Success story from Thailand

As you know, we love to tell you about the trees you have planted with us. But there would be no trees to speak of if it weren’t for the talented tree growers we work with around the world. This is also the case with Anchala and her special success story from Thailand.

As you know, we love to tell you about the trees you have planted with us. But there would be no trees to speak of if it weren’t for the talented tree growers we work with around the world. This is also the case with Anchala and her special success story from Thailand.

So this is Anchala. Find out why she is so interested in trees and how this passion was triggered. You want to know what the few clicks on your screen have to do with their work? And, just as importantly, where can you find the best papaya ever?

We’ll tell you everything today, just read on.

Of a beautiful kitchen, birds and a busy Anchala

The open kitchen offers a spectacular view of northern Thailand’s most beautiful side. Lush green hills, buzzing insects buzzing in the humid air. Ducks quack and quarrel among them. I wonder what they are arguing about in such a paradisiacal place.

In the meantime, Anchala is busy in the kitchen putting together a meal with all kinds of kitchen utensils. She does her best to prepare lunch from the leftover vegetables in the fridge.

Your knife clatters on the chopping board. Boiling water bubbles in the saucepan.

Suddenly Anchala disappears, only to reappear immediately afterwards with a perfect papaya in her hand.

“I picked them from the tree next to my house,” Anchala beams. She has to laugh as she explains that she has been keeping a close eye on this one papaya for weeks. “I had to keep chasing the birds away! They can tell exactly which are the best fruits…”

Anchala had the feeling that today would be the perfect day to finally pick the papaya from the tree. And once you’ve tasted it, you can’t argue with her – it’s the most delicious papaya I’ve ever eaten.

But Anchala didn’t just have to contend with the birds because of the taste. She is much more interested in what is inside the fruit itself: its seeds. She wastes no time in carefully spreading the seeds out on a plate so that they can be dried and prepared for planting.

A few of them are again destined for her own garden, where she will plant one or two more papaya trees. The rest of the seeds will join the thousands of other trees planted by Click A Tree to create diverse ecosystems and forests. Or, in other words, to create a perfect habitat for animals.

Anchala smiles as she confesses that she never thought she would be so obsessed with seeds and trees. Not so long ago, she wouldn’t have given it a second thought.

The girl from the city moves to Pai

Anchala grew up in a small town near Bangkok. One day she decided to pack her bags and move with her family to Pai, her mother’s home town.

She had various jobs there. Among other things, she worked at the reception desk in a hotel. It wasn’t very fulfilling, but it helped her to provide for her family. She did her best, and that was all that mattered at the time.

At the hotel, Anchala noticed that her manager had an incredible number of plants in his office, which he tended very carefully. One day when she was in his office, he asked Anchala if she had a favorite plant.

As she had never thought about it, she didn’t know the answer. She wasn’t really interested in plants or the environment in general.

“How naive I was!” Anchala smiles as she remembers that day.

In fact, Anchala just wanted to get back to work. But when she left his office that day, her manager thought of a different strategy and asked Anchala if she liked fruit.

Anchala thought this was a strange question. Doesn’t everyone like at least one type of fruit?

She replied that she often goes to the market to buy fresh food – of course she likes fruit!

“But wouldn’t it be better if you had a few fruit trees at home?” he asked.

And although there was no typical “aha moment” or sudden change for Anchala, this question planted a seed in her head. Like a papaya tree that slowly produces perfect fruit, new ideas would grow in Anchala’s mind over time.

Anchala starts planting trees in northern Thailand

Somewhere deep inside her, Anchala couldn’t let go of this thought. Until the day she discovered the possibility of making a living from planting trees. After all, she wasn’t getting any younger and it was time for a change.

And what a change that was. When she started her new job, she quickly realized that she had no experience in planting trees. She hadn’t even taken care of a houseplant yet! This meant that she had to learn on the job, often by trial and error.

But in addition to the occasional frustration, there was also a lot of fun. Anchala began to experiment whenever she could. She was soon found preparing and planting seeds and even cloning trees!

Anchala spent a lot of time listening to the other residents around her – they gradually became her most valuable source of information.

Of course, it still used scientific methods and technologies, but the people in the surrounding villages had lived there for many years. They were still dependent on the forest, they observed it and learned a lot about it.

The more knowledge Anchala accumulated, the greater her passion for trees became. The girl from Bangkok, who only cared about her family’s livelihood, became a woman who dedicated her life to trees and loved her work.

We reap what we sow

Anchala continued to do her best and the seeds continued to grow. In fact, they grew so well that Anchala is now the regional manager of a team of 15 enthusiastic employees. dedicated to planting trees in northern Thailand.

And none of them is more enthusiastic about the work than Anchala.

Variety is important to her. One day Anchala organizes a planting day, the next day she teaches her employees methods of sowing. She is happy that she can still work in the field. She’s not afraid to get dirty, because that’s the only way another tree can be planted.

Wherever Anchala goes, she collects seeds of different species. She hopes that one day she will be able to plant them alongside many others and eventually create a forest.

Anchala has really grown to love all the trees and reforestation projects she works on.

“I am incredibly grateful for this work,” she says. “Of course it has changed my life. I still work for other people, but now I take care of them by doing what I love. And the trees I help plant will provide a future for so many other people and animals too.”

But it didn’t happen overnight – Anchala has worked hard to get to where she is today. And she wouldn’t have made it if you hadn’t thought of planting trees with Click A Tree.

Future efforts and hope for Northern Thailand

Back in the busy kitchen, Anchala picks up some seeds from the “money tree”, which she carefully stores. She doesn’t dare to dream too big, but she hopes that one day she and her team will be able to plant trees all over northern Thailand.

“It’s funny that I’m talking about the future now,” she says. “This money tree is also called the lucky tree, and they say it brings good luck and wealth. I always have it nearby.”

On the local situation, Anchala reports on a new initiative called “litter-free Fridays”. Every Friday morning, she and the other workers take the time to collect garbage from the roadside. They recycle what they can and throw the rest away.

Passers-by honk, wave and even hand out drinks to the women to thank them for keeping the area clean. People seem to understand the concept of planting trees and a healthy environment. But Anchala also thinks that they still have a long way to go before anything really changes.

She experienced the loss of the forest first-hand when she visited Pai on vacation as a young girl.

“There used to be trees everywhere, but it’s changed a lot since we’ve lived here,” she says.

She thinks about the children who are growing up now and how different their childhood will be from her own. This makes them even more determined to reforest the area.

With seeds in her hands, she prepares to set off. Before that, she takes a plastic bowl out of her recycling garbage can to put the seeds in.

Laughing, she takes her leave to return to her work, where the new seeds are to be planted. “I think my old manager would be proud of me!”

Anchala puts on her helmet, jumps on her scooter and rides off. You can’t imagine that there are more proud people here than her.

Why does Click A Tree plant trees in Thailand?

All this is only possible because you remember Click A Tree. And like you, we are determined to drive forward the reforestation of the world.

In the 20th century, Thailand lost more than 70% of its forests due to deforestation and land use changes, including urban development and agriculture.

Our work – and your commitment to planting trees with us – contributes to the reforestation of these special places in northern Thailand. And not only that, it also helps to preserve and enrich the existing landscape.

Asian elephants are an endangered species in Thailand and they depend on trees to survive. And we also depend on trees to survive, remember? They provide us with the oxygen we need to breathe!

Let’s keep planting trees and make sure that the hard work of Anchala and her team really makes a long-term difference.

What can you do to ensure continued success?

Anchala wants future generations to live in a healthy environment. We know that’s what you want too.

Planting something as simple as a tree was not always easy. But with Click A Tree, that’s it now.

You can plant a tree in Thailand right now in our online store. All it takes is a few mouse clicks – it’s that simple. Or how about planting one of our trees for elephants instead?

But what if some of your favorite companies haven’t committed to planting trees yet? Tell them to get in touch with us! We can offer customized solutions for everyone.

And if we plant more trees, think of all the people, animals and landscapes that will benefit.

We have already shared the miracle of Mahabana and the success stories from Nepal with you. Where can you help us write more success stories?

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Thank you for everything you have already done – you are wonderful!

A big thank you from Anchala and her tree planting team, from Mother Nature and of course from us!