“In Myanmar, life was dangerous. We lived in the forest, constantly afraid of thieves and violence. It wasn’t peaceful. That’s why we came to Thailand.”
I got to spend an afternoon with the Yapa Family on my last visit to Thailand and to hear about their escape from Myanmar and the beginning of their village. Uncle Yoba was practically one of its founders.
“Back then, the forest was full of wildlife and fish—we could catch fish that weighed up to 5 kg. The land was fertile. But eventually, the impact of deforestation caught up with us. When our farmland stopped producing well, we felt hopeless. For years, I used the same plot of land, and over time, the soil degraded.
Through Plant With Purpose, I received training and seedlings. I planted trees—some for food, some for shade, some just to restore the land. I’ve been part of the program for three years now, and I’m proud of that. Before, my land was dry and barren. Now, it’s beginning to recover.”