Milestones

Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother, founded the Thai Hill Crafts Foundation under her Royal Patronage.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother visited the 31st Watershed Conservation Unit located at Doi Tung and declared “I will reforest Doi Tung,” thus initiating the Doi Tung Development Project. This was followed by the construction of Doi Tung Royal Villa where Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother resided and worked.

The 9,900-rai (1,584 hectares) Reforestation Project to mark the 90th birthday anniversary of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother was inaugurated.

Navuti Co Ltd was established to run the Economic Forestry Project, with six shareholders, namely The Crown Property Bureau, Mitsui & Co (Thailand) Ltd, Siam Commercial Bank, Asia Bank, Euarchukiati Co Ltd, and Sakura Bank or Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Shareholders agree that all profits will be designated for further social and community development of Doi Tung, making it one of the first corporate social responsibility endeavours in Thailand.

The vocational training centers for sewing and weaving set up in Doi Tung, formally known today as the Cottage Industry Centre and Outlet. The year also marked the opening of the first Mae Fah Luang store in Doi Tung. Today, all of the Doi Tung stores are called the Doi Tung Lifestyle.

The Pha Mee Drug Detoxification and Rehabilitation Center was founded to provide treatment for over 500 drug addicts and to prepare them to re-enter society with dignity.

The Mae Fah Luang Garden received the PATA Gold Award from the Pacific Asia Tourism Association under the Tourism Development category.

His Majesty the King accepted the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under his Royal Patronage after the passing of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother in 1995.

Education development began at Ban Kha Yaeng Patana School, Doi Tung Development Project, with the introduction of Constructionism into the curriculum whereby children “learn by doing” and “learn by making”.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) commemorated the centenary of the birth of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother as the world’s “Great Personality in Public Service.” The Doi Tung Development Project achieved financial self-sustainability, with profits from its social enterprises being used to cover operational costs and additional social development programs in the Doi Tung area.

“Doi Tung II” (2002-2004) project commenced in Yong Kha, Shan State in Myanmar, marking the first international outreach project for DTDP. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) presented DTDP a label with its logo recognizing that income from Doi Tung products “contributes to the achievement of a drug free world”.

The Montessori Method was introduced at Ban Kha Yaeng Patana School, Doi Tung Development Project, for early childhood education, as a child-centred approach that builds a strong foundation for life-long learning.

“Doi Tung lll”(2006-2012) project commenced in Balkh Province, Afghanistan. “Doi Tung lV” (2006-2010) project commenced in Aceh Province, Indonesia.

Mom Rajawongse Disnadda Diskul, then-Secretary General of Mae Fah Luang Foundation, received the award of “Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2009” for the region of East Asia and South East Asia from the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. The Doi Tung Model was implemented as part of the integrated development pilot project according to Royal Initiative in Nan province (2009-2013) in 21 villages of three districts in Nan, namely Ta Wang Pa, Chalermphrakiet and Song Kwae.

“Doi Tung V” (2011-2017) project commenced in Yenan Chaung Township, Magway Division, Myanmar.

“Doi Tung VI” (2012-2018) commenced at Tachileik and Mong Hsat districts, Shan State, Myanmar.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development (UNGPs on AD), borne out of the International Workshop and Conference on Alternative Development (ICAD) organized by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation and likeminded partners in Thailand in 2011. The UNGPs on AD serve as universal guidelines for countries to work effectively and sustainably in addressing the problem of narcotic crop cultivation through sustainable development. Launch of the Nan Reforestation Project (2013-2017)

T he Mae Fah Luang Foundation received the 19th Nikkei Asia Prize, or ganized by Nikkei Inc, Japan , as an “Outstanding Organization for Culture and Community”.

The Mae Fah Luang Foundation, in collaboration with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), organized the Bangkok Forum 2015 on Well-Being and Sustainable Development, attended by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary of ESCA P, and Professor Enrico Giovannini, Co-Chair of the UN Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development Mom Rajawongse Disnadda Diskul, Chairman of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, showcased the King’s Sustainable Development approach at the side event of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, USA.

Mae Fah Luang Foundation jointly hosted the 2nd International Conference on Alternative Development (ICAD2) with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, to further advance the conclusion of ICAD1 on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development towards practical application among member states. World experts on alternative development convened in Thailand for study visits at the Doi Tung Development Project (DTDP) in Chiang Rai, and Mae Fah Luang’s outreach project in Myanmar.