Mekong School offers hope and stewardship
Situated along the peaceful banks of the mighty Mekong River in the quiet town of Chiang Khong, the Mekong School shines as a beacon of hope and environmental stewardship. Driven by a common mission to safeguard the region’s abundant natural resources and cultural heritage, this exceptional institution unites a dedicated group of community leaders, environmentalists, students, and volunteers.
At the heart of the school, founded in 2015, is its charismatic founder, Niwat Roikaew, affectionately called “Khru Tee”. He is a demonstrated leader and masterful storyteller, who weaves together tales of the river’s ancient history, the vibrant life it sustains, and the urgent need to preserve its delicate ecosystem for future generations. Under his guidance, the Mekong School has become a sanctuary for learning, inspiration, and action, where every story told ignites a deeper connection to the land and its people.
His students continue to monitor changes caused by developments in the Mekong River Basin. “We see ourselves as both educators and conservationists” says Nopparat Lamun, the school’s program facilitator. The program’s fieldwork is not limited to children and youth, but also engages the local communities in Chiang Rai Province.
Nestled in the cradle of northern Thailand, the province remains a hidden gem amid the towering peaks of the region’s mountains. Here, the landscape unfolds in a tapestry of lush forests, mist-shrouded valleys, and winding rivers that carve their way through the rugged terrain. The province is a sanctuary of serenity, where the Daen Lao mountain range stands tall, like ancient sentinels, their slopes draped in a verdant cloak of trees that whisper with the wind.
In the heart of this mountainous refuge, the villagers, along with more than 60 million others, depend on the Mekong and its tributaries for food, transport and water. But their water troubles can be summed up in six words: “Too little, too much, too dirty.”
The region’s two rivers, the Mekong and Ruak converge at the famous Golden Triangle where this confluence borders Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. These rivers offer a natural laboratory for the Mekong Youth Program, directed to local children to monitor the health of the rivers using project-based learning and connecting to citizen science with a focus on learning from real-world experiences in the field. The students are able to explore the area’s abundant and rich natural resources from a diverse range of flora and fauna, caves and waterfalls, and gemstones. Their program allows for the design of special fieldwork study and this includes supporting in the broadest sense citizen science processes.
While villagers and rural people have been traditionally marginalized, this school and others, practicing a form of “Thai Baan” are succeeding in involving local communities who are actively participating in research and conservation efforts to protect their environment. These villagers, who possess deep knowledge of the area’s ecosystems, document traditional practices, monitor resources, and collaborate with experts to address the daily rising environmental challenges.
This grassroots approach ensures that conservation strategies and policies are tailored to the local context, empowering residents to have a voice in managing and preserving their land and way of life.
Recommend **** The Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) https://www.sumernet.org/ourvision
Recommend article. https://www.sumernet.org/story/calling-for-a-change-in-the-mekong-towards-more-ecologically-driven-development
Mekong Reporting Fellowship Deadline: https://www.sumernet.org/story/call-for-applications-media-research-collaboration-fellowship-for-environmental-reporting
Recommend **** Mekong Environment Forum https://mekongenvironment.org/