The Model for Developing the Community Quality of Life and Income Through the Participatory Process, Klong Nam Sai Sub-district, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province

Abstract

          The purposes of this research were 1) to study problems and needs of the community development at Klong Nam Sai Sub-district, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province, and 2) to find the model for developing the community quality of life and income through the participatory process at Klong Nam Sai Sub-district, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province. The samples were 50 target people in poor households at Moo 1-12, Klong Nam Sai Sub-district. The study was the participatory action research (PAR) which used the participatory process of the community people in 12 villages.

          According to the results, the people in Klong Nam Sai Sub-district who participated in the participatory study perceived the community problems and needs in 2 aspects: 1) additional careers for earning more income in addition to the primary careers; and 2) upgrading quality of life and income in a concrete and sustainable way. In addition, this target group participated in career-building activities in the participatory training of fabric dyeing and color extraction from coconut coir which was abundant raw materials in the community. Such activities led to the processing of coir-dyed fabric into various products for building additional careers and earning more income in addition to the main careers. Moreover, these activities resulted in knowledge creation about color extraction from coconut coir in order to utilize the waste materials and create more value for them. In the study, the target group could sold the products of coir-dyed fabric, resulting in better community quality of life and more income in addition to the main current occupation.