Page 69 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

supported the development of practical skills for helping those in distress (Jamaree Chiangthong,
2022, in Anan Kanjanapan, 2022).

Following the political transformation of 1932, the evolution of social giving in Thailand can be

divided into five distinct eras based on key economic and social developments:

1. The Public Welfare Era (1932–1957):

This period began with the People's Party (Khana Ratsadon), which cultivated a shared civic
consciousness around solving social problems and promoting public welfare without profit-
oriented goals. One early initiative was the founding of the Ratsadorn Saranrom Club, considered
the first civil society group in Thai history. This was followed by religious organizations and
charitable foundations established by prominent overseas Chinese families, leading to a broader

public-mindedness beyond the traditional ruling class. A notable example was the founding of
the Poh Teck Tung Foundation in 1937, which provided funeral services for the poor and helped
collect unclaimed corpses. This period was also marked by the leadership of socially influential
individuals who played pivotal roles in mobilizing public giving. For instance, Dr. Sem
Pringpuangkeo, a respected pioneer in Thai public health, led efforts to raise donations and
secure land from local elites to build Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital in 1937.

2. The Expansion of Public Benefit Organizations Era (1957–1982):
During this period, the government began implementing national economic and social
development plans, which coincided with the growth of non-profit private organizations or NGOs
in fields such as religion, healthcare, and education. These organizations primarily focused on
addressing social problems, promoting social development, and supporting the underprivileged
without direct affiliation with the state.

A notable example from this era was a foundation spearheaded by Puey Ungphakorn, who played
a central role in launching several key rural development initiatives. Three major projects under
his leadership included: 1) the Rural Reconstruction Foundation of Thailand under Royal
Patronage, the first officially registered NGO in Thailand in 1967, which supported rural
development in four areas, occupational advancement, education, hygiene, and community
organization, through collaboration with local volunteers and civil society to foster self-reliance;
2) the Thai Volunteer Graduates Office, which initially dispatched 18 volunteer graduates to serve
as secondary school teachers across all regions. The program later expanded to all educational
levels and incorporated additional training in nutrition and agriculture; and 3) the Mae Klong

River Basin Development Project, which aimed to align development efforts with local rural
lifestyles to promote self-sufficiency. However, this project was discontinued due to political
circumstances (Kritiyaporn Wongsa, 2022, in Anand Kanjanapan, 2022). Another prominent
organization was the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), founded in

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