The Karen Hilltribes Trust

Home
United Kingdom
York
The Karen Hilltribes Trust

The Karen Hilltribes Trust is a community-led organisation that works to empower the Karen people living in Northern Thailand. Charity Number: 1093548

Based in York and northern Thailand

05/10/2026

Women from marginalised groups often face a 'double burden'. They must manage the difficulties that impact their community whilst also coping with patriarchy and disadvantage due to being women.

KHT's projects aim to improve the health and quality of life for Karen villagers, and this also means that the difficulties facing Karen women are also addressed. Our latines ensure a safe space to wash and use the toilet, whilst our water systems reduce the time women spend collecting and treating water.

Reduced instances of sickness also reduce the labour on women who are often the primary care takers for children and elderly relatives. Clean water is also vital to the health of pregnant and elderly women, reducing the chances of long term health issues.

Karen women are the backbone of their families and communities and KHT is committed to ensuring we support them. We need your help to reach more communities in the coming months.

29/09/2026

World Tourism Day is an opportunity to encourage ethical and conscience driven tourism. Thailand is a popular and beautiful destination, however Mae Hong Son is a much less visited part of the country. There is much to see in the province, from the stunning rural landscapes, the Karen villages and the famous Mae Hong Son Loop.

It is very important to ensure tourism doesn't harm or exploit local communities. The Karen and other hilltribes are very hospitable and respectable, and everyone who has come on a KHT trek or volunteer experience has loved meeting and spending time with them.

We hope more people will consider visiting and learning about the Karen, and to appreciate the green and rugged charm of their home.

26/09/2026

KHT works with parents, schools, universities and donor organisations to help improve the lives of Karen children. By ensuring all our projects also address the well-being of children and creating child centred projects to improve access to education. Our aim is to provide a holistic and positive impact for Karen children and youth.

Your generous support also allows us to address needs as they arise, such as providing clean water filters for schools, deworming and school equipment. You can read more about the work we do to help children on our blog now.

23/09/2026

All too often, the Karen are defined by their marginalisation and deprivation. However, life in Karen villages shows the close relationship they have with nature and each other. The Karen have adapted to their environment by learning how to use what is around them, being aware of how best to grow their food and by helping each other.

Every visit to a new village shows us the ways in which Karen communities work to improve and maintain their way of life. From drying chillies on the rooftop to foraging for river crabs for a community feast, we see people share their resources and ensure food is not wasted.

Food security is a vital and ongoing issue for the Karen. KHT's Livelihoods Projects have helped 19000 people improve their incomes and reduce days in hunger. You can helps us reach more families by donating today!

21/09/2026

KHT's team are currently visiting villages to complete project surveys and monitoring. During Rainy Season, KHT is unable to construct any water or irrigation systems because access to villages becomes much more difficult, and it becomes dangerous to travel to certain places and reach water sources. The constant and heavy rain also makes it impossible to make cement and build the vital components of our FRIS or water system.

The roads in Mae Hong Son are vulnerable to being washed out, flooded or facing landslides and trees falling. The rain may help farming, but it makes other aspects of life extremely difficult. Although we cannot control the weather, our projects aim to help the Karen manage the difficulties that come with the Rainy season.

18/09/2026

School lunches are an important part of the school day. Children need food to fuel their learning, and whilst lunch is free for many children, Karen children living in dorms must also be fed breakfast and dinner within their dormitories. Parents are unable to cook and feed their children living away from home and often struggle to pay the fees associated with dormitory living.

KHT responds to this need by providing 7 dormitories with funding for school meals. This means parents are not burdened with extra cost and it is guaranteed that children are well fed and not deprived due to being away from their family.

16/09/2026

The village of Ban Oo Nu is located in a very remote area close to the Thai-Myanmar border. KHT's water system has helped ensure that drinking water is clean and water is accessible throughout the year. For Sudaporn, the change has brought relief and convenience in a very inconvenient place to live. Although she loves her home, the bad roads and lack of infrastructure have made life hard and any positive development means a huge difference to the quality of life for the villagers.

You can read more about her village on our blog and you can help us reach more people like Sudaporn by donating today!

13/09/2026

Children can't attend school or learn to the best of their ability if they are struggling with their health. Parasitic infections and stomach problems due to bad water, malarie and dengue fever and injuries often mean children miss days of school.

Help us ensure we can provide vital deworming medication to schools, as well as anti mosquito nets for families in the most vulnerable areas of the province. KHT's Water systems also directly improve the health of communities, especially children.

Every little donation makes a big difference.

10/09/2026

More than half of the children using KHT's school buses are used by Karen girls and nearly all our current scholarships students are girls. For Karen girls, education is a vital pathway to a better life and affords them greater choice and protection. Education is often a good way to prevent early marriage, empower their choices and provide them with soft and hard skills to compete in a difficult labour market.

The progress of Karen women is vital to the progress and development of the Karen community. Help us ensure we can continue to support young Karen girls through education by donating today!

08/09/2026

Imagine bad weather stopping you from attending school regularly...That is the reality for many Karen children across Mae Hong Son.

Their home villages are often in hard to reach, hillside locations and walking to school can take hours a day or is just too dangerous. KHT's bus routes ensure that children are able to attend school everyday and ensure they stay enrolled. The first term is coming to an end in Thailand we got some some lovely pictures from our routes to share with you.

Please donate today and help us continue this important work!

Address

The Karen Hilltribes Trust, Tower House, Fishergate
York
YO104UA

Telephone

+441904373001

Website

http://www.karenhilltribes.org.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Karen Hilltribes Trust posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to The Karen Hilltribes Trust:

Want your organisation to be the top-listed non profit organisation in York?