WHAT WE DO
It starts with a water project
Since 2012, the Lanna Foundation has joined forces with ITDF, a Thailand-based non-profit committed to transforming the lives of underserved hill tribe villages in Northern Thailand. For these communities, hope begins with something most of us take for granted: clean water and proper sanitation. Without it, everyday life is a struggle, and the cycle of poverty tightens its grip. But once clean water flows freely, doors open—children can learn, families can access healthcare, farmers can cultivate the land, and small businesses can thrive. This holistic approach doesn’t just meet basic needs—it ignites lasting change, giving these villages the tools to rise above hardship and reclaim their future.
Water Project
Education
Hands To Heart
Water Sanitation
Community Sponsor
Hands To Heart
Water Project
Consider life without clean water.
Clean water is at the core of providing a way for the hill tribe villages to escape the life of poverty. Water resource and sanitation projects provide for:
- Clean drinking water and bathrooms/latrines located in the villages
- Sanitation and reduced disease
- Increased ability to provide food for their own people through gardens and fish ponds
- Agricultural opportunities such a coffee bean and soybeans
- Freed up time to explore and work on business endeavors
- Increased focus on education for children
- And more
Hope starts with clean water and flows to endless opportunities that are far-reaching, life sustaining and hope giving!
Join us!
Water Project
Consider life without clean water.
Clean water is at the core of providing a way for the hill tribe villages to escape the life of poverty. Water resource and sanitation projects provide for:
- Clean drinking water and bathrooms/latrines located in the villages
- Sanitation and reduced disease
- Increased ability to provide food for their own people through gardens and fish ponds
- Agricultural opportunities such a coffee bean and soybeans
- Freed up time to explore and work on business endeavors
- Increased focus on education for children
- And more
Hope starts with clean water and flows to endless opportunities that are far-reaching, life sustaining and hope giving!
Join us!
Construct village water supply system
$9,000
Construct latrines for the whole village (each family)
$4,000
Gardens for each family and/or fishponds
$1,000
Training: hygiene, sanitation, watershed management, and gardens
$1,000
Approximate total cost: $15,000
*Costs vary based on village size, needs, and location
Education and social development
The journey doesn’t end with clean water. True transformation comes through education and the growth of the entire community.
In many remote villages, children have no schools to attend, no teachers to guide them, and few opportunities to imagine a future beyond their daily struggles. ITDF steps in to change that—constructing schools, hiring educators, and providing the supplies and resources children need to learn, grow, and thrive. Education opens the door to citizenship, acceptance into Thai society, and the chance to build a brighter life.
But learning doesn’t happen in isolation. ITDF works closely with village leaders to identify what their communities truly need, from health and nutrition training to social development programs and skills for small businesses. Every project is guided by the villagers themselves, giving them the power to shape their own futures. Through education and community development, these villages are not just surviving—they’re laying the foundation for generations of hope, opportunity, and self-determination.
Community Sponsor
The work does not stop with the completion of a water project!
Sponsoring a community provides funds and support for for ongoing, sustainable projects such as education for children, community health clinics, training in disease prevention and proper nutrition, and clinic hiring, training and management, social development, agriculture programs, micro-enterprising and more.
Much of the ongoing work is multi-faceted and will impact future generations. For example, many of the remote villages have no access to schools for the children. ITDF assists in constructing schools, hiring teachers, and purchasing equipment and supplies. Education, with coordination through the local government, provides the children/students an opportunity to gain citizenship and ultimately acceptance into the Thai society.
ITDF staff work closely with the village leaders to determine needs and make a plan based on what the village sees as their biggest needs. Villagers are always the driver is what ITDF does next thus empowering them to take part in building their own futures.
Sponsor a community
$20 – $500
support agriculture
$20 – $500
Sponsor a Teacher
$20 – $500
Hands To Heart
The Hands to Heart Hill Tribe Women’s Cooperative was created to empower women to transform their lives, support their families, and inspire their communities. Many of these women face poverty and social barriers, yet within the cooperative, they encourage and uplift one another—sharing guidance, motivation, and hope as they pursue their dreams.
Through the cooperative and Lanna Foundation, members receive education and training that strengthen both their craft and their business skills. From learning new sewing techniques to understanding entrepreneurship, marketing, and financial management, these women are equipped to grow their handicraft businesses and achieve sustainable livelihoods. Donations provide micro-loans, fund training, and create opportunities for members to visit other villages, exchanging ideas and inspiration. Together, they are not just building businesses—they are building confidence, independence, and a legacy of empowerment for their families and future generations.
Hands To Heart
The Hands to Heart Hill Tribe Women’s Cooperative was created through Lanna Foundation to support the mission of the Hill Tribe Women’s Cooperative to inspire each other to be role models to their children, be creative entrepreneurs, and play an active role in the economics of their families who struggle with oppression and poverty. Through the support of the Hands to Heart Hill Tribe Women’s Cooperative and Lanna Foundation, you will be partnering with cooperative members to improve the livelihood of these women’s families. Donations from Hands to Heart go towards micro-loans to begin their entrepreneurship, training and development, and travel to other villages for inspiration and shared learning experiences.