Home / 2018 Sustainability Report / Sharing the Value with the World Developing Communities and Society
  • Communities are important stakeholders for ThaiBev. ThaiBev has been continuously committed to creating security and sustainability for communities and society so that they may grow together with our business, and ThaiBev has been placing importance on developing communities and society for over 15 years.
  • We have operated community development projects in many respects, with the principal goal that communities should become more self-sufficient, and then can act as a model of development for other communities.
  • Youth groups are set up to encourage learning, link and extend the results to the rest of the community. Developing the community economy through the model Ethical Career Community model to reduce expenses and increase income, without negative impact on themselves, others or the environment.
  • Managing natural resources to revive forests and water sources through the process of community engagement by visiting areas and inviting community members to jointly develop society.

INSIGHT

Tantip Sirinupong
Director of Community Development Programs

How are social activities designed so that they can create sustainability for the community?
ThaiBev believes that step-by-step business growth is not enough. Growth is only successful when the company shares value with society. For this reason, the President and CEO, Mr. Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, suggested establishing the department of “Community Development Programs”, which is the important starting point of sustainable development. Under the project name “A Good Community with Smile”, the idea is to strengthen communities and create a local model, which offers strong mutual support between the local community and the business. The goal is to help people alleviate their expenses and increase their income, without any negative impacts on themselves, others or the environment.

How do you create participatory working formats between ThaiBev and communities?
By building strength within the communities and improving the quality of life in every aspects, leading to economic security for the community, together with building good relations between the company and the communities, by cooperating with communities in thinking and developing knowledge together. Meanwhile, all parties are encouraged to participate to work together sustainably. This leads to stronger local connections and better understanding of the company, which in turn leads to reduction or prevention of conflict between the community and the company in the future.

Results expected from Community Development Programs
We believe that building strength in this form will lead to concrete results for the community in economic, social and environmental terms, resulting in increased income for its members, the formation of groups as community enterprises, water management systems for community agriculture and green space from reviving the forest. When there is a healthy economy, the community itself can share the value of growth by extending their knowledge and methods to nearby communities. This spreads sustainability at the local level and leads to genuine development of economic systems at the national level.

 
STORY ThaiBev Unites to Fight the Cold Year 19

Giving assistance and supporting government operations to help people affected by cold weather, ThaiBev Unites to Fight the Cold Year 19 continues to bring 200,000 green blankets each year to areas affected by the cold in 15 provinces of North and Northeast Thailand. These blankets are also a symbol of warmth every year. A large number of people living in remote areas of Thailand still lack sufficient warm clothing or blankets, particularly those people living on high mountains off remote roads that are difficult to access. ThaiBev joined with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of the Interior Ministry to compile data on populations affected by the cold and the numbers affected in every province. Then blankets are transported to the area for distribution to the people every November before the cold actually arrives. Over the past 19 years, 3.8 million blankets have been offered to cold victims in 45 provinces, 578 districts.

Apart from blankets, other types of assistance are offered, through cooperation from partners in many sectors. This assistance includes health checkups from mobile medical teams, music, sport and art programs for the local children and the donation of educational equipment and scholarships to schools which are in need.

Thongchai Khunaprom
Administrator of Ban Sai Thai 4 Tai School, Ban Kruad, Buriram

We are extremely happy that ThaiBev held this program of offering blankets to local people in this community. I am impressed that ThaiBev sees the importance of the people in this community. I’d like to thank ThaiBev who are a part of giving to our community, and I’d like to see this kind of good program on future occasions. Thanks also to ThaiBev for giving educational equipment to the children. The kids thank you very much.

A Good Community with Smiles
This project has been running since 2012 with the objective of creating a better quality of life in every aspects for the communities surrounding company factories. There is a special emphasis on developing the knowledge and abilities of those young people in the community who lack opportunities. The project focuses on teaching skills in three areas to young people for a day.

Sports:
Together with the Chang Mobile Football Unit, trainers are brought in to provide knowledge and training in basic skills, same as in a professional training set up. Public figures from many organizations rotate in joining these activities, such as the Volleyball Association of Thailand or famous football clubs in every province. Besides giving instruction in basic sports techniques, the sessions also teach kids about sportsmanship – useful skills that they can apply to their daily lives.

Music:
With the cooperation of the Sukree Charoensuk Foundation, musical experts train children who are interested in the basic techniques of singing and playing musical instruments, or who wish to enhance their skills in bands and orchestras. They are taught according to international standards with the emphasis on songs used in everyday life such as the National Anthem. Besides this, youngsters that demonstrate musical talent are provided advice on how they might further develop their skills in the future.

Art:
This activity teaches the creation of practical art through the use of leftover objects thereby encouraging creative thinking, and inspiring new creations that might even lead to income for the students and the community.

For over 7 years, “A Good Community with Smiles” has helped hone skills and provide creative inspiration for children in communities surrounding 21 of ThaiBev’s factories; covering 61 provinces of Thailand.

Nick, Saksit Sinsorn
P4 student at Neung Wat Lamai Municipal School

I already love art, so the teacher encouraged me to join this activity. It wasn’t really difficult. I gained knowledge, new friends, and concentration. I like silk cocoons which are a natural product in the community. We don’t have to invest much and we can make nice key rings to hang off our bags, which can even make income for me and my friends.

ThaiBev helps Create a Model Ethical Career Community, Bua Yai sub-district, Nan Province
The community of Bua Yai sub-district, Na Noi district, Nan province faces the challenge of effectively managing its water for highland agriculture. Bua Yai community has a total of 214 headwater streams, but only 4 of them flow all year, leading local farmers to focus on monoculture, which requires only a small amount of water. Over a long period, this has resulted in a chain of different negative impacts.

Through the dedication of the community and the support of the business sector and allied organizations, a solution was found. It is based on the concept of “managing headwater streams in an area of integrated agriculture, to extend and expand on 1 rai of organic agriculture, with a target of reviving the Nan watershed”. This was the starting point for completely changing the way of life of the community.

However, another challenging problem was how to bring water up to the growing area which was located on a high mountain. ThaiBev joined with the community to develop a “hydraulic ram” system at a high altitude and to build check dams in three places to store water for agriculture. Alongside this, the community made rules regulating the use of the water and also the water fund. The fund was allocated for repairs in the case of damage, so the community would not be reliant on the government’s budget. Besides this, they also jointly developed a water supply on the mountain that was 9,622 metres long, with a total usable area of 1,000 rai.

In solving the problem of water management for highland agriculture, the achievements can be listed as follows:
  • Hydraulic ram system: 11 points, benefitting 11 rai of land
  • Check dam system: 8 dams, benefitting 24 rai of land
  • Water supply system: length of 9,622 metres servicing 1,000 rai of land
  • Members benefitting: 35 people, with volume of water of 15 tanks (1,178.1 liters/tank), equal to a total of 17,671.5 liters (17.67 cubic meters)
In converting from monoculture to integrated agriculture, the achievements were as follows:
  • 34 growers on 36 plots in an area of 146.1 rai in Bua Yai sub-district converted to organic agriculture under a system of participatory certification
  • A group of organic growers was set up in Bua Yai with 163 members covering an area of 815 rai; they were encouraged to grow three new crops and get the benefit from four overall crops, thus replacing their dependence on monoculture. These crops could also be planted daily, monthly or yearly. They were encouraged to grow organic pumpkin (during the transition period) of indigenous strains Khang Khok and Khai Nao; these were grown by 50 farmers.
  • Increased income for the community by increasing distribution channels for organic produce in modern trade stores, such as organic pumpkin (during the transition period), with a total income of 300,000 Baht in 2018.


Somboon Khamrom
Farmer in the Ethical Career project at Bua Yai sub-district, Nan Province

Before we made the hydraulic ram, I used to make a siphon, but failed. After we received knowledge and support from ThaiBev and learned how to bring the water up high, we tried making a hydraulic ram, and it worked really well. Now we can pump water up and store it in tanks and feed water to anywhere on the plot. Another 5 households use the water together.

The Project of Hearts on Forestation under The King Initiatives
Erosion along a 4.7-km coastline in Bangkhunthien led to the loss of over 3,000 rai of land, directly impacting the people who live there and forcing them to migrate about 1.3 km inland from the original marker. To help create a sustainable solution and return social, economic and environmental benefits to the community, ThaiBev joined the Foundation of Hearts on Forestation under The King Initiatives to support the planting of mangroves on an area of 50 rai (at a value of 12 million baht). The purchase of 40,000 mangrove saplings suitable for planting in the 50 rai area on the Bangkhunthien coastline, as well as the need for them to be tended to for a period of 3 years, has created employment for the community.

Results
  • Area of mangroves increased by 50 rai of land
  • An additional 40,000 trees which are of benefit to the coastal eco-system and the conservation of over 70 species of marine life
  • Increased income for the communities of Bangkhunthien derived from the planting and caring for the trees for 3 years
The starting point of the project was to solve the problem of coastal erosion. Through the cooperation between various agencies and the communities of Bangkhunthien there have been additional benefits, including the development of a new eco-tourism attraction in Bangkok, which should make for an improved and sustainable local economy in the future.
Program of Cooperation between the Huai Hong Khrai Centre and ThaiBev to Revive the Forest and Improve Quality of Life in Ban Nam Poon, Nam Phang District and Ban Sri Na Pan, Reuang District, Nan Province
To help protect headwaters, preserve the forest and improve local residents’ quality of life, ThaiBev collaborated with the Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Centre of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the occasion of Her Royal Highness’ 5th Cycle Anniversary on 2 April, 2015 bringing the proven successful strategy of Royal development implemented in Chiang Mai by the Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Centre at Doi Saket as a model to be adjusted and applied to Nan province. The goal was to revive the watershed and help villagers become self-reliant with sustainable economic and environmental practices. The target areas of the program were two villages: Ban Nam Poon and Ban Sri Na Pan. The Huai Hong Khrai Centre shared sustainable development practices with the two villages; the project was intended to create a learning centre for other communities.

In 2017, 150 residents from the two target communities received training and were supplied with raw materials for rearing livestock and crops for daily consumption, in order to reduce household expenses. The idea was that livestock not needed for villagers’ consumption could yield high-quality products that could be sold by farmers. In 2018, follow-up studies found that these two communities saw their incomes increase by 150-220 percent by raising livestock.

Prapoch Sabhavasu
Deputy Director of the President and CEO’s Office

Local communities in the target areas live in reserved forests, where there has been massive encroachment for many generations. In its present state, the area is a bald mountain-top. Once the government took firm control, the villagers had no way to make a living. ThaiBev’s urgent obligation is how to make the community self-reliant for food and protein and to survive sustainably. I took the community on a field trip to see the Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Centre of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai. They had the opportunity to tour the Centre and decided on what interested them, and what they were good at. Some wanted to raise pigs, catfish, frogs, egg-laying chickens or Bhutanese phoenix mushrooms. We were ready to support the project with supplies and fund it for a five-year period. Many community members have received further support as model growers. Soon we may have a learning centre for studying the Sufficiency Economy in this area. We are proud to give communities the opportunity to learn royally-approved methods of sustainable development, and to help them increase their income while reducing household expenses.

Khreuawan Chairien (left in the photo)
Producer of miang tea in Ban Sri Na Pan, Reuang, Nan Province; one of the project’s model growers

I’ve known about this project since 2015, and I am happy that anything we want to eat is there to eat, and they will provide anything that we want to raise. From the beginning, the ThaiBev team took us to the Huai Hong Khrai Centre in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai. We learned the correct ways to raise pigs, fish and egg-laying chickens. I started raising pigs the way that they had taught. Now I can breed my own pigs and get at least ten from every litter, so I can sell them for a good price. I no longer plant corn and use chemicals.

Sermsuk PCL’s Occupational Training Project Taught Disabled People and their Caregivers to Raise Egg-laying Chickens, Plant Hydroponic Crops and Grow Mushrooms for Market.
 
From 2016 to 2018, Sermsuk PCL organized the “Occupational Training Project to raise egg-laying hens, plant hydroponic crops and grow mushrooms for market for disabled people and their caregivers.” The program applied agricultural technology and knowledge in conjunction with existing local resources for disabled members of the community to make a living. The disabled and their caregivers were shown how to raise hens, build sheds and install equipment for egg production, as well as how to grow mushrooms and other hydroponic crops. The objective was for the disabled to generate an income for their families, reduce household expenses and live with greater self-esteem in their community.

More than 100 disabled people and their caregivers received training from the program. They obtained healthy livestock and supplies for household consumption and for the market. By raising egg-laying hens, the disabled villagers managed to generate an average monthly income of 2,178 baht. Hydroponic crops and mushroom cultivation generated an average monthly income of 1,830 baht.
MOVING FORWARD
In order to establish greater self-reliance and sustainability, ThaiBev supported the community with various projects and activities:
  • One Tambon One Good Occupation Project was emphasised and expanded to create model projects around the factories and other areas, with the aim of increasing communities’ income by at least 10 percent by 2019
  • Good Community with Smiles Project
    • To protect the natural resources and environment, the area of the project was expanded to new areas and extended to include water management and provide more green space for the community in at least two additional locations.
    • To boost the involvement of young people, the number of children and youngsters included in occupational training and life skills programs will increase by 10% in 2019.
  • A project with Huai Hong Khrai Center to expand royally-inspired knowledge spread out to the six Royal Development Study Centres to assist selected villagers in Petchaburi, Chachoengsao, Chantaburi, Sakon Nakhon, Chiang Mai, and Narathiwat.
OVERVIEW
Results of Connecting Projects for Sustainability

15 Projects
to Develop Communities
Local Economies
Generated average income of
11,356 baht
household/year
14 products
processed and value-added
Total land under organic agriculture
1,447 rai

Natural Resources Management

Increased green area by
613 rai

Planted land trees
27,133

Planted mangrove trees
40,000
 

Grass plot of
250 rai

Artificial salt lick
50
Water Management
35 households
Generated average income of
benefited from agricultural water projects
58 check dams
hydraulic rams benefit
11 areas

Mountain water supply
9,622 m

in length, water volumes of
10,800 liters/day


Youth Participation

6,314 students
developed various skills

66
participating schools

Relief from the Cold and Other Assistance


Donated
200,000
blankets / year

More than
3,000 people
in 11 provinces in the North /Northeast received blankets and were offered medical checkups from mobile medical units

Blankets given to victims of cold in
15
provinces

Educational equipment and computers donated to
15
schools

More than
20
partners from various government bodies jointly share ThaiBev Unites to Fight the Cold program

ThaiBev
2018 Sustainability