Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s love and devotion embraces not only His Majesty the King and their family, but also the entire kingdom of Thailand.
This week’s exercise takes a look at some of Her Majesty’s famous projects that have greatly helped the people and environment of Thailand.
On August 12, 1932, Her Majesty the Queen was born Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara in Bangkok. His Majesty and the Queen were engaged on July 19, 1949, and the royal weeding took place at Sra Pathum Palace on April 28, 1950.
PROJECTS FOR THE PEOPLE
Throughout a period of more than six decades of her dedication to improving the quality of life of her subjects in underprivileged communities and rural areas, Her Majesty has always been active in many of her own projects. One of Her Majesty’s most famous initiatives was to establish The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (The SUPPORT Foundation).
Other wonderful projects initiated by Her Majesty include Pah Rak Nam (Forests Preserving Water), Baan Lek Nai Pah Yai (Small Houses in Big Forests) and the Royal Veterinary Service for the Rural.
ROYAL SUPPORT
Her Majesty has long been performing a variety of charitable activities and often provides assistance to needy families, especially farmers and unemployed villagers. The Queen established The SUPPORT Foundation in 1976.
The foundation helps rural people to use their artistic skills and natural resources to produce unique local handicrafts, so that they can earn additional income. Popular products supported and sold through the foundation include yan lipao basketry by southern villagers, hill-tribe silver products and mudmee silk fabric in classic patterns by northeast craftsmen.
The SUPPORT Foundation’s two main training centres are located in the compound of Chitralada Palace in Bangkok and in Bangsai district of Ayutthaya.
NOBLE VETERINARIANS
With great concern for not only the poor but also for animals, Her Majesty started the Royal Veterinary Service for the Rural project in Sakol Nakhon province in 2007 as a trial. The project team included veterinary surgeons and experts from a variety of sectors and academic institutes, as well as animal health service providers.
The project later provided services in more than 25 provinces across the country. Services provided include sterilisation, vaccinations, as well as medical treatments and operations for animals.
HEALTHY FORESTS
Another interesting project under the royal initiatives of Her Majesty the Queen is the Forest Preserving Water project, which is aimed at protecting watersheds and reviving deforested areas. The project, initiated in 1982, encourages locals to plant new trees and promote agricultural management.
HELP FOR VILLAGERS
Her Majesty’s Small Houses in Big Forests project was launched in 2002. The project was undertaken to protect fertile forests from being destroyed, as well as to improve the livelihoods of villagers living in forest areas.
In addition, in times of natural disaster, the Queen has donated her personal funds for rescue, relocation and rehabilitation operations.
“The King is water, and I’ll be a forest that is loyal to the water,” Her Majesty the Queen said in a statement.
Exercises
Read the story. Then, answer the following reading comprehension questions.
1. When was the Small Houses in Big Forests project initiated?
…………………………………..
2. Where was the royal wedding of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen held?
…………………………………..
3. How many major training centres does the SUPPORT foundation provide?
…………………………………..
4. In what province did the Royal Veterinary Service for the Rural project begin?
…………………………………..
Vocabulary
- model (adj): a person or thing that is considered an excellent example of something
underprivileged (adj): having less money and fewer opportunities than most people in society
veterinary (adj): connected with caring for the health of animals
charitable (adj): helping people who are poor or in need
basketry (n): baskets or other objects made by weaving together thin dried branches
craftsman (n): a skilled person, especially one who makes beautiful things by hand
sterilisation (n): the act of making a person or an animal unable to have babies
vaccinate (v): to give a person or an animal a vaccine in order to protect them against a disease
watershed (n): a line of high land where streams on one side flow into one river, and streams on the other side flow into a different river
deforest (v): to cut down and destroy all the trees in a place
fertile (adj): that plants grow well in
rehabilitation (n): the act of helping somebody to have a normal, useful life again after they have been very ill or have been through a time of great hardship
