Project Thailand

About Us

About Project Thailand

Project Thailand works at the grass-roots level to preserve and enchance Thai culture and the Thai way of life by improving access to education for disadvantaged children in rural Thailand. This is done by working in cooperation with low-income communities to create long-term programs that will lead to self-reliance and economic security, working to promote education and cultural exchange with Thailand's neighbours and promoting education and cultural exchange between Thailand and the Unites States.

Project Thailand in detail

Project Thailand was founded by Dara Sutthisuwan, a Thai language instructor, and students in her class at Wat Thai of Los Angeles. The members come from diverse backgrounds who all share a collective enthusiastic desire to help improve the lives of those living in a country they love and respect.

Project Thailand has currently been focusing its efforts in the province of Sa Kaeo, Thailand. It is one of the poorest provinces in Thailand. Sa Kaeo is 200 kms. East of Bangkok and can be reached by road or by rail. It is an eastern province near the Cambodia / Thailand border. Unfortunately, Sa Kaeo's proximity to the Cambodian border has left it with a legacy of land mines, many of which are still active and threaten the lives of the residents.

Most families in this province are poor farmers who struggle to earn a meager living. Child labor is common and often the only means of supporting their families. Many can not afford to send their children to local public schools, as the cost of supplies and clothing alone can be prohibitive. The only teachers these children have known are local border patrol officers who focus primarily upon teaching agricultural skills, leaving the students who do attend school at a disadvantage in the modern world.

Given this dire situation, Project Thailand is focusing its efforts around energizing the educational system of Ban Koke Noi, a village in the Sa Kaeo province. In 2003, Project Thailand purchased uniforms for all of the children of Ban Koke Noi Elementary School. The concept of a school uniform is central to the idea of education in Thai Society and may make the difference between a child's attendance and absence. In the Thai culture a uniform is a symbol of dignity, self respect and of occupying a place within society. Project Thailand also donated Physical Education clothing sets and back packs for all the students. Project Thailand donated much needed school supplies as well as modest donations of sports equipment.

In March 2004, Project Thailand sponsored a two week summer camp of 50 college students from Silpakorn University of Arts, who volunteered their services to the village of Ban Koke Noi. They worked with the villagers to help with many repairs necessary for the village. They taught art lessons to the school children and painted murals on the walls of the day care center.

In April 2004, Project Thailand hired a qualified full time teacher for the entire year for the Ban Koke Noi Elementary School and in May hired a second qualified full time teacher. Project Thailand continues to donate school supplies. Future donations include musical instruments.

Also in 2004, Project Thailand created a community center by donating windows and doors to an old unused building. The concept behind the community center is multifold. First, to allow service to a whole range of un-met community needs. In being used to teach English to children and adults, a future place for culture and art, a space for fun and enjoyment for everybody. Another goal is to utilize the community center for a Senior Citizens group. The concept of a Senior citizens group is totally foreign. There are many seniors in this village who have much they can contribute to the community and need an outlet to share their skills. The Community center will also be vital in the identification and realization of an OTOP product for the village. OTOP is a project sponsored by the Thai government that helps and supports the creation and marketing of local products.

In 2005-2007, Project Thailand hired four teachers to teach at four elementary schools in Buriram and Chaiyaphum. The parents and teachers saw the big improvement of their kids’ education.

In 2008, Project Thailand continues to support two teachers in Buriram and Chaiyaphum and will go back to Sa Kaeo to start a youth leadership program for a group of fifty teenagers. Thailand’s future depends on the next generation and Project Thailand is all for that.