Suntory Group’s “Mizu To Ikiru (Living with Water)” promise had come true: the company supported the World Vision Foundation of Thailand in a project aimed at bringing water to hill tribe children.
Considering water a vital resource for everyone’s livelihood, Suntory PepsiCo launched a 4000,000-baht plan to develop a groundwater system and install water filters for hill tribe students and teachers at Pongklangnamprachasan School, Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province.
The school has limited access to clean water for use and consumption due to its location within the mountains.
Hand in hand with the World Vision Foundation of Thailand, the company also initiated several projects to educate people about water resources, promote water preservation and improve local water quality, understanding the importance of clean water as a fundamental resource for human life.
The project not only embodies Suntory PepsiCo Thailand’s ‘Growing for Good’ goal but also reinforces and implements the company’s corporate commitment.
“This is the commitment to doing business while taking care of society and the environment. The company remains committed to continuously creating positive changes,” Miss Piengchit Sriprasart, Chief People & Culture and Corporate Affairs Officer at Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) Company Limited, said.
The lack of clean water in hill tribes is a long-standing and latent problem affecting schools and communities throughout the mountainous areas in provinces such as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. People living in these remote areas get their water from natural sources with quality problems and bacterial contamination.
The World Vision Foundation of Thailand, a civil society organization created to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged children without discrimination, has been engaged in developing water systems in many areas in northern Thailand.
Pleased that Suntory PepsiCo Thailand recognizes the importance of youth access to clean water, the foundation acted as a “bridge of goodness” by bringing financial support from the company to build an underground water system and install a water filter for the school facing severe supply problems.
Pongklangnamprachasan School director Mr. Somdej Pisanpairote thanked Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and World Vision Foundation of Thailand for their commitment to helping the school and the community.
“This is the end of a 40 year wait by students with a lack of access to clean water for their daily consumption and usage especially during the dry season,” he added.
According to Mr. Somdej, the project has benefited 340 students by giving them clean drinking water throughout the year.
“Students here are hill tribe children. Their families are poor and living on hill tribes far away from civilization. They need help in order to have a good quality of life and I would like to thank all those involved for their kindness in helping to make this great change and improvement,” he went on.
