Project Zomia
Where your money goes.
Where your money goes.
Nearly all of Mitria's profits go to Project Zomia: our initiative dedicated to funding and managing community-driven projects across the region.
The name comes from a term used to describe the highland regions of South and Southeast Asia where diverse ethnic communities have historically lived autonomously. Our goal is to support local leadership, reduce dependence on outside aid, and strengthen the foundations that allow each community to thrive freely.
On Koh Klang Island, years of coastal erosion and unchecked development have taken a toll on the marine ecosystems that once thrived there. As the shoreline receded, wildlife disappeared, houses had to be moved and livelihoods were erased.
Now, the local community has decided to take restoration into their own hands by replanting mangroves, restoring habitats, raising native bee colonies, and removing rubbish to bring the island's ecosystem back to life. Our friends Mat and Moona, who run a small guesthouse in the community, are leading the charge and organizing as many projects and volunteer groups as they can. We're proud to partner with the residents of Koh Klang and support their work where we can.
In the Hmong village of Ban Long Lao, just outside Luang Prabang, we're working with our friend and village chief Kua to support the creation of a new community center that will serve as a hub for cultural preservation and village life.
The center will include a small museum showcasing Hmong traditions, clothing, and crafts, as well as space for meetings, performances, and festivals like Hmong New Year. The existing meeting hall will be transformed into a shop and café run by the village women's union, offering locally made handicrafts and refreshments to visitors. Built collaboratively with volunteers using handmade adobe bricks, the project aims to strengthen community pride, create income opportunities, and celebrate Hmong culture for generations to come.
In the Hmong village of Ban Chok, across the Mekong from Luang Prabang, our friend Lue made us aware that access to clean water remains a major challenge, especially during the dry season.
The government previously installed a water system to fix the issue, but heavy limestone sediment quickly clogged the pipes, leaving the community with limited and unfiltered water that must be boiled before drinking. We're partnering with Lue and community leaders to repair and improve the system by installing new filtration units designed to prevent buildup and ensure a steady, safe water supply year-round.
In the Tamang village of Arukharka, 3 hours north of Kathmandu, the local monastery once stood as the heart of community life: a place for prayer, festivals, and rituals marking every stage of life. When it was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake, the village lost more than a building; they lost their cultural and spiritual gathering place.
Since then, our friend Nima Lama and his family, who are entrusted with the stewardship of the monastery, have been using their own funds bolstered by small contributions from the community to slowly rebuild. By working alongside the Lama family to help fund its reconstruction, we hope to ensure that future generations have a space to preserve their traditions and reconnect with their heritage.
Mitria actively supports the movement toward hands-off elephant tourism and bringing an end to the practice of breeding elephants in captivity. Over the years, we've been lucky to have worked with several projects across Asia and have contributed to captive elephant care through direct hands-on labor as well as financial support.
Our focus also extends beyond elephant welfare to include the wellbeing of mahouts, many of whom come from refugee or marginalized backgrounds and face economic hardship within the traditional tourism model. By promoting responsible, observation-based sanctuaries, we aim to create a future where elephants live with greater freedom and mahouts earn fair livelihoods rooted in respect and compassion rather than exploitation.