Report on the Donation of Water Purifiers to a School in Chiang Mai with the Rotary Club of Bangkok, Thailand

International Service Committee
Chair 石川 佳照

As the main theme of this year's International Service Committee, we had been considering a service project in Thailand jointly with the Rotary Club of Bangkok. As a result, the Bangkok RC proposed that we jointly donate a water purifier to a school in Chiang Mai, and with the approval of the Board, we decided to do so.
We were informed that installation had been completed in mid-March 2025 and that an unveiling ceremony would be held on March 24, so three of us — myself (石川), Vice Chair 吉田寿人 and Member 山内 — attended the ceremony.
From the Bangkok RC, スベンソン智江美, who serves as our liaison, and Past President John attended as representatives.
At Chiang Mai Airport, District Governor Kirisada of the Chiang Mai district welcomed the five of us.
In Chiang Mai, District Governor Kirisada, together with President Sriban of the Chiang Mai RC, who introduced the school to us, and its members, hosted a dinner for us, and we received a very warm welcome.
Ten people attended the unveiling ceremony: the five of us, District Governor Kirisada, President Sriban and three members.
The school where the water purifier was installed, “Wan Nong Lua School,” is a small school on temple grounds, with nine classes (six elementary and three junior high), 85 students and 11 teachers.
The school had long struggled with drinking water, and currently the students bring well water from home every day that has been boiled and cooled.
They had asked the government to install a water purifier for more than ten years without success, so everyone was overjoyed with this new purifier.
The principal and the head of the local district expressed their thanks, and the students welcomed us with musical performances and dances. Finally, everyone, including the little ones, sang the Japanese song “Subaru” for us in Thai.
They must have practiced a great deal.
On the 22nd, the day before our trip to Chiang Mai, we attended a charity event hosted by the Bangkok RC. It was a grand event, with classical and popular music concerts and RC members dancing freely.
It seems the donations collected at this charity event will fund their service activities for the next Rotary year.
We were told they collect about 4 to 5 million in donations every year.
We also met President Danu and the others we had met on our previous visit, and were delighted to see each other again.
We also met Nicholas, the incoming President, who said he loves Japan and would very much like to visit the Tokyo Shintoshin RC.
This visit to Bangkok and Chiang Mai was extremely meaningful.
I sincerely hope that our friendship with the Rotary Club of Bangkok will continue in the future.