Aims

Runs 'N Roses wants to help preserve the local environment by:

To achieve this we have the following aims:

Preserve the jungle
Deforestation is a major global problem. Locally it causes droughts and devastating floods as well as damage to the chain of life by the disturbance and extinction of wildlife. It is extremely important to preserve the few forests that are still left, such as the ones high in the mountains in Phato. But how do you tell a villager to stop cutting trees when this is his only way to earn a living?

Runs 'N Roses is trying to preserve the beautiful nature in Phato area by cherishing it instead of destroying it. Runs 'N Roses wants to show the locals how to conserve their forests in the long term. By hosting tourists in a regulated way for example. Or to create additional income for villagers by jobs such as tour guides, shopkeeper, restaurants and so on.

In 2007 a project named Bai Tong was started by Runs 'N Roses to help create more awareness amongst local people about the importance of the forest.

Secondary income for village people
All monocultures are dangerous if one aspect of income is too heavily relied upon. Most people in the rural areas of Thailand are very dependent on the weather. If the rain comes late then their crops may not survive. If there is too much rain their crops may be washed away. For many families a small income -selling crops- is just enough to feed their family. Most people do not have money reserved in the bank in case something goes wrong with nature, inflation, or anything else. Tourism by itself is a very unreliable source of income because there are so many factors that can lead a tourist to a different destination from one day to the next. Such factors include political situations, weather changes or simply a rise or decline in the interest and lure of a certain destination. The aim of the Runs 'N Roses projects is to have a small yet steady flow of tourism coming into the area to generate secondary income sources for local people.

Respect local skills and culture
In Thailand the results of globalization and western influence are very clear. Young people are leaving the villages with the dream of working in offices in the cities. Today the villages consist of almost entirely old people and young children. Local skills are being forgotten and local crafts are disappearing.
Hosting motivated people who have endured long plane flights and expensive fees to come to a specific village to learn about Thai "walks and talks" rather than to be in any other place in the world (including westernized mass tourist destinations) can stimulate people to utilize and share their skills and also be proud of their rural lifestyle. A direct result of this are the projects of the Thai Child Development Foundation done on the same premises where Runs 'N Roses is located. In the near future a local craft center will be realized there, where people can teach and learn about handicraft, make and sell their handmade products. Setting up such a center is one of the ideas to realize together with the local authorities.

On smaller scale Runs 'N Roses is organizing workshops and courses to introduce foreigners to Thai culture. The participants of the workshop Thai culture and language can feel comfortable in their travel through the country and easily make Thai friends with their basic skills. The fact that they are trying to adapt to Thai culture will break the ice and open many doors for them.

Awareness and youth education
To be proud of one's village means taking care of its surroundings. Besides the preservation of the forests, cleaning up, recycling and reducing garbage is a major aim of Runs 'N Roses. On the premises of the lodge youth activities will be organized by volunteers of the Thai Child Development Foundation regularly to raise awareness on this subject.
In 2007 Runs 'N Roses started the Bai Thong project to help preserve the forests in the area. An educational program in the schools is one part of the project to create awareness.