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His Majesty the King of Thailand has inspired Members of his own Family to be actively involved in development projects.
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit:
In 1972, while touring with His Majesty in the northeastern Province of Nakhon Phanom, Her Majesty came upon a beautiful indigenous local silk called mudmee. Realising its production would be a means of bringing income to village women who wove it, she set up a foundation to handle everything from raising silkworms to marketing. Its success prompted her to explore other Thai traditional crafts and discovered that a dozen or more were dying from lack of promotion. She then embarked on an ambitious venture that involved engaging the old masters to teach young artisans the fine points of their crafts. In 1976, she set up the SUPPORT Foundation (Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques) to ensure that the programme would survive long into the future. She has also opened a number of Chitralada shops around the Kingdom to sell the products made by SUPPORT participants. |
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H.R.H. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn:
Having spent considerable time in the provinces, either on his own visits or accompanying other Members of the Royal Family, the Crown Prince became aware of the need for better health care for rural residents. In 1987, he established full-service hospitals in the South at Nakhon Si Thammarat, Yala, and Pattani: and in the Northeast at Kalasin, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Ratchathani, frequently calling on patients at these hospitals to ensure they are given the best care possible.
H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn:
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is often seen in photos of her Father's upcountry journeys to
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oversee rural development projects. She is generally at his side, taking meticulous notes for his later reference. She has initiated a number of important projects on her own, notably in the areas of child education and health, and in cultural research including launching a programme of school vegetable gardens to supplement young children's daily diet. Her interest in new knowledge led her to establish the Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre. It operates a research component that has added immeasurably to an understanding of the more esoteric aspects of Thai culture.
H.R.H. Princess Chulabhorn:
Princess Chulabhorn is a research chemist who established the Chulabhorn Foundation in 1986 and the Chulabhorn Research Institute in 1987. The two focus on the chemistry of conservation, both to preserve the environment and to foster the use of natural products. Her Princess Chulabhorn Science Congress brings together noted experts from around the globe to share their knowledge of the environmental, scientific, and technology issues.
Princess Ubol Ratana:
Princess Ubol Ratana established the Princess Ubol Ratana Foundation under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen in 1995 to help supplement lunch programmes for poor rural children in Thailand at their local school/monastery. Khun Poom, her son, passed away in the tragic
tsunami
of 2004 while vacationing at Khao Lak, in the South. The Princess subsequently established the Khun Poom Foundation in his memory to raise money to foster the development of disadvantaged and autistic children, and to provide relief aid to tsunami victims. She also founded "To Be Number One Project" to campaign against drugs usage among teenagers. |
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