Project weans villagers off illegal drug trade

Area in northern Thailand undergoes dramatic transformation

The small village of Huay San in northern Thailand used to be a restricted area to outsiders, and was rarely visited by government officials and traders.

Located next to the infamous drug producing area of the Golden Triangle, which comprises parts of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, the village was a significant storage and distribution center for illicit drugs.

Almost every household in Huay San, which is located in Chiang Mai Province, was involved in this trade and had its own drug trafficking networks.

But it is a different story today, as the village is now a model for Thailand's anti-drug campaign.

This significant transformation is due to a project initiated by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization established to improve the quality of life of people who live in poverty and are deprived of opportunities. The foundation manages numerous projects in Thailand and other Asian countries.