Help for the rural and the remote

ONE OF THE many initiatives marking the 60th birthday of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is a TV documentary series being aired on Channel 5 through the end of the year.

“Chao Fah Khong Paen Din” provides details and interviews that should help Thais from all walks of life to have a better understanding of their beloved princess.

“It’s a great honour for my family and company,” says Nutthaporn Gatusak, account executive manager of First Spirit Creative, in an expression of appreciation for being permitted by the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary to produce the documentary. “I would like Thai people to know the Princess better through this documentary.”

“Chao Fah Khong Paen Din” , which is made up of 45 30-minute episodes, draws on six of the projects initiated by Princess Sirindhorn. It brings together a series of scenes shot at the real destinations and combines them with a narration and interviews conducted by six leading Thai actors and actresses.

“I often wondered why the Princess so often visited Border Patrol Police schools in many parts of the country. That question led me to source materials from the Internet, from Border Patrol Police schools and from the Princess’ books, and that’s how I discovered these projects. I chose to focus on the six projects most suitable for this documentary,” Nutthaporn says. “I want Thais to know more about the Princess’ duties and be inspired to help and support the students and teachers at those remote schools.”

Pidsanu “Boy” Nimsakul hosts “The Quality of Life of Children and Youth” and Kongkapan “Noom” Sangsuriya takes over for “Occupational Development”. Khemanit “Pancake” Jamikorn presents “Royal Scholarships for Education” episodes, Lalana “Jeab” Kongtoranin for “The Quality of Life of People in Remote Area”, “Naresuan” star Lt-Colonel Wanchana “Bird” Sawatdee handles “Integrated Area Development” while Worarit Fueangarom takes the reins for “Cooperation with Other Countries”.

“The starting point of all projects is the Border Patrol Police schools,” says Nutthaporn. 

“‘The Quality of Life of Children and Youth’ is the Princess’s first project related to children and parents. It works on the principle that if children have adequate nutrition, they will be able to study. The Princess also examined the difficulties faced by their parents because of insufficient income and found a solution through offering occupational training given by the Border Patrol Police to the housewives. At the beginning, the Princess purchased all the products for her Phufa handicraft store. The project is a testament of her devotion to the wellbeing of the Thai people, especially those in rural areas. And she doesn’t only help kids in remote rural schools but also here in Bangkok, at Wat Kositharam School for example,” says Nutthaporn. “The project started with three Border Patrol Police schools in Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi. Filming for the first episode of the documentary took place at Tako Pit Thong School, which is perched up a mountain and relies on solar power, and at Ban Tham Hin in the foothills of Ratchaburi’s Suan Phung district.

“Tako Pit Thong students have to walk 17 kilometres to reach school. They are Karen kids and even though their Thai language abilities are not all that strong, they attend class everyday. We found the students very respectful and disciplined. They each have different duties such as washing the dishes, sweeping the floors or cleaning up. Most of the teachers are Border Patrol Police officers while some are former students who have returned to teach there even though they only earn Bt4,000 a month,” says the young executive.

“For the ‘Occupational Development’ segment, we will present two projects in each of the four regions of the country. In the South, we are planning to go to Narathiwat Province though we are a little worried about the violence there. However, we will try to go to places that few people visit. 

“We will also go to remote Phufa village in Nan’s Bo Kluea district where the Princess is helping to develop the land and implement activities for income generation. Omkoi district in Chiang Mai is another choice. Here, the Princess has successfully encouraged the villagers to pursue careers in weaving and crafts rather than growing and selling opium. Omkoi is more developed these days but people don’t go there because it’s hard to get to.

“‘For Cooperation with Other Countries’, we will visit schools in Laos that receive help from Nong Khai and China. These are part of the cultural exchange programme. There are many Laotian and Chinese students studying at Khon Kaen University,” she says.

Nutthaporn selected the hosts based on their interests and personalities. 

“Boy Pidsanu is adventurous, Lalana is a doctor so suitable for the health-related project. Pancake does a lot of work for society and Lt-Colonel Wanchana is very involved in area development. Noom Kongkapan is the host of a TV programme that deals with careers.”

Some Bt50 million is being invested in the documentary, which will cover the release of DVDs and the publishing of a book on the schools.

She’s also hoping viewers will be generous in helping the schools meet some urgent requirements.

“Tako Pit Thong and Ban Tham Hin need an Internet signal while some schools have asked for medical supplies,” says Nutthaporn. 

“It’s hard not to be moved by the plight of the students. They don’t know where they’d be without the Princess.”

 

FOLLOW HER

 

n “Chao Fah Khong Paen Din” airs at 11.20pm on Thursdays on Channel 5.