The 88 recycled playgrounds are manufactured from plastic shampoo bottles, and help promote health, muscular development, and emotional development and help cultivate a consciousness of conservation of natural resources and the environment.
His Majesty the late King Bhumibol reigned for 70 years. He was revered by Thai people and admired throughout the world for his grace through over 4,000 Royal Projects he initiated in improving the lives and wellbeing of the Thai people. He regularly emphasized the need to assist people with disabilities and underprivileged children, as demonstrated in the following speech excerpt:
"...Assisting persons with disabilities is particularly important because these people don't want to be disabled and they want to help themselves. If we don't help them to enable them to do a job for their family life and economy, this will result in a heavy burden for their family and the public. Thus, a practical policy is to assist them to enable their self-help so that they benefit society..."
His Majesty's speech delivered to the Foundation for the Welfare of the Crippled under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother at the Chitralada Palace, on March 22nd, 1974.
His Majesty was equipped great intelligence and many talents. He was admired as "Thailand's Father of natural resources and environmental conservation" through numerous Royal Projects in promoting responsible consumption and environmental conservation as evidenced in a 2002 speech:
"...Environmental issues are significant issues that arise as part of development and advancement, which are common issues for all countries. That is, the more advancement a country has, the more the environmental quality and pollution problems are formed and the more serious they become. Thailand is a country currently encountering these issues…"
Mr. Raffy Fajardo, the Managing Director of Procter& Gamble Trading (Thailand) Ltd. said, "P&G is really proud to take part in pushing royally-initiated projects to enhance the quality of lives of persons with disabilities, children, and youth and to campaign for public awareness of the importance of recycling for natural resource conservation based on His Majesty's Sufficiency Economy philosophy."
Dr. Witoon Simachokdee, former Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and the Chairman of the Resources Management for Sustainability Foundation (3R), delivered a closing remarks: "It is with great pleasure and pride for the foundation to serve as part of this Project. This is another project that has adopted His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej's resolutions to take action in terms of education support for underprivileged children, and especially the environment, which is the foundation's key mission. The foundation aspires to achieve sustainable environmental development and management. Apart from helping with physical and mental development of children with special needs, the transformation of used durable, strong, and safe plastic packaging into playgrounds helps preserve the natural resource and better management. While adding value with waste disposal, it indeed helps to address global warming. This is considered as a role model project for organizations with social responsibility. It is compatible with international environmental policy pertaining to production with responsible care."
P&G Thailand Foundation for Society adopted His Majesty's guidance and speeches as guidelines for the implementation of the project "Green Gift of Learning." The colorful playgrounds are manufactured from recycled shampoo bottles of Pantene, Head&Shoulders, Rejoice, and Herbal Essences. The P&G Thailand Foundation for Society was founded by Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, which has been operating its business in Thailand for over 25 years, since 1987. The establishment of the P&G Thailand Foundation for Society manifests the intent and commitment to collaborating with other organizations to create public interest activities that improve the quality of life, health, and the environment of people in Thai society, while seeking no profits.
The Project aims to enhance the development and improve personal health & hygiene and build confidence for children with special needs. It also aims to instill environmental protection consciousness and campaign for cooperation within communities and society as a whole to achieve their awareness of the importance of providing opportunities, protecting children's rights, non-discrimination, and assisting children with disabilities. At least 20,000 children will benefit from project implementation.
Mrs. Kannika Jarusuraisin, the External Relations Director of Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Ltd. and the Secretary of the P&G Thailand Foundation for Society, said: "96 percent of the 363 respondents showed the highest overall level of satisfaction. These colorful playgrounds effectively stimulate children to go out of their classrooms for exercise and socialize with others. This will lead other children to understand and accept children with special needs when they grow up, leading to a more peaceful coexistence and fewer instances of discrimination in society. The project also encourages recycling—as the materials for each of the playgrounds come from recycled P&G products. It gives us great pride that this Project created such value and importance, beyond the playground we've created. We'd like to thank our partner organizations, schools, celebrities, community leaders, suppliers, mass media, and volunteer personnel for coming together as one to dedicate these playgrounds to our beloved King."
Mr. Mongkol Pruekwatana, the Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, Ministry of Industry, one of the project partners, said: "As the representative of the Department of Industrial Works, at the Ministry of Industry, I feel delighted to be involved in this social project. The Department of Industrial Works has realized the benefits of this Project, in terms of assistance in the development of children with special needs and resource waste management, by using industrial steps of reusing product waste. It is such a great honor to join this Project, and I strongly hope that this Project will be expanded and won't stop."
Mr. Payom Chinnawong, Deputy, Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Ministry of Education, as a Project partner, discussed the Ministry's cooperation:"Education is a key foundation for youth of the country. The Project "88 Recycled Playgrounds to Commemorate His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 88thBirthday" is a project in which the private sector provides educational support for the government sector in holding activities that promote physical, emotional, mental and social development for children with special needs, as well as disadvantaged children, and fulfill them through happy learning through play, as well as activities that boost natural and environmental conservation consciousness for organizations, families, and communities. I'd like to express my gratitude to the P&G Thailand Foundation for Society for being aware of the importance of development of youth in the country."
P&G Thailand was honored to have Mrs. Saisom Wongsasuluk, the licensee of Panyawuttikorn School and the Chairman of the Foundation for the Welfare of the Mentally Retarded of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen acted as representative for the delivery of the project.
In addition, this event was honored to have partners from different sectors that had continually provided positive cooperation for the Project, consisting of Mr.Kobchai Sungsitthisawad, the Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Industry, as well as 'The STAR' singers Supharut Techatanon and Jaruwat Cheawaram, who conducted activities with children with special needs, served as cantors for the Royal Anthem song and observed a 89 second of silence in memory of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.