Developing Creativity
January 2012
Banner photo: Aboriginal artist Charles Inkamala at work, Alice Springs, Australia [© Marianna Massey/Corbis]
SGI-Thailand Supports Thai Flood Relief
SGI-Thailand members transport relief goods to affected areas [SGI-Thailand]
In response to heavy flooding which devastated many parts of the country, SGI-Thailand mobilized its youth members to deliver relief goods, and opened its centers in Nonthaburi, Thonburi and Pattaya for use as shelters for displaced people.
SGI-Thailand and its members donated relief supplies worth over 2 million Thai baht (US$64,900) including foodstuffs, flashlights and medicines. These were packed into relief supply packages, containing instant noodles, rice, milk, canned fish and other essentials. Youth members delivered the packages to hundreds of affected families in Nakhon Sawan, Lopburi and Ayutthaya from distribution centers in Bangkok and central Thailand, using trucks and boats.
Phuriphak Phuchongkawarin, youth leader of SGI-Thailand, commented, "Many hundreds of youth members have been exerting themselves to help victims of the flooding. This is our first experience of such large-scale relief efforts. It is at times like these that we can really put into practice the Buddhist spirit of dedicating ourselves for the sake of others."
SGI-Thailand also donated 150 relief supply packages, as well as 1,000 kg of rice, 1,500 bottles of water and 2,000 packs of instant noodles, to the Thai Ministry of Culture for distribution to affected areas.
SGI-Thailand members have also been providing psychological and emotional counseling where appropriate, and are poised to help with clean-up efforts after the water has receded.
On November 1, Soka Gakkai Japan made a donation of US$50,000 to the Thai government in support of the relief efforts. On November 4, Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) also made a donation of RM 50,000 (US$ 16,000) to the Royal Thai Embassy in Malaysia in support of relief efforts.
