In its third year, the annual Chiang Mai Charity Calendar has raised in its short lifespan Bt1,027,000 (US$30,057) for needy children in the north and, at the same time, presented a credible image of Chiang Mai as a tourist destination.
Designed to raise funds for rural kids, and to involve local Thai schoolchildren in a creative and rewarding endeavour, the calendar features paintings painted by students from different schools, these pictures showcase the destination year-round in an appealing, non-commercial way.
The calendar is sold for Baht 100 to residents, tourists, travel agencies, hotels and corporate companies, and can be custom-made with company logo, greetings etc, on the front cover.
Now in its third successful year, the Calendar has raised over one million Thai baht for rural children and it has been welcomed into the homes and offices of people from all around the world.
All revenue, less the direct production expenses, is donated in full towards the education of rural children. The project is non-profit, supported by volunteers, and no party receives any financial benefit. The calendar has found its way into offices and homes worldwide and raised global awareness of Chiang Mai in many different countries.
The Chiang Mai Charity Calendar was born. “The first 2008 edition was realised with the co-operation of Prem Tinsulanonda International School, whose management and students embraced the idea+ideal of well-off children painting images to promote Chiang Mai to help needy children. The 2009 calendar project was opened to students from other schools, and the 2010 calendar attracted submissions from 18 different sources.”
Advance inquiries and orders should be forwarded to calendar organizers, Ramlah Jafri and Basil McCall, at: [email protected] or tel: 086-189-6912; 2009 web page: http://chiangmaicalendar2009.googlepages.com. The 2010 web page is under construction at: http://chiangmaicalendar2010.googlepages.com.
