Bangkok--22 Jun--BITEC
The key to promoting environmental protection should start with the younger generations who have the power to shape the future. The executive committee and staff of Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre recently visited Baantawanmai Children’s Home to promote “Caring for the Environment with BITEC and Baantawanmai”. The purpose of the event was to inspire the children to take care of the environment and support sustainable practices by planting trees and creating decorative flower pots from recycled materials. A donation of THB 100,000 was made to the foundation.
Through 9 years of support and cooperation with Baantawanmai, BITEC recognises the value of the young generation as well as the benefit to society in general. One of the major activities of the day was planting trees, namely cha-om and lemon trees, on the grounds of the foster home using chemical-free products. This activity not only helps to restore the environment, it also teaches the children how to live sustainably by planting trees and making use of its products.
In addition, BITEC also encouraged the children to use their imaginations and create decorative flower pots using recycled tin cans. The day ended as the children and volunteers shared a delicious lunch prepared by the BITEC kitchen team.
Ms. Panittha Buri, Managing Director of BITEC was proud to be part of the event again this year. “We visit Baantawanmai each year and each year we see the children grow step by step. Of course, we are extremely proud to be a part of that and to bring some warmth and happiness into their lives!
This year, we planned many fun activities with the children and we focus on the problems of pollution and what every child can do to care for the environment. In today’s society, many people do not realise or do not care how their actions affect the environment. For example, people use a lot of plastic bags and bottles every day without thinking and all of this ends up as landfill.
By teaching the children to use recycled products, we are teaching them to be aware of their environmental footprint and encourage them to reduce waste pollution. We also promote planting trees using chemical-free products as it helps to replenish natural resources and reduce the greenhouse effect.”
Response from the children of Baantawanmai
Sutat Leelapatthanakij (Noknoi), one of the children at Baantawanmai expressed her gratitude for the event. “I really liked the activity of making flower pots from recycled materials because I could use my imagination and be creative while also doing something good for the environment. We increased the value of the old can by making it into a new and beautiful flower pot. Also, I can save my money because I don’t have to buy an expensive flower pot when I can make my own. I would like to say thank you to the BITEC staff who gave me this idea and I hope they will come back to Baantawanmai every year”
Sureeporn Saefung (Gift) another child living at Baantawanmai said, "Today, we planted cha-om and lemon trees with chemical-free soil which helps the tree to grow better. When the trees grow, we can use it to cook a variety of meals. Cha-om can be used in omelettes or curries and we can even boil it and eat it with chilli sauce.”
A good environment is beneficial for everybody. It affects the quality of our lives so it is necessary to start creating an environmental awareness and a sense of social responsibility among the young.