The Pure Heart Foundation Joins Forces with Private Sector to Deliver Morale-Boosting Snacks to Wildfire Control Officers in Kanchanaburi

The Pure Heart Foundation distributed snacks to officers at the Natural Resources Conservation Office Region 3 (Ban Pong) to encourage staff engaged in wildfire monitoring and control efforts in Kanchanaburi Province.

On April 24, 2025, Pure Heart Foundation Chair Theerarat Nawamawatana and her team traveled to the site to distribute 3,748 snack items valued at a total of 93,884 baht, with support from Value Plus Retail Co., Ltd., through the Wildfire and Haze Situation Command and Monitoring Center at the Natural Resources Conservation Office Region 3 (Ban Pong), Ban Pong District, Rajburi Province. Rachan Buatri, Director of the Natural Resources Conservation Office Region 3, accepted the donation on behalf of the wildfire control personnel in Kanchanaburi Province.

The foundation chair stated that the current wildfire situation in Kanchanaburi Province has significantly impacted the ecosystem and residents' quality of life. Dedicated officials are working tirelessly on wildfire control operations, and the foundation wished to be part of supporting all sectors' efforts in protecting natural resources and reducing wildfire impacts. The snack donation serves as a gesture of encouragement and appreciation for the officers' hard work.

The Pure Heart Foundation continues to advance its social support mission and coordinates cooperation across all sectors to deliver sustainable assistance and benefits to society in multiple dimensions.

EGCO Group and the Thai Forest Conservation Foundation, believing that "good sources create good outcomes," successfully executed the 62nd EGCO Thai Forest Conservation Youth Camp under the concept "Nature Decoded: Unlocking Doi Inthanon Watershed." The program brought 70 high school students from across Thailand to uncover nature's secrets at Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest source forest, which maintains rich biodiversity including flora, fauna, and unique ecosystems. The initiative aimed to help young people understand the value of watersheds and their connection to daily life, fostering environmental consciousness and eco-friendly behavior while building a strong network of forest conservationists.

Nature's Classroom Beyond Textbooks

During a seven-day, six-night camp in late March 2025 at Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai, selected youth transformed from classroom students into "nature detectives" through hands-on activities emphasizing direct experience and observation. They learned to understand the interconnectedness of living organisms and forest ecosystems firsthand.

Manee Pathachiwa, Secretary of the Thai Forest Conservation Foundation, explained that the EGCO Thai Forest Conservation Youth Camp has been held continuously since 1997, with a different theme each year. This year's focus on "decoding Doi Inthanon watershed" encourages youth to discover how nature sustains us and how we are the key to its sustainable future. The metaphor of "decoding" helps young people see nature's relevance even outside forests—through simple actions like environmental care and energy conservation. Participants engaged in actual forest walks along several nature study trails featuring diverse geography, geology, and vegetation, while exploring unique freshwater forest ecosystems and understanding relationships within these environments. They also took on the role of "water detectives" investigating the interconnected web of forest ecosystems.

PATTAYA – A Pattaya municipal officer has gone viral on social media after Chinese tourists were seen lining up to take photos with him, turning him into an unexpected online sensation during the recent holiday period.

Pongsatep Prasankhata, 28, known by his nickname "Nan," works as a special affairs officer for Pattaya City, responsible for assisting tourists and ensuring safety at Bali Hai Pier, a key departure point for visitors in the coastal city.

Videos and images of Chinese tourists requesting photos with him were widely shared on TikTok, quickly spreading across social media platforms and drawing significant attention online.

Pongsatep, who runs the TikTok account "Nanza_27" with more than 164,000 followers and over 3.7 million likes, regularly posts content showing his daily work, including assisting tourists, providing safety support and helping visitors at tourist hotspots.

He said he began creating content on TikTok around 2–3 years ago as a hobby, but his videos gained increasing popularity, particularly among Chinese users. During the holiday period, large numbers of tourists visited Pattaya, with many recognising him and asking for photos, leading to widespread sharing online.

Despite the viral attention, he stressed that his main duty remains assisting all tourists equally. His daily responsibilities include managing parking and tourist facilitation during the day, and providing safety support in the evening, including basic first aid and assistance for elderly and disabled visitors.

The viral attention has been widely praised online, with many users saying the incident reflects Thailand's tourism industry not only through its destinations, but also through frontline personnel who play a key role in creating trust and positive impressions among international visitors.

BANGKOK: Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun has unveiled five key policies aimed at reducing living costs, lifting incomes, and creating opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

PHUKET: Proposals for a cluster waste management project involving four municipalities, as well as a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production initiative designed to reduce reliance on landfill disposal, headlined discussions as Phuket officials moved to address the island’s mounting waste problem.

PHUKET: Phuket authorities have ordered urgent, round-the-clock repairs to underpass lighting systems across the island, with a strict deadline to complete all work before the new school term begins on May 14.