Thailand is currently facing two critical challenges. One is the provision of unhealthy meals to schoolchildren, and the other is the threat posed to farmers by inflation and climate change. 

In 1999, the Ministry of Education of Thailand initiated its program of providing free school meals to every student. However, despite the inflation in the past 24 years, the school lunch budget has only increased by 11 Baht per student. The current budget ranges between 22 and 36 Baht per student and has remained unchanged since 2022.

Food quality and budget equality issues also linger in every corner of Thai classrooms. Schools in big cities receive more budget allocation than schools in small provinces.

To address these challenges, Aratum’s team in Thailand kicked off its first CSR activity in an educational institution. Wanna Yanwattana, Solution and Channel Manager of Aratum Thailand, proposed helping the Sakolwisuth School, located in Samutsongkram, the smallest province in Thailand. 

“Students are the most important foundation of the future, and schools are the starting point of our children’s journey. When they grow up, they contribute back to the country,” said Asawanat Narueratpalangkorn, head of Sales in Thailand.  

Teaching Students How to Become Self-sufficient

Aratum believes that education is the foundation of a thriving community. We are committed to supporting the youth, especially by providing them with their primary needs, such as food. One way to address the Thai government’s limited food allocation is to become sustainable.

“Our school aims to comply with the direction of the Department of Education and create vocational classrooms for students. When Aratum sponsored us, we thought we should focus on helping our students become self-sufficient,” said Arporn Yanwattana, Principal of Sakolwisuth School.

Aratum donated a water pipeline for the school’s garden project. Our team then set off to the school to feed the students, teach them to plant, and introduce new organic farming techniques.

“Aratum’s project with our school is good for our students because they’ll learn and apply the knowledge to their daily life,” shared Nisachon Chokpokatrupkul, a teacher at Sakolwisuth.

Bringing More than the Lunch Food Supply

A feeding program may fill children’s stomachs for a day but would not sustain them afterward. Aratum’s activity in Sakolwisuth School ensured that the students’ lives would change and bring them a promising future. We taught the children about the importance of agriculture, its application, and how to become entrepreneurs.

“Before this activity, the students were not aware of the importance of agriculture. Now, they learned how to become sustainable–to plant and harvest their own seeds. They also figured out the value of their products and how to sell them in the local market,” shared Nisachon Chokpokatrupkul, a teacher at Sakolwisuth.

 “Aratum provided us with healthy lunches, and I am thankful for that. But most of all, they taught us how to process raw materials, like pandan tea, fried banana crackers, and chips. Our produce will make us earn income, too,” said Pranpreeya Krangda, a student at Sakolwisuth.

We are committed to becoming a catalyst of change, as this activity may inspire other institutions to embrace similar practices. By sowing the seeds of self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship, we continue to imbibe a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive despite challenges and disruptions.

“In Aratum, we develop people. We help them cultivate a garden,” Wanna Yanwattana, Solution and Channel Manager of Aratum Thailand, concluded.