Contrary to the mainstream narrative about governments and elections, the simple and most powerful way to have your say and change the world is the way you choose to spend your money. Every. Single. Day.
Can one person change the world? We could discuss that over wine at Hive Fest 2021, but meanwhile lots of people can begin to change the world by making informed decisions.
It starts with business owners who produce products - what they make & how they sell it. And who benefits.
This year my social enterprise Thai business, Pure Thai Natural Co Ltd, took the decision to empower and benefit ONE small indigenous Karen Village, Baan Huay Hin Lad Nok in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand.
Why this village? With the ongoing outbreak of Covid19 along the Thai Burmese border where we normally work with Karen village people, we have had restricted access for teaching, training, herbal and beeswax supply. And we were so deeply encouraged to see Philanthropy Connections already working to support a Karen community which already engages in sustainable organic agriculture and natural beekeeping. This community urgently needs 2 things: to have its community school funded, and to find outlets to sell the things they grow and produce. And so Pure Thai Naturals decided to sponsor this village school through Philanthropy Connections and to begin buying beeswax in particular from them in 2021, as well as begin working with them to empower & enable them to TEACH (as a paid skill-share) other less-organized and more vulnerable villages in conflict zones along the border.
But first, sponsoring an indigenous village school.
How does a Covid-cash-strapped SME business become a sponsor? We have made a simple gift box available for end of year Festive Season giving. Why a box? It's honestly incredibly HARD to sell gifts that aren't in boxes - and people vote with their feet and their purchase-click. We have created a REUSABLE box from eco-paper - fully recyclable after you use it again. The products inside? Traditional Thai Healing Balms - one warming (for poor circulation, sore muscles and stiff joints) and one cooling (for sprains, strains, headache and a clear head). Sustainable packaged in recyclable tins.
100 baht from the 495 baht price tag for each box goes as a direct donation to Philanthropy Connections for Baan Huay Hin Lad Nok Community School.
In 2011 the Karen village community leaders decided that they wanted their children to have quality education while maintaining their Karen cultural knowledge. They ensured that the school teaches a blend of local and traditional Karen knowledge along with the core, national curriculum. As part of this, the students learn how to farm and cook in their traditional way whilst also emphasizing the importance of taking care of the earth and the environment cleanly and sustainably.
The only support the school receives from the Thai government is for student lunches and a graduation ceremony. The community members manage the rest of the school: designing the local curriculum, school keeping, teaching, developing the school, and seeking funds. In the last couple of years, the community members set up various income-generating projects to support the continuation of the school. They farmed and sold brown rice, sold recycled garbage, and most successfully, beekeeping and the sale of honey.
The funds raised from this sponsorship project will secure the salaries of the ‘wisdom teachers,’ members of the community who teach the children about the Karen traditional way of life, as well as for providing out-of-class learning activities, such as Children’s Day events.
It should be added that the beeswax used in these organic balms in our boxes has been purchased from the Karen refugee community around Mae Sariang. They are already growing the Thai-Asian herb, Phlai, ready for oil extraction and use in our products next year.
Additionally two other family-run SME businesses here in Chiang Mai are indirectly benefitting from this gift box project: Nopburree Printing and CM Graphics. Our thanks to them for teamwork and support.
Apart from the direct donation to the indigenous Karen Community School, this gift gives back to our Thai environment: it is fair trade, sustainable and uses natural Thai ingredients locally produced without chemicals. Less pollution for our soils and waterways. Organic herbs use compost, which means less burning during the dry season, as dry leaves start to be a valuable asset in the production process and are no longer considered waste.
Together We Can.
We'd like to acknowledge Siam Nissan Chiang Mai and Khun Julanit from BNI Believe in particular, for being the first progressive Thai business to think Fair Trade and order a large quantity of boxes for their corporate gift giving. Yes, we can personalize the box for corporate giving at no extra cost.
We ship worldwide with DHL, who have confirmed they ARE sipping normally to almost every country. They advise to add 2 extra days to their normal 4-5 day delivery window, making the shipping time about 7 days. So yes, you CAN still order for Christmas - we strongly suggest ordering before 15th December.
Store link? Here it is: https://purethainaturals.com/collections/new-in-our-store/products/thai-healing-balm-gift-box
We WILL be changing the wrapper and having a red-gold version with the Chinese Lucky Dragon available in the coming weeks - Chinese New Year on February 12th remains one of the largest retail events in the world. Yes, our boxes will be selling on Tao Bao. Needs must. Please connect with us for commercial enquiries, and subscribe to our store newsletter to stay up to date.
So how are YOU changing your corner of the world this Festive Season? Or is that someone else's job?
Get Your FREE Hive Account
*