4th October 2007
One Day in Chantaburi
A team of community leaders and architects from Indonesia joined us to visit projects in Chantaburi
Visit 1: Land breaking inauguration : a cooperative effort involving funds from CODI, the district, the municipality and the provincial government and the community's savings process.
Local Thai's listen to the eviction experiences of the Indonesians from Jakarta. They exchange strategies
Community leader ( left ) and the Mayor of Chantaburi City ( right) inaugurate the land site and start building preparations for around 100 families who were previously squatters and renters. Many of the families polish gems imported from Burma and sell to local traders and tourists. Under CODI's housing and land loans the total repayments for a family is often less than the rent paid previously.
Field Visit 2: Relocation just a few kilometres from the city center. The model is displayed .....
The reality is ... almost complete ... As with many other projects .... as the buildings go up .. other communities are attracted .. and often adjoining land is purchased for new projects
The community leaders explain the process ( in Thai ) to Somsook who then translates to English for Indonesian translator who explains to the Indo team in Indonesian.......
The new community gets a blessing from local monks
Entrance to the community of close to 200 houses - one of the larger Baan Mankong projects
The leaders' .... capacities unleashed by opportunities and space created by flexible financial loans.
Field visit 3: One of the first projects in Chnataburi - about 30 houses - relocation - close to town ...
... designed in consultation with community by 2 young architects from Bangkok
Lek from CODI and grandma from community tour the site
Field visit 4: A similar project to the last ... designed with the same young architects ...
the community opted for outdoor space and water fountains .. with lots of plants and no cars inside.
Community worker helps with repairs and maintenance in what looks like a middle class complex
On our last visit we called in on the City Seminar on Land Issues and the Poor where 400 locals and people from communities around the country spoke on solutions and strategies
Community leader speaks about the many slums built on Railway Dept land and how the Community Railway Land NETWORK have used their exchanges and combined negotiating power to secure land
Somsook Boonybancha from CODI says governments have the finance ... the problem is they focus on money rather than people. Many problems can be solved by giving the ingenuity of the poor a chance
ACHR will soon post more complete details on most of these and other projects in Thailand so you can learn of the diversity and flexibility of this new and quite revolutionary housing, political and social process.
Coming very soon - A visit to Bangkok and suburbs
For Earlier news on Up-grading and savings on the ACHR site in Asia click here