Luther College Student's Growing Seeds for Peace Proposal Selected for Projects for Peace

We cover Decorah because we love it. Show your love back — donate today. DECORAH — Luther College sophomore Phonnaphat Khamphinit was recently selected to receive a $10,000 Projects for Peace grant to launch Growing Seeds for Peace, a community farming initiative in Thailand. Khamphinit, who goes by QQ, will spend five weeks this summer working with villagers and school children in Ban Prue Yai, Thailand, to establish a demonstration farm designed to address food insecurity and reconnect a community pulled apart by economic migration. "QQ's project reflects a strong connection between sustainable agriculture and peacebuilding, emphasizing social, economic and environmental pathways to a stronger community," said Stacy Soderstrom, director of international and transfer admissions at Luther College. "QQ's passion and care for bringing positive change to her local community in Thailand is evident through this project. We are thrilled to see her vision for a community-centered farm receive financial support and look forward to following her progress as she implements the project this summer." In Ban Prue Yai, every household relies on rice farming as its primary source of income, with average earnings of about $1,789 per year. Many adults have moved to cities for economic opportunities, leaving their children in the care of elderly relatives. Khamphinit's father is from this part of Thailand, and she has been visiting the village since childhood. "Every time I went there, I struggled with eating, even when I was a little kid," Khamphinit said. "It is really hard to access food. People mostly rely on only what they can grow at home." Growing Seeds for Peace will be built on one rai of land (about 0.4 acres) provided by Khamphinit's family. The farm will follow the Khok Nong Na model, a Thai agroecology system that integrates a micro-pond, mixed crops and small livestock such as chickens and fish. Banana, papaya, guava, mango, bamboo, herbs and leafy vegetables will be planted across the site. A food pantry will share the harvest with nearby households and the local school's lunch program. Khamphinit said she designed the project to be sustainable. It needs to be able to continue growing and operating after she returns to school, without depending entirely on her presence.To make that happen, Khamphinit's father, a former engineer who became a farmer, will manage the farm day-to-day. A committee made up of staff from Ban Prue Yai School in Thailand, villagers and a student representative will provide oversight for the community farm. The project is built around three dimensions of peace: social, economic and environmental. Villagers will be hired and paid to help build the farm so income circulates locally. At least 20 villagers and 50 students from Ban Prue Yai School are expected to take part across the project's five phases, which run from June 22 to July 24. Children will visit the farm to learn composting, seed saving and planting, drawing on practices Khamphinit first encountered through Luther's sustainability programs. Khamphinit wants the farm to become more than just a place for agriculture. She hopes it can grow into a safe and welcoming space where people from different backgrounds can come together, connect and feel a sense of belonging. In her view, small moments of human connection and understanding are often where healing and community begin. "How can we understand each other if we do not know each other?" Khamphinit said. "I want to make a space where people come together. They share something, share responsibility, and that is what leads to peace." Khamphinit plans to partner with United World College Thailand, the international high school she attended before Luther. In her plan, students will travel to the farm each year through the school's Project Week and continue to develop the community farm after Khamphinit returns to Luther. Khamphinit traces the idea for her Projects for Peace proposal back to her own experience at UWC Thailand, where students from many countries lived and studied together despite coming from completely different backgrounds. She also points to a less expected source: a farming game she played as a child. "I really wanted to have a farm since I was young, because I played 'Hay Day' and 'Family Farm Seaside' a lot," Khamphinit said. "Now this is the chance to make it happen. Not only for my own dream, but for the community." Khamphinit is majoring in international studies and political science at Luther. After graduation, she hopes to work as a policy analyst with the United Nations. Projects for Peace is a national program that funds undergraduate students at partner colleges and universities to design and carry out grassroots projects addressing the root causes of conflict. Each selected project receives $10,000. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.