Thailand P.I.G. (Positive Indigineous Growth) Project

Our P.I.G. project has been a huge success since its launch in 2002. We use our Responsible Travel Funds to buy pigs from hilltribe communities and donate them to families who are in need of extra income. The families we donate to are encouraged to learn how to breed the pigs and create a self-sustaining business for themselves. The pigs are always donated during our tours and travellers have the chance to be really involved.

P.I.G. is the outcome of discussions between villagers in a Karen Village in northern Thailand and our former South East Asian Responsible Travel Co-ordinator, Anna Saward. We wanted to find out exactly how we could best give something back. Anna says "I really believe that if you want to contribute anything to people then it is always the people themselves that will have the best ideas." Anna found that education is mostly provided for by the government, there is a village fund for health care, and they weave their own cloth for clothes. Anna goes on, "The idea that they thought would most help their community would be pigs! Even though many of the tribal communities have adopted either Buddhism or Christianity, they still believe in appeasing the spirits and having feasts on special occasions. Pigs also reproduce frequently and can provide food when crops are low. The pigs would have to be bought from other hilltribe communities so this would also benefit local pig farmers. There is also the potential for travellers to get more involved in this project, by helping to build pig pens and shelters. But more than all of that, the best thing about this initiative is that as we aren't working with any other agencies or organizations we can ensure that every penny is used in the project."

Since the launch of the P.I.G. project we have donated more than 10 pigs to an orphanage in Chiang Mai and 4-5 families in hilltribe communities in northern Thailand. In all cases the pigs have been used for breeding and the project has proved extremely popular with local families who have been grateful to receive a new source of income. The pigs are donated during our tours and travellers have been enthusiastic about getting involved. The next step is to expand the P.I.G. project into other South East Asian countries and Destination Manager Craig Roach will soon be visiting hilltribe areas in Vietnam to see how the project could work there.