Green Island
A community project at the garbage dump in Mae Sot
About the project
“The Green Island” is a collaborative projects between our friends at Estudio Cavernas and PlayOnside, financed by our partner, SGRE.
The project consist of two phases. The first phase is the construction phase, implemented by Estudio Cavernas. This phase of the project started in October 2018, and is the construction of a football field, a community center and a playground inside the garbage dump in Mae Sot.
The finishing of the construction is due in February 2019.
The second phase of the project, which is the implementation of activity-based, child-centered games. This part of the project will be run as regular after-school activities by PlayOnside.
Partners:
Facts about Siemens Gamesa
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy chose Green Island for funding as one of eight social action projects out of 192 applications submitted by employees worldwide. SGRE is a leading global wind energy company operating in more than 90 countries.
Facts about Estudio Cavernas
Estudio Cavernas is a local CBO focusing on sustainable and environmentally friendly design and construction solutions. Estudio Cavernas also provides valuable vocational training for local people living in the communities they work with. PlayOnside and Estudio Cavernas has successfully collaborated on projects in the past.
Background
Around 500 people live inside the garbage dump in Mae Sot, scavenging of the leftovers of consumerism. Around 50% of the people living in this community are children.
The aim of the “Green Island” is to provide educational support and fun-based activities to the children in this particular community. Especially young girls are particularly vulnerable growing up in such a difficult context, and our objective of promoting gender equality will be an integral part of this project.
The social struggles facing most migrant communities in Mae Sot, are magnified in the garbage dump community. The dropout rates from school is significantly higher, and there are social problems like early marriages, substance abuse and teenage pregnancies. Our football program with its integral life skill curriculum will be a tool to empower this children, and to ensure the kids stay in school and out of trouble
Implementation Strategy
After many years of experience working in the migrant communities in Mae Sot and surrounding areas, we see that regularity of our activities is a key element of success. Depending of the needs and wants of the local communities, we will implement extra-curriculum activites after school, home works assistance, guidance regarding educational opportunities, parents meeting, arts workshop and football activities.
The community house will also function as a dual classroom, giving us the necessary space for night studies. Our team has vast experience teaching, and we are confident that our contribution can have a positive impact not only on the children living there, but the community as a whole.
The football field will be finished in the middle of November 2018, and as soon as it is ready we will start running football training.
Stay tuned for more.
Key Indicators of Success
To involve the parents, to make them appreciate the value of education for their children is imperative for reaching one of the main goals of this project; Reduction of the drop-out rates from school in this particular communities. To provide support with homework and different assignments will build self confidence and self resiliency.
Other key success indicators of the projects are
· Attendance level
· Girls’ participation
· Grades improvements
· Reduction child marriages.
The Green Island project is a long-term project and we do not expect to see any immediate outcome. However, the PlayOnside Monitoring & Evaluation team will closely follow up the long-term development of the key success indicators.
Building Process - First stage
