Because in the past the Karen families worked as subsistence farmers in Burma, before coming to Thailand they had little exposure to large amounts of trash. They were therefore not familiar with the health risks and concerns associated with trash build up or about the damaging effects that burning trash such as plastics can have on the soil. We at Forgotten therefore informed the families about these health concerns and talked with them about how they felt we could get control over the situation. Shortly after our discussion the leader volunteered to build three large trash bins and said that he would bring the garbage to the road as the bins filled. He also instructed each of the families to purchase or to construct smaller trash bins to be placed in their homes for personal use. We at Forgotten then talked with the city and set up regular trash pick up to ensure that the families would have all the necessary means in place to keep their land clean and safe for their children.
