Duang Prateep Foundation

[email protected] , http://www.dpf.or.th

16/04/2026

Seniors’ Songkran Day
It’s that time of the year again that all Thais look forward to – the Songkran Festival (traditional Thai New Year) – and this year we held the event “Songkran for the Elderly People in The Slum” at our centre. Khru Prateep and staff invited members of our elderly residents’ group to join this event on 10 April to enjoy traditional Thai dances with representatives of DPF sponsor, KPMG Phoomchai Ltd., led by CEO Mr. Charoen Pusamritlert. DPF chairperson, Prof. Sant Hathirat, and Khru Prateep had the enjoyable task of presenting prizes to outstanding members who helped throughout the year in social services, chanting leaders and environmental conservationists. To conclude the event, the KPMG Team also presented Survival gift bags to all the seniors present. And, on April 9, DPF staff also distributed gifts on behalf of KPMG to bed-ridden people in the communities.

09/04/2026

Young Boys on the Right Path

On 5 April, 16 boys from our New Life Projects in Kanchanaburi and Chumporn ordinated as novices, along with 47 other boys, as part of the activities associated with the Summer Ordination Ceremony (honoring the birthday of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on 2 April). They will learn Buddhist teachings and practice meditation from 5-24 April at Wat Sapan Temple in Bangkok and the Sampanta Mediation Center at the New Life Project, Duang Prateep Foundation.

09/04/2026

Birthday Wishes for a Princess

On the occasion of Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya’s birthday, on 5 April, representatives of the principals in the “Care-Giver for the Elderly Project” went to express their best wishes for the princess. Participants were Khru Prateep, Director of the project, administrators of Princes of Songkla University (Pattani Campus), Thaksin University (Songkla campus), Sisaket Rajabhat University, and Triamudomsuksanomklao Samut Prakan School, as well as some of the students who will soon be travelling to Fukui Prefecture in Japan for their internships. We wish Her Royal Highness good health, happiness and prosperity.

03/04/2026

Vocational Training Helps Locals and Community

On 30th March, Kru Prateep attended a ceremony to award certificates to those who had passed the National Skill Standard Tests, at Bangkok Vocational Training School (Klong Toey). The school focuses on short, intensive vocational training in a variety of fields for local people, who can then use their new skills to both improve their own circumstances and benefit their community. Presiding over the ceremony was Ms. Kanchana Phupipatphon, Director of the Social Development Office. Also participating in the ceremony were the school’s director, Mr. Phuchakorn Thongtha, and all the instructors, who warmly congratulated the graduates. The project “Warm Hearts: Rewiring Electrical Systems in Klong Toey Communities,” an initiative of Khru Prateep, has also joined hands with the school to train new community electricians at an affordable cost, aimed at reducing the risk of fire hazards and improving safety in densely populated communities. The Duang Prateep Foundation believes that “opportunity” is the starting point for life-changing transformation, and that every form of support is a vital force in building a sustainable future for the community.

03/04/2026

Realistic Training for Our Firefighters

From 27-29 March, our volunteer Fire Relief and Prevention Team joined other fire-fighting crews for three days of intensive training exercises conducted by the Academy of Fire And Rescue (AFAR) in Phetchaburi province. The academy’s specialised facilities simulate emergency and hypothetical disaster scenarios, enabling the firefighters to practice and improve their skills in a controlled environment. This, in turn, enhances their capabilities in disaster prevention and response. Facilitating the training sessions were the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department, Klong Toey District Office, and Civil Defense Volunteers of Klong Toey District. A big thank-you to all.

31/03/2026

‘Gold from Garbage’

On 26 March, the Duang Prateep Foundation (DPF) and Thai Namthip Corporation Plc jointly organized a “Gold from Garbage” activity to celebrate Global Recycling Day. Our elderly residents and sponsored students raised awareness about the need for waste separation, while promoting creative ways for seniors to stay active. Assistant Professor Dr. Methee Thamwattana from Burapha University guided participants on transforming everyday materials like rubber bands, PVC pipes and clothes pegs into simple exercise equipment suitable for the elderly. Staff and volunteers from Thai Namthip also learned practical waste separation techniques at the garbage storage area near the foundation. The company further spread joy by providing meals and desserts to the participants. The DPF sincerely thanks Thai Namthip Corporation Plc for their collaboration in caring for our planet and making it a better place to live.

25/03/2026

Exploring Latent Potentials of Local People

On 24 March, the DPF welcomed an international group of 26 Master’s and PhD students from Thailand, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Myanmar, who are all currently studying at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). They came to learn from Khru Prateep about the social situations of community residents from a gender perspective, as well as the DPF’s approach to improving the quality of life for children, families and communities in the Klong Toey area. On the same day, they also interviewed some of our kindergarten teachers and teachers’ assistants about their life and their way of taking care of kindergarten students, followed by a walk through the community. A few days earlier, on 21-22 March, the students had also interviewed community leaders, community health volunteers, youths, disabled people, gender diverse people and local entrepreneurs to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges, needs and potentials of the community from the perspective of the people who live there.

25/03/2026

Willie’s Water Pump
Our deep appreciation to Khun Willie Gregg and the kind-hearted supporters of Wi***es Orphan Fund for their generosity in donating a new portable water pump for our Fire Relief and Protection Project. The volunteer team of young men and youths have some had substance abuse problems, and this project has helped to bring order, discipline and a sense of purpose into their lives, helping them to return to a more normal life.
Last year, the lads battled a total of 85 fires, sometimes alone and sometimes in conjunction with other city fire brigades, and this year they have already answered 33 calls for help to extinguish blazes. So, you can see that the portable water pump is going to see plenty of action (“portable” for use in difficult to access sites, such as slum communities).

20/03/2026

NLPK Girl Makes Good

The child of a broken family, Ms. Noppharat Tang-On (“Mint”) was only 10 years old when she came to live at our New Life Project (NLPK) rehabilitation home for abused or abandoned children. In May 2022, “Mint,” then aged 15, received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study in Japan at Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School under a scholarship generously provided by the school. Grabbing her chance with both hands, she completed her high school education in 2024 and returned to Thailand armed with her new skills in the Japanese language. “Mint” is now a teacher’s assistant providing instruction in the Japanese language at Saiyokmaneekarn School on weekdays. While on weekends, she is also studying for her Bachelor Degree at Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University in the Faculty of Business Administration on Digital Business Technology. We are extremely proud of “Mint,” who has not only risen from her underprivileged background to become a girl with bright prospects for her future, but who has also perfectly demonstrated that poor disadvantaged children can succeed spectacularly when given a chance.

17/03/2026

National Award for DPF Staffer

In addition to working in our Sponsorship Section helping poor and underprivileged children receive scholarships to continue their education, Ms. Boonma Roddee also devotes time every day to personally taking meals to the homes of elderly, bed-ridden people in the Klong Toey slum community. She also monitors their health by doing blood pressure checks, cleans their wounds daily, delivers medications and takes them for medical treatment when they have no-one else to care for them. She performs this vital service as a Klong Toey Community Health Volunteer, a role she has served in for the past nine years.
In recognition of her selfless contribution to the care of the frail and infirm, Khun Boonma has been honoured with Thailand’s “Outstanding Elderly Care-Giver Award” for 2568 (2025) by the Department of Health of the Ministry of Public Health, after receiving similar awards for Klong Toey district and then Bangkok. The Duang Prateep Foundation warmly congratulates Khun Boonma on receiving this prestigious award, and is proud to have such a warm-hearted, caring and diligent lady on our staff.

17/03/2026

Academic Success for our Kindergarten Teachers

In the latest academic year, four of our dedicated kindergarten teachers attained success in their studies. Ms. Jutharat Senachum graduated with a Bachelor degree from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi University (Certificate of Academic Excellence on Business Computer); Ms. Supatcha Hin-On obtained her Diploma in Business Computer from Bangkok Technical of Business Administration Vocational College (both these young women are former youths from our New Life Project for abused or abandoned children). Ms. Salika Thaisuk and Ms. Sirinun Meemueaun also received Diplomas from Bangkok Technical of Business Administration Vocational College in Business Computing. The DPF encourages self-development among our staff, which enables them to better help the underprivileged children they teach each day.