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Achievements in Thailand

Written 2007

Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation that has never been under colonial rule. Over the years it has had many constitutions. But it was not until 1998 that a political opening occurred -- a people's constitution -- that impelled the nation's advancement toward democracy. New government policies have brought decentralization and more power to local governments. This political change has provided fertile ground for community-based foundations.

Prior to the Asian financial crisis, Thailand had one of the best economies in the developing world, but today the country is struggling with recession, uneven development and high unemployment. More recently, areas of the country were devastated by the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Old and New Approaches to Giving

In this predominantly Buddhist country, Thais have a history of giving mostly to local temples. The national government has devoted its resources to providing development opportunities to local communities, but a key need has been to strengthen the effectiveness of the delivery of these funds to those who need them. One creative solution is community foundations.

In Thailand, Synergos focuses on working with local groups to build community foundations. In 2002, Senior Fellow Adriana Cortes, founder and General Director of Bajío Community Foundation, presented a workshop drawing from her personal experiences starting and operating a community foundation in Irapuato, Mexico. In attendance were 100 representatives of community organizations who explored opportunities for building similar organizations in Thailand.

Cortes not only provided technical assistance, but also heard new and different perspectives about foundation management from the organizational representatives she met there. "Citizen participation is an indispensable factor for development," she says. "By comparing the work of organizations in Asia with ours in Mexico, it helps me visualize new paths that could be applied here [in Mexico]."

Thai attendees shared Cortes's enthusiasm about the interaction. "Starting with Adriana's workshop here in Bangkok," says Khun Sukich Utindu, Director of Resource Development for CARE Thailand-Raks Thai Foundation. "Thai community leaders have been inspired this year to think about bridging leadership through the vehicle of community foundations. Now, the momentum of this concept is speeding up and forming into an exciting national agenda." Utindu since became a Synergos Senior Fellow, sharing the Raks Thai Foundation's experience with interested group in Southeast Asia and around the world.

A New Community Foundation is Created

Since that first workshop, other Senior Fellows from the United States, Mexico and Russia have worked with groups in Thailand to help create a community foundation in that country. The 2004 tsunami made the need for a local institution to help mobilize and distribute development resources even more urgent. With Synergos' involvement, the new Phuket Community Foundation is now supporting local action on health, the environment, poverty and other issues exacerbated by the tsunami.