Phuket Community Foundation

Time for a photo before the clean-up starts.

Some 150 volunteers dug in with mattocks and grass cutters, and cleaned up a mountain valley and stream that flows from the Nakkerd Hills above Baan Sai Yuan Moo 7 in Rawai.

The aim of the clean-up, on May 30, was to refurbish a small dam and the water course below it in order to “return water resources to the community”. The villagers also plan to promote the valley as an eco-tourism learning site; the local scenery is beautiful and includes sweeping views of Nai Harn and the sea beyond.

The PCF donated B5,000 toward the project as part of its 1^st Small Grant Program.

Many others were involved. Twenty of the volunteers came from the Royal Thai Navy Third Naval Base in Ao Makham. Also present were Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Paiboon Upatising and Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos.

Digging in.

Phuket MP Rewat Areerob donated four cloth banners for the project; Coca-Cola and drinking water were supplied by Hadthip (PBL) Phuket Co; another 200 bottles of drinking water came from the Kusoldharm Foundation; and 60 lunch boxes were donated by PCF board member Chalermkiat Ongcharoen to add to the lunch prepared by Sai Yuan villagers for the volunteers.

By the end of the day a large area of the valley from the small dam downward had been cleaned up. The local community will continue to tidy up the area regularly in order to protect local water resources and to make it a local beauty spot worth visiting.

The PCF is delighted to have been involved in this truly community activity – a fine example of local people’s understanding of the need to protect natural resources, increase environmental awareness and improve the quality of life on Phuket.