August 15, 2000
Less is more For the past 15 years, Canadian and British volunteers have been proving that a small sacrifice can make a big difference to the lives of the needy Vasana Chinvarakorn In itself, 90 baht won't get you very much nowadays-probably a day's worth of simple meals or a round-trip Skytrain ticket. It won't even buy a bottle of low-grade whiskey. But for the past 15 years volunteers from Canada and the United Kingdom have found this very sum can be stretched to benefit an entire country. Last year alone, the One Per Cent Fund, a collaboration between staff of Canadian University Service Overseas (Cuso) and the UK-based Volunteer Service Organisation (VSO), has funded 30 projects across Thailand. The name of the charity is central to its core philosophy-volunteers contribute one percent of their monthly stipend, which currently stands at an average of 9,000 baht, thus donating 90 baht per person. Small as it is, the fund has made a tangible impact on many communities in Thailand including those aided by other organisations, such as the US Peace Corp Volunteers group and German development agencies. Over 200 Karen families and ethnic Thais in Dan Chang, Suphan Buri, have created extra income through the preservation of their weaving traditions. Likewise, a group of housewives from Surin has taken a study trip to the Central region to learn how to make nam prik (chili sauce) and make extra money. This active encouragement and support also fosters closer ties between different rural communities, and has helped plant the seed to empower rural women. Children are also targeted by the fund. Slum children living near Hualumphong Station had a chance to explore their imagination, through the At Home in the City programme. The children recently won the first prize at a competition organised by the International Association for the Child's Right to Play. Though first-time entrants, their creative model of an ideal environment made a deep impression on the judging committee. The list of little improvements stretches on. It ranges from a dormitory for hilltribe children at the town of Phetchaburi, a thriving mat-making business for Sakon Nakhon farmers, to campaigns to promote awareness of alternative sources of energy and community forest management. The success of the fund has outweighed expectations. The original goal, said Cuso's Programme Coordinator Alec Bamford, was to "shame" governments into honouring their pledges to help developing countries. "There has been a misconception that rich countries have given a lot to poor countries. But in reality, the contributions have been dismally small. "For example, the United States has provided only 0.1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) as foreign aid. The countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have promised to allocate 0.7 percent of their GDP, but most have not met the target. "Then we spotted an article about a similar attempt by social workers in Finland which gave us the idea to try out the One Per Cent Fund in Thailand. As far as I know, Thailand is the only place with such a Cuso/VSO scheme." Until 1997, the fund had been supporting about half a dozen projects a year. But what was financial disaster for most, came as a stroke of good fortune for the One Per Cent Fund. The baht devaluation brought favourable exchange rates, and the Canada Fund Thailand, a Canadian embassy-affiliated development agency, found itself with a surplus of baht. "They approached us, asking if we knew of any projects worth supporting," Bamford continued. "We held a general meeting in January 1998 to discuss how to increase our capacity, and we agreed to give it a try. For the past two and a half years we have appraised about 100 proposals, about half of which have been funded." Additional cash comes from former volunteers now in high-paying jobs and from sales of T-shirts and other merchandise. The sense of ownership and responsibility is evident in the administration of the fund. Every year, contributors elect six committee members, three each from the two volunteer agencies, who meet periodically to discuss the merits of submitted proposals. Bamford and another VSO coordinator sit as advisers to the committee. The appraisal and the allocation of the maximum 20,000 baht per project grant usually take about two to three months to process. Unlike traditional charity organisations, the One Per Cent Fund does not aim to help individuals. Thus a request for scholarship or personal training is unlikely to win the committee's nod. The fundamental philosophy is that the root cause of social problems is structural, and the ultimate goal is to help villagers to stand on their own feet, economically and socially. Sustainability is another major consideration in the appraisal process. As an example, Bamford cited two recent proposals to set up local broom-making industries. One group proposed buying the raw materials, while the other detailed plans of how to grow grass to ensure constant supply of raw materials, and to help prevent soil erosion. The grant went to the latter. Gender sensitivity is also a point of concern. Many successful proposals have to demonstrate how the projects in question will boost women's income and social status and not add to their hardships. Bamford says the One Per Cent Fund has a number of advantages over large-scale funding agencies. The fact that both volunteer organisations oversee a wide network of staff-numbering about 50 in Thailand at present-means that they can administer the disbursal of funds in a far more efficient manner. Typically, international development agencies tend to ignore proposals seeking small grants, because administrative costs alone would exceed the amount requested. The volunteers in One Per Cent Fund work hard to keep their costs to a bare minimum. The committee's appraisal meetings for example, are timed to coincide with other Cuso and VSO meetings, thus most of the travel expenses are absorbed. Bureaucratic challenges aside, the One Per Cent Fund is also well attuned to the actual needs of the "little" people, having been in the development business for years. Curiously, the small size of the grant discourages reckless spending. In one project to set up a dormitory for hilltribe children near the Kaeng Krachan National Park, a follow-up report listed every single expenditure-right down to the exact number and price of nails used in the construction. Whereas much foreign aid comes with conditions that benefit corporations in the donor countries, there are no strings attached with the One Per Cent Fund. Dr Peter Burt, a VSO staff member, notes that every baht of every donation has been been kept in Thailand. Having worked in Thailand for two years, Dr Burt says taking account of indigenous wisdom and valuing the inherent strengths of the community, not just giving monetary donations, is a vital element in any development process. Ida Aroonwong, of the Alternative Energy Project for Sustainability, said the most touching aspect of the One Per Cent Fund is not so much the money, but the care displayed for local people. The Cuso/VSO staff became acquainted with the organisation during the annual Rural Development Tour. The One Per Cent Fund observed residents of Ongkharak, Nakhon Nayok, who were concerned about a government plan to set up a nuclear reactor in their home town. The fund stepped in to support activities to disseminate knowledge about the potential effects of nuclear energy. "These foreigners don't earn that much, and yet they try to help us as much as they can. Their understanding of how to protect the environment is better developed than ours," said a young activist. For Raweewan Srithong, of the Project for Agroecology Development and Plant Genetic Resources Conservation, the fund has helped in many small ways to support her work with marginalised people near the border of Burma. In 1998, the small grant enabled a group of hilltribe villagers to experiment with new spinning technology to improve the quality of their woven products. Last year, a group of nine Karen weavers learned about marketing during a study trip to the Northeast. Cuso's Bamford views the mission of the fund as providing "alternatives" for poor rural communities-to allow them to make choices and determine their own future. Can that really be achieved with so little money? For Khemporn Wirunraphan, of the Foundation for Child Development, every little bit of help is definitely worthwhile. The social worker believes that this alternative method of charity, directed toward disadvantaged groups of people, may be of more long-term use than customary donations to religious establishments. Indeed, the egalitarian philosophy of the One Per Cent Fund is not that much different from those ingrained in both Western and Eastern religions-the more one has, the more one should contribute to society. Info for donations: - Name of organisation: The One Per Cent Fund - Address: c/o Cuso, 17 Phaholyothin Golf Village, Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 - Contact person: Alec Bamford - Tel/ Fax: 513-3031, 513-5347 - email: cusothai@loxinfo.co.th The One Per Cent Fund would like to invite the public to join its current donation programme or to set up a similar funding scheme, and will provide advice free of charge. - "We care" is a fortnightly series honouring people who believe in giving. In addition to supporting these causes, you can let us know about people who unselfishly help others so we can make more people aware of their efforts. Fax "We care" on 240-3668 or call 240-3700 ext 3208 or 3212. Email can be sent to sanitsuda@bangkokpost.net. For a comprehensive list of charities covered by Outlook's "We Care" series, see the Bangkok Post Web site at .		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