On April 17, 2011, the Lahu community at Chaka in northern Thailand watched in horror as five of the seven houses in their village as well as the rice barns burned to the ground. It was a devastating loss for the 450 villagers, most of whom are farmers engaged in rotation farming of hill rice.  Some tend to their cattle while some of the young engage in the seasonal picking of lychee and longgan in the orchards in Chiangmai.

On hearing the news the following day, Fr. Paul Niphot Thienivan of the diocese of Chiangmai rushed to visit the community with donations of money, clothing, rice and other foodstuff.  Fr. Niphot has been a friend of the Lahu community,located 25 km from Chengrai in northern Chiangmai, for over 35 years and has built a relationship of trust with the villagers.  Fr Niphot is director of Research and Training for Religo-Cultural Communities (RTRC).

Upon learning of the plight of the Lahu community, Fr Colin Tan SJ, regional superior of the Jesuits in the Malaysia-Singapore region, offered to donate towards the rebuilding of their houses. Fr Jojo Fung SJ presented the SGD500 donation to Fr Niphot for the Lahu at a meeting in RTRC on May 10, 2011. It was a welcome collaboration between the Society of Jesus MAS and RTRC in helping the Lahu rebuild their lives.