Engaging Stakeholders for Sustainable Community Change: a Case Study of Ban Huai Thon Specialty Coffee Project

Abstract

This paper explores how a specialty coffee shop in Bangkok worked with the Ban Huai Thon community in Nan Province to transform traditional commercial coffee farming into specialty coffee production. The study aims to understand how the coffee shop engaged different stakeholders including farmers, roasters, and local leaders to create sustainable change. Using Kotter’s (1996) Eight Steps for Leading Change as the main framework, the research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with key participants who took part in the project. The findings show that the transformation process was built on trust, collaboration, and shared learning. The coffee shop helped farmers understand market value, provided training and fair purchasing agreements, and celebrated small wins that encouraged more villagers to join. Over time, the project became a long-term partnership that improved farmers’ income, strengthened community unity, promoted sustainable farming, and built pride in being a coffee-growing community. The study also emphasizes that sustainable change lasts when communities are supported to become more independent and continue the process on their own.