Where Everything Falls Back Into Place
By Monica - 1 week intern
I thought that one week was too short to make an experience truly meaningful, to learn and to grow.
But after just one day at KSES, I felt completely overwhelmed by sensations and thoughts.
It feels like being transported into another world and another time, where people live in balance with nature and with all the animals that belong to it. You realise that this is the right way for humans to live too—so simple and natural, as if every piece of the puzzle were perfectly in place. Dogs, cats, cows, buffaloes, elephants, chickens and roosters all have the same importance. The Karen people literally live with them and take care of them, even though they are not rich. Animals do not belong to anyone; they are part of the family and part of the whole community.
Why have we lost the ability to live like this? Everything would be so much simpler. You feel a sense of peace, even though life is hard and not easy. You live following the rhythms of nature—waking up early, resting early, in harmony with it—and the other animals live the same way. Despite the effort, the cold, and the noise of roosters crowing, you feel that sense of peace and you feel that this is how it should be.
This feeling also extends to the elephants. When you encounter them in the forest, you understand that this is where they belong. It is right—not only for them, but for the forest and for humans themselves—because everything falls back into place. They readapt and relearn how to behave like their ancestors, not as they were forced to do in captivity. The Karen people have not lost their connection with them; they understand their importance and respect them naturally, without effort.
A few words about the organisation: I was truly surprised by the professionalism and organisation. Nothing is left to chance. In just one day, the team explains so much about the community, the situation of elephants in Thailand, and the projects that are currently underway. These are projects that will genuinely help improve captive conditions and, hopefully, bring them to an end. You are not just a spectator—you are actively involved from the very beginning and made to feel part of the project.
I recommend this experience to everyone, even for just one day—it will not be wasted. In one week, I had the pleasure of being part of a project, contributing to daily activities and tasks. It is not a holiday; it is volunteering, and it will remain one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had.
And just as the Karen people integrate with nature, KSES integrates perfectly with the Karen community—something that should not be taken for granted. If you come to Thailand, make space in your trip to discover this reality. Even just one day is truly worth it.
