The project started after we heard from a friend that a remote hospital was short of adequate oxygen concentrators. It did not have enough oxygen tanks to supply its patients. Because of long distance, the logistic cost is high.
After some consideration, we concluded that oxygen generators would be more useful and beneficial in the long run. We studied several types of machines and chose the generator which guarantees 87-95% concentrated oxygen. It delivers higher features and can replace traditional oxygen tanks. The upgraded version comes with nebulizer function and a more durable body, up to 10 year warranty. Each costs 15,000 baht.
After the team heard about this project, we helped fundraise and PR. At the end, we succeeded in supplying 4 oxygen concentrators and delivered them to Pa Nai Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital, Phrao District in February 2017.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank and give credit to our friend “Mr. Payoo, the Swimming Teacher.” Mr Payoo offers swimming lessons to disabled and disadvantaged children in order to reduce child’s drowning rates in Thailand.
The team plans to continue our community projects with him later this year. Do stay tuned for more details. You can connect with us and follow our updates on www.harempants.com
Until we meet again….
]]>I hate to admit that there are many companies and organizations that take advantage of people’s good faith. They launch spectacular campaigns and write fancy project profiles. Majority of their budget is put into public relations and fundraisers’ recruitment. These organizations put emphasis on image building so that their names are heard and their brands are known by the public. The more reputable they become, the more donations they receive. In the end, our money is mainly spent in enhancing the corporate image, instead of reaching the targets.
This is the ugly truth we find. It does not mean we stop supporting nonprofit foundations. Rather, we decide that before we support any agency, we will be in touch with them first. We will not just listen to their words on the phone. We will disregard all those photoshop-enhanced photos and professionally produced video clips. We will ignore direct mails sent to our house unless we get to know them in person. From now on, before making a donation, we will visit the actual site, learn more about the area and listen to the community. We will make sure our assistance reaches the target and is not wasted in PR and commissions.
Through weeks and weeks of research, we came across an agency called ‘Warm Heart Foundation.
The Foundation addresses social disparity issues in a very practical, not theoretical, manner. We decided to visit the place and discuss with foundation team. Given a short notice, we went there to do some fact finding about the organization to ensure our donation would not go to waste.
It is a coincidence that the foundation is located in Phrao District, not far from the community we recently delivered the aid. Only 100 kilometers from downtown, yet, one can sense the remoteness of the area. The district’s working population move out to work in the city leaving behind children and the elderly. The remaining people make a living in traditional agriculture. Children do not go to school. They cannot read nor count.
About 500 meters further down the main road stands the office of Warm Heart Foundation. When we arrived, we saw three buildings which accommodate over 40 children. The place is taken care by a foreign couple Evelind A. Schecter and Dr. D. Michael Shafer. It is not a school, but offers a shelter for children together with school fees, uniforms and learning supplies, clothing, meals, and medical care in case of illness. In other words, the foundation supports all the necessity for children so that they receive education. The founders believe ‘education is the key to help children escape poverty.’ By providing proper education, these kids will have knowledge and capacities to strengthen their communities, when they become adults.
When our team arrived in the afternoon, students were still in class.
Thus, we had a chance to survey the surroundings and talk about what needs to be done. We found out that the foundation has a problem with electricity as it is supplied with single phase power system. The current system cannot support 40 children. If the electricity voltage is improved, much can be further developed in the area. However, lack of budget for a transformer and utility pole set up is another major issue.
In the middle of the discussion, Evelind checked her watch and suddenly broke off the conversation in a polite but rushed manner. She excused herself and explained to us that she had to pick up children from school. Out of curiosity, we asked her to explain further. Evelind told us that twice a day she would drive her pickup truck to drop off and pick up children to and from school in the morning and the evening. She has to hurry up because all children could not fit in one ride; she has to drive twice. As it is winter, the weather is cold and the day is shorter. If she is late, children will be late for shower and that can make them ill. There used to be a school bus service but the budget has been cut. Hence, she decides to drive and pick up students so that they can continue their studies smoothly.
We walked back to the car thinking why the heck we had not met the foundation sooner. We would not have wasted time for nothing but thank you notes and certificates of acknowledgment. They are made of specially embossed gold seal papers but signify nothing.
How many organizations would take action and provide help before they receive external financial support? During this short, eye-opening journey, we meet truly dedicated and determined givers. We have never faced a situation where fundraisers choose to leave potential donors in order to bring children home.
There is no doubt in our minds that Warm Heart Foundation will be one of the most crucial projects for us to pursue. We wish to help build the oasis of hope and warmth in this multi-issue setting. It will be difficult and definitely challenging as there are plenty to be done. It will also require considerable amount of money. But if we do not start now, this dream oasis will be another day late.
We are confident that if Bennett were alive, he would love this place. He put great emphasis on education. He’d probably utter a cry of delight (unlike us who repeatedly swear to ourselves!) We hope Bennett could see what we are up to. He’d be glad to know that we are actively carrying out his mission and would wish us luck in pursuing his dream project.
If you want to get involved in our charitable activities, you can support and follow us at www.harempants.com and www.suredesigntshirts.com. For those of you who believe that education can lift people out of poverty, you can also support Warm Heart Foundation directly. Visit their website at http://warmheartworldwide.org
Until we meet again. "_"
]]>In January, our friend had a plan to visit and support a rural community in a remote area where villagers still use water from waterfall for household consumption. In such place, at night, the only lighting one can get is from a lamp or small candles village kids bring with them when wandering in the dark. In other words, this is a community without electricity and water utilities. You can forget about the Internet or WIFI access.
And this is how our first project started. We were involved in a development project in Ban huay Sai khao, Phrao District, Chiang Mai province. Though the village is only 120 kilometers from Chiang Mai downtown, it takes over 3 hours to commute to the area. The village is located deep in a valley and travelling there means riding through a red dirt road.
Phrao District is surrounded by neighboring tourist towns. Phrao itself is not connected with main roads making the district a peripheral community. Budget allocation from the government is also marginal according to economic priorities. Mae Waen Sub-district of Phrao has a population of approximately four thousand. Most of them are hill tribe villagers who work in agriculture.
For this charity project, our team supported and supplied equipment and tools to enhance the locals’ basic infrastructure. We planned to accomplish the following:
At 5 a.m. of Sunday January 15, 2017, our team began the journey. We wanted to reach the site before sunrise. There were so many things to get done before the day ended. When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by villagers and community leaders who came with machines and tools. It seemed as if the whole village stopped their daily work and came to give us a hand. We unloaded stuff from 7 pickup trucks and divided the tasks according to the plan. The pressure of working against the clock were soon gone and replaced by the sounds of laughter from kids and villagers who came to support us. Everything was in chaos but work went smoothly and finished earlier than planned. Before dusk, we completed many tasks.
Who would have thought how much we could accomplish within just one weekend? We do not know how long villagers’ smiles will last. All we know is we went home exhausted but our hearts were overwhelmed with joy. We are proud of what we have done today.
Classroom (back)
Path to go up the classroom
Please stay tuned for our next charity project. You can support us at www.harempants.com and www.suredesigntshirts.com
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Two years ago (in 2015), the impact of our small initiative became more visible. Many households whose family members were migrant workers in Bangkok asked their folks to return home to help their parents in seasonal farming while spending free time making pants and crafting woven necklaces. With extra income, some families won battle against informal debt and set an example for neighboring communities. During the year, we decided to extend our line of products and the channels to help distribute these goods and crafts from our local communities. Joining the like minded team of friends and family, we founded Harem Pants. We then focused on dissemination of product development as well as production techniques to minimize waste and ensure quality control. … That year, many communities established community network and succeeded in boosting productivity and sales volume.
Receiving the bad news.
Early 2016, we received a bad news that one of our colleagues and group co-founders passed away. While mourning his death, we realized what he believed, did and set up did not go in vain. It was not only us who cried and grieved over this loss. There were villagers from other communities who came to pay condolences to our friend after hearing the sad news. We never imagined our small e-commerce website would have had such influence in the lives of others. The same day we bid our friend goodbye, we witnessed friendship from villagers, communities and friends who put off their daily work to help out at the funeral.
Despite feeling sad, we became inspired and motivated to carry out our late friend’s charity mission and would like to take our charity work to the next level.
This year, we wish to contribute more concretely. In the past several years, we have financially supported disadvantaged communities through different charity organizations and foundations. Many a time, we fear that what we have contributed does not reach the persons in need. Some organizations overspend on public relations and marketing activities. They produce excessive flyers, brochures, advertisement on billboards, etc. Others went silent after we sent support. There is no updated information whatsoever, except a thank you letter, which we do not want.
We want to make sure our donation reaches the most marginalized groups. We want to deliver aid to those most in need. We do not want part of our money turned into PR budget or staff’s commission. Therefore, this year, our resolution is to deliver the help ourselves. This way, we can reduce avoidable expenses such as advertisement and others unnecessary cost so that full assistance will be provided.
In doing so, we admit we are just a group of amateurs. Yet, we believe we can deliver. In a country like Thailand where social disparity is remarkably high, it is not that hard to find people who really need help. The challenge is, in fact, how to help them eradicate poverty and become self-sufficient, without having to solely rely on external assistance.
Hence, throughout this year, we set out a plan to seek and support:
You can keep up with the latest news on our projects and support us at www.harempants.com and www.suredesigntshirts.com
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