Whispering Seed Children’s Home

Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

Whispering Seed is a home for children who have been orphaned, abused, and neglected in the Thai-Burma border areas. Most residents of the home are refugees or displaced persons, primarily ethnic minorities such as Karen and Mon hill tribe peoples who have historically been marginalized in the region and suffered violent incursions by the Burmese military dictatorship. Many have also suffered from sex trafficking and related epidemics of HIV/AIDS.

Whispering Seed focuses on creating a model of sustainable living that includes natural building, seed saving, organic gardening and agro-forestry. Children participate in a Montessori-style educational curriculum and experiential learning opportunities. Whispering Seed’s aim is to share new models for sustainable living and learning while also supporting traditional wisdom and local knowledge systems.

In the past, the home has purchased large quantities of bottled water for drinking from the nearest town (about one hour drive each way). During the long dry season the local ephemeral springs dry up, increasing general water stress on the community, inhibiting food production, and compromising sanitation conditions.

Aqueous Solutions is working with the home and local NGOs to implement a multi-component water system that utilizes rainwater harvesting, a small dam and pipe connection to a local spring, and a solar-powered water pump to relieve water stress through all seasons and meet the various water needs of the home including irrigation for food production, bathing, washing clothes, and kitchen uses. The system will provide safe drinking water, decrease the community’s dependence on fossil fuels, and save much needed funds for the children.

Whispering Seed is a US registered non-profit charitable organization. To learn more about the home, visit their website at www.whisperingseed.org.