The Karen Hilltribes Trust (KHT)

The Karen Hilltribes Trust (KHT) has worked in Northern Thailand for the past three decades. Our mission is to partner with Karen communities to improve their health, livelihoods, and access to education. By taking a holistic approach to the complex socio-economic issues at hand, we aim to achieve sustainable change by empowering Karen communities to improve their own lives.

As a community-led organisation, KHT’s model starts and finishes with the Karen People of Northern Thailand. Our unique approach is based on the expressed needs of target communities and involves their local knowledge in all stages of our projects, including design, implementation, maintenance, and evaluation. Projects are focussed on promoting self-reliance leading to improved well-being, whilst helping Karen communities retain their unique identity and culture. Not only does this approach guarantee projects have a positive impact in the community, but also ensures community ownership and supports long-term sustainability.