I. Progress report (January 8, 2013):
Activities undertaken:
1.Launching capacity building of targeted population through meeting, training and seminars
2. Building / operating waste management systems
3. Launching dissemination of project results
4. Launching participatory evaluation

Results of activities:
1. Witnessed increased capacity/awareness of targeted population and concerned parties in project location resulting in applying what being learnt successfully in planned activities
2. Established facilities as follows:
- 3 Community Waste Management Centres, earth worm raising farms, and compost production facilities
- 3 demonstration plots on native chemical-free vegetables of 15 species
- 3 new garbage funds and 2 expanded funds

Project Visibility and Communication by other organizations/individuals:
1.On 12 Oct 2012, staff members of Farmers Rehabilitation and Development Fund Office, Loei Province, visited to learn from the project on earth worm raising and waste management through making use of earth worm.
2. On 27 Oct 2012, staff members of Community Organization Coordinating Body of Loei Province visited to learn from the project regarding organizational structure and roles & responsibilities of the project in addressing community problems.
3. During Nov 2012, staff members of Community Organization Development Institute, Northeastern office visited the project to share experience on community development issues, natural resources (land, water and forest) management.
4. On 1 Dec 2012, staff members of Innovative Land Management Committee, Loei Province &
Northeastern Region Land Management Network, visited to learn from the project regarding earth worm raising and waste management through making use of earth worm .
5. On 31 Dec 2012, Phu Luang People Group visited the project to share experience on community rights and visit worm raising facilities.

Emerging problems/issues and approaches for solution:
1.Difficulty in carrying out activities as planned: sowing & harvesting season, and lottery street vendor which was also a main source of income for targeted population. Solution: Adjusting the schedules to suit the availability of majority of targeted population
2. Shortage of water for demonstration plots: severe draught during 2012 . Solution: 2.Seeking additional water system including artesian water / storage or suitable area to accommodate functions of the plots
3. Complexity nature of waste problem. Solution: Giving more time for collective understanding with patience and continuous participatory activities
4. Awareness and responsibilities of urban/sub-urban communities on waste management were very limited, due to economical reason thus limited participation. Solution: Establishing holistic learning centre on waste management and Coordinating more with public/private sector including communities to ensure optimal participation.

Experience ,lessons learnt:
1.Raising earth worm for waste management was proven to be fairly effective in replication, in spite of required in kind/in cash contribution. Regarded as an innovation, the activities had received attention of average persons.
2.Several Patterns of waste management were shaped up as a result of specific environment and traditions but could be applied as appropriate

Project expense:
The project reported the expense of THB: 344,500 out of the first disbursement of THB:461,287.02.

II. Project Site Visit (January 17, 2013):
Findings and Observation:
At a premises which accommodated the grantee?s office, a community radio station, and a demonstration plot of toxic-free farming of the project, the visiting team was briefed about and witnessed some progress of activities, and some immediate outputs by a group of project leaders. The brief consisted of produced knowledge pieces on production process of organic and environmentally-friendly stuff for household and agricultural use. The established facility for turning organic waste into fertilizer seemed to be in progress , gradually supplying fertilizer to plots of members.

To witness a result of the produced organic fertilizer , the team visited one plot of a member in Baan (village) Non Sawang. The plot was a small area of less than an acre next to a sugar cane field, allotted for growing several seasoning edible species The member had applied the fertilizer to the plot in the previous two week and found a primary promising results. Before the application of the fertilizer, the member had taken care of the plot in a natural way, i.e. without much application of chemicals. Earning about THB: 100-200 per day was a sure income. Now with the fertilizer from the project , it was expected that this sure income would be sustained and contributing to maintaining the fertility of the soil and promoting the process of turning community organic waste into organic fertilizer.

In the municipality, the team interacted with one reuse/recycle group in Jommanee 2 Community who gave a brief on how community waste was dealt with on a daily basis . The group, mostly of women members, had displayed existing management capacity resulting in some savings contributing to welfare of members. Seven other communities were practicing the same, it was confirmed.

The visiting team agreed that capacity building activities was complete and producing results. Seven core leaders of the project expressed their primary satisfaction of the project.