MAE FAH LUANG FOUNDATION UNDER ROYAL PATRONAGE
‘MAE FAH LUANG – ROYAL MOTHER FROM THE SKY’
'Mae Fah Luang' is the name that Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother has been widely referred to for over two decades. This name originated from the northern hill tribes who would see Her Royal Highness descend from a helicopter on her frequent visits to this area. The Princess Mother's visits was always very much welcomed as they meant generous amount of much-needed aid in terms of provision of food, clothing, and medical care.
The Princess Mother would often visit those who are in need of care and lack the physical necessities of life and those who were victims of terrible acts of nature to offer her warm comfort and encouragement. She would greet them with informality putting all the people she met at ease.
In the eyes of the hill tribe locals, the landing of the helicopter that transported the Princess Mother to remote areas was like the descent of a divine mother who has been sent from the heavens to ease their troubles. And so, she became known as Mae Fah Luang. This literally translates as "Royal (luang) Mother (mae) of the Sky (fah)". This name incorporates the love, respect, reverence, and heart-felt gratitude that the hill tribe people have for the Princess Mother. |
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ORIGINS OF THE FOUNDATION
The Mae Fah Luang was originally founded as the Hill Tribes Products Promotion Foundation. In looking for ways to improve the livelihood of the hill-tribes, Her Royal Highness discovered that each tribe has its own distinct and beautiful handicraft, which if promoted, would be a good source of income for the hill-tribe village communities.
Hence in 1972, Her Royal Highness donated 100,000 Baht of her private funds to support the establishment of the Thai Hill Crafts Foundation (Hill Tribes Products Promotion Foundation), based at Srapatum Palace in Bangkok, to promote and preserve the handicrafts of the various tribes, and to encourage tribes people to pursue these arts as supplementary occupations to agriculture so that they might improve their incomes and lives.
At the Thai Hill Crafts Foundation (Hill Tribes Products Promotion Foundation) under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother, tribal peoples were taught how to modify their handicrafts to meet commercial standards, and introduced the products to the market. Once the hill tribe handicrafts were widely known and accepted, the project was concluded and the function assumed by the private sector.
Her Royal Highness also encouraged other aspects of hill tribe development, of which a most important one was youth development.
EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES
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The Princess Mother made hill tribe self-reliance a key principle of development and graciously helped the hill tribes to enjoy a better life within their own cultural traditions, and in a context of full human rights.
CULTURAL CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF HERITAGE
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As the scope of work undertaken by the Hill Tribes Products Promotion Foundation expanded to incorporate development activities in other areas, the foundation began to assume an increasingly important role as a focal point of state and private sector organizations at both the local and international level. In 1985 the Foundation revised its objectives to include cultural preservation, environmental improvement in deteriorated communities, and aid to impoverished rural people, both hill tribes and lowlanders.
As a result of these developments, Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother, in 1985, granted permission for the original foundation to be renamed the Mae Fah Luang Foundation Under the Royal Patronage of HRH the Princess Mother.
MISSION
The Mae Fah Luang Foundation under the patronage of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother is a private non-profit organization established to help carry out the development activities initiated by Her Royal Highness.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej graciously bestowed his royal patronage in 1996, hence the foundation is now known as the Mae Fah Luang Foundation Under Royal Patronage.
Most of the work of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation has been centred in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand.
The Emblem of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation
The emblem of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation depicts a piece of hill-tribe embroidery encircled by a silver hill-tribe neck band.
The embroidered cloth is indigenous to all of the hill-tribe peoples who use needlework to adorn their costumes. The design is symbolic of a ‘watchful eye’ that oversees the work of the Foundation and impedes the occurrence of any malevolent circumstances.
The silver neck band represents the marketing strategies of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation to raise the income levels of the hill-tribe peoples, as in this region, silver is the traditional form of currency transacted and is synonymous with wealth for all hill-tribe villagers. Hence silver ornaments constitute an important element of native hill-tribe dress.
MISSION
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REFORESTATION: The rehabilitation of degraded forests |
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION |
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THE ALLEVIATION OF RURAL POVERTY |
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DRUG ERADICATION |
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‘QUALITY OF LIFE’ |
KEY STRATEGIES
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The creation of alternative employment opportunities |
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The introduction of Crop Substitution Programmes |
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Vocational training |
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The creation of “Value-added” products |
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Attaining self-sufficiency |
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Introduction of education systems |
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Implementation of health services and systems |
SCOPE OF WORK
Since the establishment of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage, the nature of the development activities and the scope of work undertaken by the Foundation has evolved significantly.
Ongoing efforts are made to ensure that the progress that has been achieved by the Doi Tung community in economic and social development in tandem with the preservation of cultural heritage, environmental conservation and ‘quality of life’ is sustained and continues in the 21st century.
THE DOI TUNG DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The Doi Tung Development Project is divided into three phases, with planned project activities extending over a period of 30 years. The third phase is from 2003 – 2017.
- Work in agriculture, industries, biotechnology and handicrafts in the project area will be targeted not just at local residents, but also to benefit members of the public and lowland and hill tribes elsewhere in the region.
- International links in trade and industry will help improve the economy of the entire Northern region.
- To ensure that Chiang Rai assumes both roles – as a conservation centre as well as a centre of economic development and trade in the area, the Mae Fah Luang Foundation is working to expand reforestation, agricultural training, crop production and marketing of the Doi Tung Development Project to neighbouring areas.
- While increasing international and commercial links for economic benefits, the foundation recognises the need to help the people of Chiang Rai and the northern provinces of the ancient Lanna Thai kingdom maintain their unique cultures.
PHASE 3: 2003 – 2017
The target in the final phase of the project is to build a firm foundation for the local population to sustain the economic self-sufficiency they have attained and to provide the fundamental knowledge and skills they need to assume full responsibility for project management when it is handed back to the local community. Education is a critical component and a key priority in this final phase of the developmental process. Villagers are encouraged to enrol in an educational program that offers either formal education or a less structured alternative curriculum, in conjunction with vocational training and skills development programs.
The communities will be self-governed according to the administrative framework established by the Thai government, with provisions being made to facilitate the collection of taxes, as well as the self-administration of public finances.
Reference information:
Doi Tung Development Project
Phase 1 to 3
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Cultural Conservation and Heritage Preservation
Hall of Opium
Tourism Development and Promotion
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