Born in the remote jungles in the highlands of the northern part of Thailand, ethnic people, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, are without documentation. If you have ever visited South-east Asia, you may have noticed these colorful tribal peoples, often referred to as "Hill Tribe" people. They show up in markets, selling their handy crafts or jungle herbs. Their traditional dress, and unique culture and customs are so intriguing, that in many parts of Southeast Asia, it is possible for tourists to arrange overnight tours to hike into the jungle and spend a night in a Hill Tribe village.

Like the Amerindian people of South America, these ethnic people groups of South East Asia can be quite nomadic and drift past country borders unnoticed. The woman standing in a Thai market selling her crafts could just as easily have been born in Burma, China, Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam as in Thailand. She probably has no idea herself what country her parents were living in when she entered the world.

Unable to prove that they were born in Thailand, these ethnic people are not able to obtain Thai citizenship. Depending on the tribe they are from, they may be able to obtain an identity card, but without citizenship they are not able to purchase land, and travel within Thailand is restricted. While education is open and "free" to all residents of Thailand, all other government services that are free or subsidized to citizens are not available to ethnic groups. A trip to the hospital would be very difficult financially for a tribal person.

Because many of the villages of these tribal groups are not accessible by road and lack even the most basic services, such as running water or toilets, government health workers and teachers rarely make more then a fleeting visit. Recently, new government policies are putting increasing pressure on ethnic people groups. In an effort to preserve the highlands from illegal poaching and logging, new laws restrict the agricultural activity that the people are able to do around their villages. Loosing their ability to produce food, the people are being forced to consider a new life in the lowlands.

For the first time, tribal peoples are considering a new option. Rather then migrate to an even more remote jungle location, like their ancestors before them, they are deciding to integrate into modern Thai life and culture. Like most parents everywhere, these mothers and fathers want the very best for their children, and are attracted to the government schools in the valleys. Perhaps, if their sons and daughters could get a good education, they would be able to have a better life and perhaps even be able to support them in their old age.

As a result of this new trend, many poor communities are rapidly springing up around the established government schools in the lowlands. Removed from their life of subsistence from the jungle, these indigenous people are now facing a difficult new life in the valleys. With limited employment opportunities, each day is a struggle just to survive. Average incomes hover around $150/year which is barely enough to cover rent from their new Thai landlords and food. As I walked through some of these villages, I noticed that every boy carried with him a sling shot. Constantly looking up in the trees, they were hoping to be able to add something to the evening meal of rice and duck egg.

On some of these unsuspecting souls, an age-old scam against the poor, is perpetrated. They are persuaded by unscrupulous people that they have become eligible to purchase land and are even extended credit to "buy" rice fields where they can start a new life as a valley rice farmer. Their new "friends" are even willing to extend them the credit that they need for tools, seed and fertilizer to help them get started. When it comes time for the harvest, their friendly merchant will even buy the rice from them so they do not need to worry about how they will transport the heavy sacs of rice to the local town. As you might suspect, after the interest, the inflated price of the seed and fertilizer, and the low price that they receive for the harvested rice, these new farmers never get ahead. They are told, "if you want to produce more rice, you need to buy more land, or use more fertilizer". As each year goes by, they become deeper and deeper in debt.

I told my ADRA guide that this sounded like the story of a song we have in my country, about how poor people working in the mines of early America, would become so indebted to the company store that the would never be able to break away from a life of virtual slavery. She said, "Oh, here too! In Thailand, many factories hire undocumented workers from other countries and they must purchase all of their goods from the factory store, at inflated prices. Over time they get deeper and deeper in debt and can never leave the factory."

If you have ever visited Bangkok and marveled at the highways, beautiful high rise office buildings and wonderful new transportation systems, you may think that Thailand is a very highly developed country and no longer in need of the services of the development programs of an organization like ADRA. But, it is to these poor ethnic people-groups, struggling to find their identity in a strange new world, that ADRA works. With the co-operation and labor of the people, ADRA develops water systems for the new settlements, and follows up with training in basic health and principles of sanitation.

Then, with some of the most basic necessities covered, ADRA will invite people to join co-operative groups for education in adult literacy in the Thai language, simple finance and agricultural instruction. Basic skills are developed into income generating activities and through the strength of the co-op, people are able to receive small, low-interest loans to initiate their new businesses, from a community revolving fund. The people are educated about the schemes of the unscrupulous land owners and merchants, and how to avoid getting into debilitating debt. They are shown how to decrease household expenses, use natural fertilizers and market their products at a profit.

Even though government education is considered "free", the costs of uniforms, school supplies, transportation to the school and food at the school is usually beyond the reach of the new settlers. ADRA does it's best to try and arrange scholarships for as many of the children as they can. A good education for the children is the best chance that these families have of breaking free from a life of poverty.

Hopefully, as the years pass, the government of Thailand will recognize these people as assets rather then liabilities and fully integrate them into their society. In the meantime it is organizations like ADRA and the generous support of their donors, that help "people without a country", like the ethnic groups of Thailand, survive, as they make their transition from the hills to a new life in the lowlands. If you would like to help ADRA serve these ethnic groups of Thailand, please be in touch with your local ADRA office to make a contribution.