Returning to kindred spirit, four years later

By Reba - 2 week intern

I visited kindred spirit in 2022 and ever since leaving I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to return. However life often gets in the way and it was only by luck that I came back to Southeast Asia in 2026. I knew I wanted to spend time at KSES and see how the village and the elephants were doing. 

So much has happened in the village, from the flood that had occurred in 2025 to the birth of a baby elephant, KSES had been through a lot. However, one thing that has not changed is how Ban Na Klan village makes me feel. For me, KSES gets better the longer I stay. I begin to feel like a part of the community and I start to adapt to the routine. I get attached to the dogs at the base, to the people who I meet, and to the way of life here. 

At KSES, I’m able to stay more present in the here and now. Moments of wonderment are day to day occurrences. From seeing a rare gibbon in a far off tree to connecting to one of the village children, there is so much offered to me at KSES. Good food and truly kind people, I am endlessly grateful for the opportunity to visit for the second time in my life. 

Being here I know that I am surrounded by people doing their very best to improve the situation for both elephants and people in this community and it is an amazing thing to be a part of.