They've been at one with the oceans for hundreds of years, but for many Moken, adjusting to life on the mainland is one of their greatest challenges.
December 2011: It’s been 7 years since the Boxing Day Tsunami swept across parts of southern Thailand killing more than 8,000 people people and destroying the livelihoods of many more. While most survivors have got their lives back together, Moken Sea Gypsy communities are still struggling after seeing their sea-based world turned upside down.
“When the tsunami happened, I was in grade 3 or 4. One impact was that some Moken children would get greater opportunities in terms of scholarships, but in terms of livelihoods, before, most villagers earnt a living from fishing, but many have now moved to become daily labourers or hotel staff,” said 14-year-old Moken girl Ab from Koh Nok village in Phang Nga province.
Working together
For Plan Thailand, working with the Moken means supporting children and their families to access basic rights such as education and health. Plan works with Moken communities by empowering them to integrate into wider society while preserving their unique culture.
This includes facilitating cross-cultural exchanges between Moken groups and other ethnic minorities to flesh out new ideas that can be used in each other’s villages -- things like eco-tourism and handicrafts.
There are about 10,000 Moken in south Thailand living in communities 2-300 strong. Some live on islands off the coast while others have settled on mainland.
The widespread devastation of the tsunami had a profound impact on the Moken as a slew of non-governmental organisations rushed in to help. The sudden onslaught of handouts coupled with the impact of destroyed homes and changes in the fishing industry left many Moken bewildered.
“The Moken are a small people pulled into the circles of modern civilisation. We have had had to adapt our skills to a new world that just takes and cuts and destroys everything the Moken used for their way of life,” said Hong Klatale, head of the Tungwa Moken village in Phang Nga province. “We don't reject development... but it should be based on community context.”
Lack of communication
The strong presence of NGOs meant some communities became dependent on handouts while distribution was often uneven, leading to some villagers feeling neglected.
“Some felt left out. We don't feel united any more. People talk less. Youths are encouraged to think about something that doesn't fit with the Moken context... There is some good, though, in terms of housing and psycho-social support from local and international organisations to help children affected by trauma,” added Hong.
Sidit, who lives in the Moken village on Lao Island, Ranong, and also sits on the board of the local school, told Plan that life in the past was better for many Moken and that some Moken groups have lost contact with each other.
“There was more freedom for Moken children in the past. They had a more enjoyable life in terms of their traditional life,” he added.
While it’s clear that the Moken way of life has changed dramatically since the tsunami, Plan is trying to strike a balance between community development and cultural preservation, but there is no easy solution, which means there is still much work to do.
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