Kophai Community
President Wirat Joijinda (7th right) leads his committee to thank Mayor
Itthiphol Kunplome and Pattaya City for five years of support that
culminated in Kophai receiving a national award last month.
Warunya Thongrod
Leaders of the Kophai Community’s acclaimed neighborhood
anti-drug program thanked Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome for five
years of support that culminated in a national award last month.
Community President Wirat Joijinda, who also heads the Pattaya and
Sriracha Anti-Drug Network, led a neighborhood delegation to city hall
July 12 to thank the mayor for guidance and support since the formation
of Kophai’s Mother of the Nation anti-drug campaign in 2008.
On June 26, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board
Region 2 selected the Kophai Community program as the only one on the
Eastern Seaboard to be recognized by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
for its effectiveness in preventing and solving drugs issues.
“Since 2008, we have worked hard with Pattaya under the Mother of the
Nation Fund until the community has been honored as the center of
education for at the district level and many agencies have visited to
observe,” Wirat said. “With the work that has produced concrete results,
our community has attracted the attention of ONCB Region 2 since we have
produced results.”
Wirat said the prime minister praised the group “for having volunteers
working to solve drug issues within the community and requested myself
and the team to continue working for the nation. I thank Pattaya’s
administrators, Banglamung District, the Pattaya Police Station and
Pattaya Public Health Department for having supported us and guided us
,pushing the citizens sector to solve drugs issues.”
“The reason that the Kophai Community has gained such success is the
determination of the community committee, which had fought alongside
Pattaya City Hall,” Itthiphol said. “I congratulate the community for
having been honored by the public sector. This is a good opportunity for
other communities to be inspired and have the motivation to push for
their communities to work hard to eradicate drugs from Pattaya.”
Kophai secretary Kalyarat Polyiem said the group works continuously and
without expectation of funding from the public. “We have always pushed
forward improving the drugs situation. Currently, it can be said that
the situation has vastly improved because we take care of our children
with love.”
