Alumni of the EarthRights School Mekong (ERSM) have gone on to use regional media outlets to raise awareness for a range of earth rights issues: from river ecology and sustainable microhydro power stations to conservation efforts of the pagoda bats. 

ERSM's Thai alumni, Phairin Sosai and Phairoh Suchinphram, received support from our Mekong Alumni Small Grant Program to fund the Mekong River Basin Ecological Study Project, held on National Children’s Day at Ban Kokwaw School, Pakchom district Loei Province from Jaunary 10-11, 2009. Ban Kokwaw was chosen for its proximity to the proposed Pak Chom Dam, one of a series of dams planned across the mainstream of the Mekong. A team of ERSM alumni from Thailand, Lao PDR, and Burma brought young people from their respective communities to join in educational activities to celebrate and study the Mekong River, including games, sports,  merit making ceremonies, study tours, exhibitions of native fish, and a drawing and essay contest entitled "My Mekong River". ERSM alumni provided information to the community about the proposed dam project, and led discussions on potential impacts to local livelihoods and strategies to increase the participation of local people in decision-making around the project. Read the full article in Thai.

Our Vietnamese alumni, Ms. An Nhien, wrote an article about our ERSM field visit to Mae Khampong Village, an hour and a half from Chiang Mai, where the community has set up several well-run microhydro power stations and have become energy self-sufficient. An Nhien writes that the article was picked up by Tuoi Tre Newspaper last Fall, one of Vietnam's most popular newspapers, well recognized for their coverage of lifestyle trends/issues. Read the full article in Vietnamese.

Another Vietnamese alumni of ours initiated a bat conservation project in partnership with Bat Conservation International. Read More.

Documents: 

Read the Full Article in Thai Here

Bat Conservation Project