy and unusable even for washing clothes in rainy season. How the villagers are happy to report improved health, are spending less money and time on accessing water and feel a sense of relief in their every day life.

You can read more about the impact on the village on our blog now.

28/07/2026

Volunteering with KHT is a life-changing experience. You can experience a part of the world very few people are able to visit and truly immerse themselves in and you can help end water poverty for a struggling Karen community.
Read about Alex's volunteer experience on our blog now and get in touch if you want to help us make a real difference for marginalised people in a unique and challenging environment!

24/07/2026

Volunteers have helped get KHT to where we are, and we are so grateful for those who give up their time and comfort to come and work on our projects. Helping build a water system is rewarding and life changing, and also challenging and exhausting (in the best way!). Our volunteers tell us of the kindness of the local community, how they have come to appreciate things they have taken for granted and also how much they have learned about the why and how we operate. In a poorly understood part of the world, being able to experience alongside the Karen is a chance very few people get. If you would like to volunteer, please check out our website or contact [email protected].

We have more stories to share from volunteers soon!

17/07/2026

The health of a community can only improve if everyone is aware and able to care for themselves and each other. KHT provides hygiene training and first aid training so people in the villages are aware of how best to protect their health and benefit from the new clean water system. Although we all know and understand proper hygiene, it is sometimes important to remind people and do it in an appropriate cultural context.

12/07/2026

Today is the International Day of Hope. Hope is not just an ideal, but requires action and is especially cultivated when people work together.
Together, we have been helping bring new hope to deprived Karen communities. Our programmes ensure improved health, livelihoods and access to education.

They help the Karen hope for better, and we work with communities so they are participants and not passive beneficiaries. Your generosity makes all the difference and you are part of bringing hope, health and opportunity to some of the world's most forgotten people.

Please donate today!

10/07/2026

Growing their own food is vital for the survival of Karen communities. However, many farmers were struggling to access enough water to diversify what they grow and grow more so they could also sell it. KHT's Flood Resistant Irrigation Systems allow farmers to access enough water in all seasons and has helped increase the types and volume of crops they can grow. Crop production increases and more choice in what to grow also means that villages previously unable to grow enough to sell are able to also use their farms to earn income.

08/07/2026

Many Karen children, both primary and secondary school aged, live away from home in school dormitories. Due to many villages being in remote and often hard to reach locations in the mountainous province of Mae Hong Son, children are unable to travel safely everyday. Living in a dorm means they are not forced to miss school due to bad weather or unsafe roads.

However, living away from home can be difficult to many children. KHT aims to prioritise school buses that provide daily transport and reduce the number of children forced to live in dorms.

Despite this, for some children, living at schools is the only choice. Due to this, KHT also supports children with school meals. This ensures they are being fed well, the schools are supported and able to care for them and parents (often from the most economically disadvantaged communities) are not facing an additional financial burden. This also means they can stay in school and are not forced to drop out until their parents can earn enough to fund their placements.

06/07/2026

Many of the Karen people we speak to, despite their struggles, have a strong connection and love for their way of life. They care deeply about being and working in nature, however they also understand that farming is a difficult way to earn a living. There a clash happening between the Karen wanting to preserve their way of life, but also wanting an easier life for their children. The worry that many traditions, such as weaving, cooking and religious rites may diminish over time is a common concern amongst the older generations. KHT aims to support the Karen to improve their livelihoods and also to help their children and youth. We believe they deserve opportunity and choice and should not have to just survive. This is only possible with your support! Please donate today and share our post with your friends and family!

02/07/2026

For the Karen, the seasons in Mae Hong Son control everyday life and livelihoods.

The dry season brings the worry of drought and water shortages, however roads are accessible and people can move with less difficulty and danger. The dry season also means burning season, which impacts health and has a major environmental impact. The rainy season means abundance for farming rice and crops, but it brings flooding and cuts villages off from vital services and towns.

The Karen must make decisions about what and when to farm based on the seasons, as well as making decisions such as sending their children to live in dormitories or leaving their villages for work or healthcare. KHT's projects also depend on the weather. Constructions are not possible in rainy season, whilst the burning season also means we must take a break to protect the health of our staff.

The need to understand and work with the weather is something the Karen are adept at. They understand their environment, however poverty and remoteness mean they must still face it head on. Climate crises in the region are only making things harder for the Karen.

Address

The Karen Hilltribes Trust, Tower House, Fishergate
York
YO104UA

Telephone

+441904373001

Website

http://www.karenhilltribes.org.uk/

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