There are about 160 families in Piloki. The village is only accessible by boat: a minimum one hour boat ride from Thongphapum, or three hours from Sangklaburi District. As a result of this isolation, poverty has threatened the health and family stability of their community. The clinic has few medicines and the nearest hospital is one hour away by boat. Children often suffer preventable diseases and mothers die needlessly while giving birth. Divorce or death of their spouse often leaves unemployed mothers in hardship. Without job skills or a steady income, some mothers have given up their children to relatives or to children’s homes in the area.
Local Economy
Their main source of livelihood comes from labour provided to nearby towns, such as Thongphapum, as well as planting rice. Education at their single school house ends at Grade 4, and there are only two teachers for the 130 students. Even if the students wish to study further by traveling to other villages to attend a government school, they often fail the Thai language test and must start back at Grade 1.
Piloki residents’ diet mainly consists of fish from the lake, rice, and various vegetables and fruit grown locally or bought in other markets.
