Special People Foundation, Thailand

There are 1.2 million people with disabilities in Thailand. The Special People Foundation (SPF) in Chiang Mai aims to give them viable work which helps their daily survival and their self esteem. From its inception in 2006 SPF has helped over 500 special people from North to South Thailand.

SPF (originally called the Yogananda Foundation) was founded by Jan Chaithavuthi and Kanchanoo Muangsiri. The SPF’s mission is to help adults and children from poor rural backgrounds who have physical or mental impairments. SPF supplies meaningful work such as painting and printing designs for cotton Earth Bags and t-shirts. SPF provides equipment such as wheel chairs, walking sticks, and walking rails. It also provides physical therapy through massage. Impaired adults and children alike benefit from emotional as well as physical support. The combination of physical and emotional care often brings tangible improvement. This can be seen among the 30 or so mentally impaired children at is centre in Chiang Mai. Many of them regain motivation and some can start walking again.

When their physical coordination and motivation improves, many are accepted into specialist rehabilitation schools.

Khiri Reach has supported SPF in Chiang Mai by purchasing 1,000 machine washable Earth Bags. The donation has helped the quality of life for SPF’s impaired adults and children. Khiri Reach distributes the Earth Bags to its tourism partners, staff and villagers in order to reduce reliance on environmentally damaging plastic bags.

For additional information visit www.SPFThailand.org