Come join us Monday at SynerGeo!
2-16-2009
6:00pm
We will have a special guest at our community dinner Monday, Mr. Kovit Boonjear.
Boonjear is a social worker, community organizer, and social activist who has worked and lived in Khon Kaen, Thailand for the greater part of his life. Most of his work has revolved around working with Khon Kaen’s urban poor communities and informal labor sector, helping to organize and mobilize groups to address the social and economic issues that they face, such as their rights to fair labor, adequate housing and land, and protection and support from the local and national governments. He has also worked with various education communities, such as the local public school system and with the CIEE program located at Khon Kaen University.
His intention in visiting and studying in the U.S. is that he will learn to speak more fluent English and gain useful experience working with social workers, activists, organizers, and NGOs who are working in a similar field as he.
Shayne Thomas is working in conjunction with Educational Network for Global and Grassroots Exchange (ENGAGE) on an the initiative to help our colleague and mentor, Mr. Kovit Boonjear, embark on this extended study trip to the United States. Shayne Thomas spent the fall 2007 semester studying globalization and development in Khon Kaen, Thailand with the Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE).
There will be photographs from this project, the images are the result of a collaboration with a community that lives and works at the city landfill in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Ban Kambon Noi has existed on the edge of Khon Kaen city for over 30 years. It is located beside the municipal landfill; families who scavenged there eventualy decided to settle, and now 60 families (approx. 235 individuals) have homes next to the waste. In 2002, 50 percent of the villagers residing in the landfill were born there, and at least one person from each household makes their living by scavenging. More than 70 people work among the garbage, earning up to 150 baht per day. Khambon Noi villagers are entirely dependent on the landfill for their income. They are aiding Thailans’s recycling efforts, as well as providing a great service to the city- so far they have extended the life of the landfill by 7 years.
They took these pictures to show others what they wanted them to see about their lives.
Posted by shawnis 
