On 22/23 November 2006, as one of the last events within the framework of the “Gender within Local Authorities and the Community” (GLAC) program, a gender training was held at Khun Tan National Park, Lamphun. Organized by Mae Tha Administrative Organisation and “Strengthening Gender Capacity on Resources and Environmental Management” Project (GLAC-Mae Tha), 20 women leaders gathered to develop a deeper understanding of gender issues and their own capacity and confidence to act as leaders in their respective communities.

GLAC has been a pilot project aiming at the integration and strengthening of the gender perspective at local administrative levels in the provinces of Mae Hong Son, Lampang and Chiang Mai. It has been initiated by HBF’s Chiang Mai office in 2003 and has ever since conducted workshops, study trips, research, and other education measures to empower local administrations with particular regard to the task of gender democracy.

HBF’s and the project’s efforts even won recognition by the national government. In September 2005 HBF received an award of the Ministry for Social Development and Human Security in the category of supporting social network development.