Long Live Her Majesty The Queen

Thanks To Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Ancient Tradition of Folk Crafts revived throughout Thailand

From her early days as the Queen of Thailand, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has established a bond of love with her subjects. This has yielded tangible results, and presently, a real network of craft projects covers the entire Kingdom, benefiting innumerable people in farming communities in remote areas all over Thailand.

From small projects initiated by Her Majesty the Queen to alleviate hardship faced by villagers in disaster-hit areas, emerged a movement of folk art revival, giving a new lease of life to significant Thai heritage and commercial production of craft items, for local customers and for export, under the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (SUPPORT).

The Queen took up the task in response to His Majesty the King�s aim and ideas to help the people. Her Majesty has been following in the King�s footsteps in obtaining closer contact with their subjects.

During Their Majesties� visits to all parts of the country, the Queen came to realize that rural poverty was the result of soil degradation, from improper farming practices and deforestation. His Majesty thought up supplementary occupations for farm families, based on natural resources, requirements and the ability of local people. A graining center was put up within the Chitralada Villa to train young people in folk crafts and at the same time to conserve this national heritage for future generations.

Since 1979, the training center in the compound of the royal residence has provided theoretical and practical training on lacquerware, metal edging, vine basketry, bamboo basketry, tailoring, brocade weaving, silk weaving, Thai pattern drawing, package making and artificial flower making.

Through the years, craft projects of the SUPPORT Foundation have been established in all parts of the country. The training has also bee expanded, in accordance with local demands. Her Majesty the Queen selected students for the training programs from poor farm families in the project areas. Teachers have been provided from various institutions and organizations. Students, aged 13 to 35, are taught craft techniques and brought to visit places of historical and economic importance.

Her Majesty the Queen is close to the Thai people in rural areas

Training programs on site, in fact, started long before this. Early projects such as the tiny clay doll at Bang Sadet in Ayutthaya Province, for example, was established in late 1976, when Their Majesties visited the flood-ravaged area, long plagued by irregular weather patterns and accumulating debts.

Other projects came about in the same manner, as urgent problem solving measures developed into income-earning programs. Villagers who had never been involved in craft making before became famed craftspeople. Local products and resources are in full use.

Craft products in the SUPPORT projects are made by local people, members of farming families devoted to the Throne and in deep gratitude to Her Majesty the Queen. Coupled with proper training and quality control, unique craft items have been produced and are in high demand both here and abroad. Innumerable despondent villages have been turned into industrious craft production sites, benefiting their members and localities to the full.

Back to Features Headline Index

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.