Plastic bottles create fun areas for children

 
The success of the project was announced at a dedication ceremony in honour of the late King at Panya Wutthikorn School in Bangkok.
The 88 recycled playgrounds are manufactured from plastic shampoo bottles, and help promote health, muscular development and emotional development, while also cultivating a “consciousness of conservation” for natural resources and the environment.
The project was in collaboration with the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Ministry of Education, Resources Management for Sustainability, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and the Department of Industrial Works under the Ministry of Industry.
The late King was revered by Thai people and admired throughout the world for, in part, the grace his displayed in implementing the more than 4,000 Royal Projects he initiated to improve the lives and wellbeing of Thais. 
He regularly emphasised the need to assist people with disabilities and underprivileged children, as demonstrated in an excerpt from one of his speeches:
 “Assisting persons with disabilities is particularly important because these people don’t want to be disabled and they want to help themselves. If we don’t help them to enable them to do a job for their family life and economy, this will result in a heavy burden for their family and the public. Thus, a practical policy is to assist them to enable their self-help so that they benefit society.”
 His Majesty’s speech was delivered to the Foundation for the Welfare of the Crippled, under the royal patronage of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother, at Chitralada Palace on March 22, 1974.
 His Majesty was admired as “Thailand’s Father of natural resources and environmental conservation” as a result of numerous Royal Projects that promoted responsible consumption and environmental conservation. 
In a speech in 2002 he said: “Environmental issues are significant issues that arise as part of development and advancement, which are common issues for all countries. That is, the more advancement a country has, the more the environmental quality and pollution problems are formed and the more serious they become. Thailand is a country currently encountering these issues.”
 Raffy Fajardo, the managing director of Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand), said: “P&G is really proud to take part in pushing royally-initiated projects to enhance the quality of lives of persons with disabilities, children, and youth and to campaign for public awareness of the importance of recycling for natural resource conservation based on His Majesty’s Sufficiency Economy philosophy.”
Dr Witoon Simachokdee, former permanent secretary to the Ministry of Industry and chairman of the Resources Management for Sustainability Foundation, said: “It is with great pleasure and pride for the foundation to serve as part of this project. 
“This is another project that has adopted His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s resolutions to take action in terms of educational support for underprivileged children, and especially the environment, which is the foundation’s key mission. 
“The foundation aspires to achieve sustainable environmental development and management. Apart from helping with the physical and mental development of children with special needs, the transformation of used durable, strong and safe plastic packaging into playgrounds helps preserve natural resources and better management. 
While adding value with waste disposal, it indeed helps to address global warming. 
“This is considered as a role-model project for organisations with social responsibility. It is compatible with international environmental policy pertaining to production with responsible care.”
 The P&G Thailand Foundation for Society adopted His Majesty’s guidance and speeches as guidelines for the implementation of the project “Green Gift of Learning”. 
The colourful playgrounds are manufactured from recycled shampoo bottles of Pantene, Head&Shoulders, Rejoice and Herbal Essences. 
The P&G Thailand Foundation for Society was founded by Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand), which has been operating in Thailand for more than 25 years. The establishment of the P&G Thailand Foundation for Society manifests the intent and commitment to collaborating with other organisations to create public-interest activities that improve the quality of life, health and the environment of people in Thai society, for no profit.
 The project also aims to enhance the development of children with special needs as well as improve their personal health and hygiene and build their confidence. 
It also aims to instil environmental protection consciousness and campaign for cooperation within communities and society as a whole so they are aware of the importance of providing opportunities for children with disabilities while also protecting their rights. At least 20,000 children will benefit from the project.
 Kannika Jarusuraisin, the external relations director of Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) and the secretary of the P&G Thailand Foundation for Society, said that 96 per cent of the 363 respondents to the initiative showed the highest overall level of satisfaction. 
“These colourful playgrounds effectively stimulate children to go out of their classrooms for exercise and socialise with others,” Kannika said. “This will lead other children to understand and accept children with special needs when they grow up, leading to a more peaceful coexistence and fewer instances of discrimination in society. 
Kannika said the project encouraged recycling, as the materials for each of the playgrounds came from recycled P&G products. She said it gave those behind the scheme “great pride” that it “created such value and importance” beyond the playground. 
“We’d like to thank our partner organisations, schools, celebrities, community leaders, suppliers, mass media and volunteer personnel for coming together as one to dedicate these playgrounds to our beloved King.”