Business and Community Partnerships in Thailand Managing Solid Waste in Schools and Communities. One of Chevron’s signature CSR programmes is the 12-Participatory School Waste Management Project dating back to 2004 when the company was still known as Unocal. Chevron has allied with 12 schools in Songkhla Province where its onshore facilities are located. Partnering also with the Public Health Division of Singhanakorn District, the project plan has been laid out to the participating communities, step-by- step, seeking alliance and commitment from the teachers in target schools, implementing the project according to proposals from the school staff. The project included coaching and mentoring, and periodical monitoring and evaluation. Various project activities have been carried out, for example, establishment of recycle waste bank, production of handicrafts made from recycle waste, production and use of bio-fertilizer, and waste management campaigns in schools and nearby communities, among many others. A schools network was set up to share knowledge and experience and to ensure sustainability of the project. Students were encouraged to adopt this initiative at home, share with parents, and eventually with the whole community. Experiences, success stories, and lessons learned are shared with other schools in other locations. Chevron applies a ‘check-gate’ system during project implementation to make sure that all partners remain true to their commitments. Today, the project is self-sustaining and is being used as a model for other schools and communities. Recently, Chevron worked with additional 12 allied schools to introduce the concept in Pha-ngan Island in the Gulf of Thailand. Saving the Mangroves. In the Sathing Mo area, Chevron is saving the mangroves with the community and nearby schools as partners. The company has provided technical and financial support to the community and schools for the mangrove rehabilitation programme. The community and schools are allowed to decide on conservation activities on the condition that Chevron will discontinue supporting the initiatives if the project milestones are not achieved or 126 THE ASIA REGIONAL FORUM ON BIODIVERSITY the community does not see the importance of the project. With such arrangement, project milestones have been achieved. As a result, the company provided more assistance, including the building of a walking trail into the area. The trail allows people and students to visit the mangroves, providing hands-on experience that raises their awareness of the significance of mangroves and their biodiversity to local livelihoods and people’s well-being. Conserving Coral Reefs. In 2010, Chevron forged a partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for the implementation of a project on Participatory Integrated Waste Management for Conserving Coral Reef Around Tao Island in Surat Thani Province. The company provided financial support to the project, which aims to preserve and protect living coral reef ecosystems from human activities by improving waste management practices on the island. During the partnership signing ceremony, Aban Marker Kabraji, Regional Director, Asia, IUCN Thailand Programme, said, “We appreciate that Chevron has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability. We would like to see the collaboration we forge today, flourish to fully support the integration of biodiversity concerns and opportunities into your business planning at all scales. This agreement commits us to work together more closely towards improving coastal health for the benefit of the people.” Keys to Success of Business and Community Partnership There are certain key factors that are essential and crucial for the success of conservation projects supported by the business sector, which may include but not just limited to: strong and long-term company commitment, turning corporate social responsibility policy and action from philanthropic to social investment, partnering with independent organizations to develop the projects, partnering with communities (developing the projects based on community needs, gaining community acceptance and commitment, and integrating different areas of focus into the project; focusing on capacity building for community (ensuring project sustainability and providing
In Celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 84th Birthday Anniversary
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