AXA Insurance brings its employee to continue ‘Where the Rain Falls?’ project. Together, they build check dam and develop fundamental knowledge in water management for villagers. The company hopes that local residences can be ready for climate change impact and have sustainable livelihood environment. There are more than 750,000 people in eight countries around the world already got the benefit from this project.
Mr. Martin Ruegg, CEO of AXA Insurance PCL., announced that now the world population is facing climate change. It affects millions of people in every corner of the world. Since 2011, AXA Group cooperates with CARE, the international humanitarian NGO, to study connection among effects from climate change adaption under the project name ‘Where the Rain Falls’. This project intends to create security in food, living and migration. The project will build knowledge base for communities to cope with problems from climate change especially rainfall quantity and unusual pattern of rainy season. There are more than 750,000 people who are already benefited from this project in eight countries from three continents: Bangladesh, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Peru, Tanzania, Vietnam and Thailand.
In Thailand, AXA Insurance and CARE International in the name of Raks Thai Foundation have been studying change in rainfall pattern which affect to smallholder agriculturist especially agriculturist in highland in Chiang Mai province and Nan province who primarily depend on rainfall. The project mainly focuses on water management so the community can permanently stand against problems from climate change. There is holistic water management plan. First, conserve and restore water source. Next, build check dam to reinstate the forest. Then, design water distribution and collection system so agriculturist can have enough water for consuming and farming all year round. Next, develop agricultural system suitable for environment and local wisdom. Finally, manage community water resource. The project is implemented with cooperation from community organization in five districts, 20 communities. There are direct beneficiary from this project around 5,686 people from 1,111 households.
In year 2015, AXA Insurance and Raks Thai Foundation choose ChaemNoi Village, Ban Chan Sub-District, Kallayaniwatana District, Chiang Mai Province, to implement the project. This village faces a problem with severe drought which is community critical problem. The study found out that rainfall pattern is changing such as late rainfall, shorten rainy season, longer drought season, and heavy rain in short period and delay. So the village experiences both drought and flood problem in the same year.
Consequently, AXA Insurance brings its employee to build check dam together with Raks Thai Foundation staff and villagers. So the agriculturists will have enough water for agriculture and living. The dam wiill increase agricultural products and build security in food and income for community residences. Also, natural forest animal will have more drinking water source. Moreover, check dam will build moisture as good natural firebreak.
“AXA Insurance not only focuses on mission following AXA group promise, but we also expand our responsibility to customers, business partners, shareholder, and employees. Besides, we still pay attention to community, social and environment. So we can be in people heart around the world. It is guarantee by being number one insurance brand for 7 consecutive years. It is the solid evidence to prove our strength and emphasize our world leading position and be the real player in Thailand insurance market” Mr. Martin Rueegg ended.
