HONDA

Honda Thailand Foundation

Established in August, 2002 with an initial capital endowment of Baht 100 million (approximately US$ 2.5 million at 2002 exchange rates), the Honda Thailand Foundation (HTF) receives on-going annual funding of some Baht 20 million from fire members of the Honda Group of Companies in Thailand, namely, Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Thai Honda Manufacturing Co., Ltd., A.P. Honda Co., Ltd., Honda Automobiles (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Asian Auto Parts Co., Ltd.

HTF objectives:

According to its charter, the Foundation's objectives are to engage in activities beneficial to Thai society, including the preservation of moral and cultural values, educational support and humanitarian assistance.

The Foundation can support or co-operate with other public charitable organizations and is committed to the peaceful development of the Kingdom. It cannot engage in any political activities.

Cultural contributions:

Since 2002, the Foundation has extended significant support for the conservation of elephants in Thailand which have suffered a dramatic decline in population due to loss of habitat and other factors. As the world's largest land mammal, the elephant has played an important role in Thai culture for many centuries and its preservation is regarded as a major symbol of environmental sustainability and cultural identity.

A total ban on logging in Thailand since 1990 created a major problem for domesticated elephants: Unemployment. Trained for logging operations, these elephants could not survive alone in the jungle and were often reduced, with their mahouts, to wandering city streets begging for food. In cooperation with the Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand and government agencies, the Foundation sponsored a pilot project to hire unemployed elephants and their mahouts for forest patrol work in remote parts of the country. During the course of the pilot project the number of elephants being employed increased from six to 81 and the project was regarded as such a success that it is now being managed entirely by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

However, the Foundation continues to support the work of the Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand and from 2004-2007 it has sponsored the annual Queen's Cup International Kayak Rally which raises funds for elephant conservation.

Apart from its support for elephant conservation, HTF made a donation to the Phra Baht Nam Phu temple in Lop Buri in 2006 to support its Biggest Bell Tower project in celebration of H.M. The Kings 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne. Honda and the Foundation have a long-standing relationship with this temple which operates Thailand's largest privately-managed HIV AIDS hospice and support centre.

Educational contributions:

In 2003 Honda Motor Co.,Ltd. and the Foundation donated 1,064 used computers from Japan to the Ministry of Education's Plant the Tree of Knowledge project for use by rural schools in Ratchburi and Ubol Ratchathanee provinces.

In 2004 the Foundation presented auditory diagnostic equipment and computers to schools in the three deep-south provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwas which have been hard-hit by civil strife.

In 2006 the Foundation donated educational scholarship funds to the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation for use orphans of the December, 2004 tsunami disaster.

Humanitarian contributions

Since 1994 members and associates (the Honda term for employees) of the Honda Group of Companies in Thailand have supported the Phra Baht Nam Phu temple in Lopburi province which operates Thailand's largest privately-managed HIV AIDS hospice and support centre. With the Honda Thailand Foundation's establishment in 2002, much of the support for this temple and for the amelioration of the HIV AIDS epidemic Thailand is facing, is now channeled through the Foundation. Todate this support amounts to approximately Baht 50 million.

Tod Kathin ceremonies marking the end of Buddhist Lent have been organized under the Foundation's auspices since 2002 to support the construction of Rajaprajanugroh 33 school, the Som Dej Prayanasonkwarn Building, the Dhamma Learning Building and the Health Development Centre, among other projects.

In addition the Foundation supports World AIDS Day activities in Thailand each year (These are one time donation not necessary to mention about them kha) and has made donations to Ban Rom Sai children's home in Chiang Mai (2003) and to the Rotary Club of Bangrak (2006).

Honda Thailand Foundation
14 Sarasin Building
Surasak Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand