Young Thai dancers entertain the
guests.
William Macey
Growing mushrooms is not an earth shattering event for we have been
eating mushrooms for centuries - or so I have been told. But YWCA Chairwoman
Praichit Jetpai was introduced to the idea of ‘mushroom farms’ and, being a lady
to seize every opportunity to help those in need, the seed of an idea developed
to help schools not only to grow mushrooms, but to grow them in such quantities
that they are able to provide fresh vegetables to the children at lunchtime and
to offer the surplus to the families of the children at a cheaper price than
they could buy them at the local market.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and
guests open the mushroom farm.
The children have vegetables picked that day, the families
benefit and they will accumulate sufficient funds to replenish the mushroom
spoors. More than 20 local schools, with the help of Pattaya Sports Club, Rotary
and Jesters Care for Kids, have taken advantage of this initiative.
But where to go from here? Inspired by the philosophy of His Majesty the King’s
“sufficient economy”, with the help of Pattaya City Hall, and those mentioned
above, a Mushroom Learning Centre has been established at School No. 7 to be a
centre of learning to teach schools, various centres and the general public how
to look after and develop mushroom farms and turn this into a thriving cottage
business.
Mushroom spoors are in place.
A professor from the Chandrakasem Rajabhat University
Business Centre will visit every month to help those attending to develop
mushroom farms to provide additional income with information on how to sell the
product to hotels, markets, restaurants, etc., and how to grow many varieties of
mushrooms.
The centre was opened on the 5th June with many guests in attendance, including
the Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, to formally open the centre. Many stalls had been
set up to show the versatility of mushrooms. Most of us thought mushrooms were
only for eating but Thais take advantage of everything that surrounds their
everyday lives, and we witnessed mushroom drinks, skin creams and other products
with mushrooms as the base ingredient.
It is amazing how quickly the mushrooms grow with so little effort and one thing
is certain, this is a scheme that will develop very quickly for the benefit of
many people.
The mushrooms grow very quickly.
YWCA Chairwoman Praichit Jetpai
talks about how she was introduced to the idea of ‘mushroom farms’.
Manas Khongwattana, principal of
Pattaya School No. 7 (Ban Nongphangkhae), speaks about how this project is
helping to build the hopes of youths.
Young women display some of the
things that can be made from mushrooms, including mushroom drinks, skin creams
and other products with mushrooms as the base ingredient.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome shakes
Bernie Tuppin’s hand, thanking him and other PSC Charity members for their
support.
Many students are invited to see
what is happening.
Members of the YWCA and Pattaya
Sports Club pose with students and teachers in front of one of the many farms.
