Having recently been introduced to the work that the Surin Schools Charity does I was both slightly taken aback and amazed that a relatively small scaled business was devoting so much effort to this cause.

It begs the question, why don’t the larger scale businesses act more philanthropic and help change to live s of some of the poorer communities in the world?

It makes absolutely no sense in my head that the rich shareholders of multinationals refuse or lack the drive to contribute a decent amount of their vast wealth to something more socially and ethically geared.

The Surin Village Schools Charity is just such a great idea, if only more businesses would take up such a worthy challenge and try to make a difference in this world as opposed to solely chasing wealth and profits.

If businesses looked more towards a moral duty to the areas that are struggling they could change so many lives for the better. We all know that the globalisation of some companies give them the ability to command more power than some governments in LEDC’s, so why don’t they help?

Personally I think that it would only benefit these businesses. If they are conducting themselves in a manner that is helping the less fortunate and the communities around the world that are struggling then consumers will be more inclined to support the business.
But it seems even when a business is conducting itself in an immoral way take Total oil’s operations in Borneo for example, most consumers are still environmentally unconscious, they only think about the here and now and themselves and support these businesses when in reality they should be boycotting them.

Surin Villiage Schools Charity was founded by Mrs Damrong Garbutt, a top Thai restaurants chef. Not only having the business itself she has created the Surin Village School Charity. Their aim is to build village schools in the poorest regions of the 80 poorest UNHCR nations these being the nations below Thailand.

The aim is also to get the schools will to be linked to Kent schools via the internet for ongoing support, curriculum activity and cultural exchange and learning.

Its makes no sense that if a restaurant operator can dream up such an idea and put the wheels in motion to help better the lives of others, then why cant the large multinationals who operate in less developed countries do this as well and not just be there to extract what they need to make profits.

Matt Gradidge

Surin restaurant, founded by Mrs Damrong Garbutt, one of the world’s top Thai restaurants, has created the Surin Village School Charity.Our mission is to build village schools in the poorest regions of the 80 poorest UNHCR nations – the nations below Thailand.The schools will then be built and then linked to Kent schools via the internet for ongoing community support, curriculum activity and cultural exchange and learning – for both parties!The first 3 schools to be built will be in Thailand (Damrong’s home village near Cambodia), Mali in sub-Saharan Africa with the support of the Timbuktu Cultural Foundation in California, and Bolivia.

The Surin school approach

Surin Village School Charity (Charity Commission registration no: 1116492) aims to build a basic but high-quality village school in a region that would normally struggle to have an adequate school and simply no chance of links to the internet and the wider world.The school will encompass a good quality building, desks, books and computers. As well (given the poor surroundings) we will also seek to provide basic humanitarian assistance with a drinking water well and solar power for electricity and a basic community centre or healthcare facility.
We envisage Kent schools helping to fund ongoing support and improvements on a regular basis, as well as providing general support and “electronic penpals” for teachers and students to learn about their different nations and environments.