In March 2003, Reef-World and REST launched a joint project in partnership with the villagers of Koh Yao Noi, teaching English as a foreign language using the natural world of tropical coastal ecosystems and sustainable practices as subject matter.

Koh Yao Noi is a small island East of Phuket in Phang Nga bay and province with a population of 5,000 people in 7 villages. Reef-World has run several successful reef & coastal education courses and field trips for local schools in Southern Thailand. REST have developed a winning home-stay programme in several places throughout Thailand. In Koh Yao Noi, they offer tourists the chance to stay with fishing families and learn about the natural environment, culture and way of life of the villagers.

In the first workshop, 5 volunteers joined the joint REST/Reef-World project along with Jamie LeJeune, a resident teacher living in Nakorn Si Thammarat, Southern Thailand. In the photo above, from left to right back row: Yam (Kanaruj Ngern-ditsatha, Team Teacher), Jamie LeJeune (Program Trainer), Na (Krisda Momtakhob, Team Teacher), Anne Miller (Reef-World Foundation), Toom (Busarin Incharoen, Team Teacher ), Noi (Potjana Suansri, REST), Joy (Songwoot Wattana-pan, Team Teacher ), Chompoo Kaewprasert (Team Teacher).

The philosophy of the jointly run project is:

1) To encourage positive social behaviour that empowers local communities to make informed choices about their future and preserve their values and way of life in the face of incoming tourism activity.

2) To ensure that all community actions help to conserve and protect local natural resources and maintain a balanced growth of the community in harmony with the environment.

REST are working with the community and along-side the local district governor’s office in the development plans for the island, ensuring that the REST/Reef-World project is part of the larger plans for the region.