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| Technology Helps Thai Village to Grow October 2003
Last February, Tom Green accompanied his wife Daeng (pronounced "dang") on a trip to the Issan region in northeast Thailand, where she grew up and her relatives still reside. The purpose for the Greens' voyage was multifold. Not only did they plan to visit family in Nong Sang village and catch up on local happenings, they also made arrangements to host a catered lunch for all 300 students at the elementary/middle school Daeng attended as a child. Tom says that his and Daeng's generosity stems from the Buddhist concept of "making-merit." He explains, "In the Thai language, the word is 'tamboon,' which refers to doing good deeds. We wanted to put that philosophy into action." After the school lunch, a local high school teacher asked the Greens to meet a recent graduate, who had recently placed third on an academic exam for 1,000 students vying for 45 spots at a Thai university. Although the young woman was guaranteed a university seat, her family did not have the money to send her. "She was told to forget about going to college, and to simply get married and become a farmer's wife in her nearby village." recalls Green. So he and Daeng decided to personally sponsor the young woman's education by setting up a non-profit organization, which would also act as a bridge to help others in need. Upon their return to the U.S., the Greens founded the Thailand Future Fund, incorporating their non-profit charitable foundation in Delaware and making application for a 501(c)(3) tax exemption for donations. Tom and Daeng have built a website for the Thailand Future Fund at www.thaifuturefund.com. They intend to raise awareness to the fund's objectives -as well as money for the fund's coffers-by reaching out to the general public as well as the Thai community in the U.S. In the meantime, Green and his wife are providing seed money to erect a 300 sq.-ft., air-conditioned computer center in Nong Sang village, where 8 terminals will be connected to the world wide web. The computer center, based at Daeng's elementary/middle school, will also be open free of charge to the rest of the community in the evening. "Access to the internet will help local farmers determine what the real market price is for their crops, instead of being under-compensated by local produce buyers," says Green. He and his wife have other big ideas for her hometown, including the construction of a central water tower that will provide needed sustenance to several village farms for special crop growing during the dry season. "Ultimately, we want to create futures for people of all ages in Nong Sang and other villages who otherwise face obstacles based on a variety of factors," explains Green," whether it's gender, economics or even the Thai class system-although outlawed by King Rama V in the 1890s-that still exists to a certain extent." And the progress of the university student named Ning, sponsored by the Greens? Ning, still in her freshman year at Mahasarakham University, has just been awarded full scholarship from the school. "Now we can move Ning's tuition to someone else and help to give someone else a future," exudes Green.
Page last updated: April 9, 2004 | Top of page |
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