Asian University meets Mr Condom
Headed by Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, Founder and President of Asian University, a delegation of lecturers and a group of visiting students from South Korea took up an invitation from Khun Mechai Viravaidja to visit his Pattaya-based restaurant and hotel.
From left to right (front) Ulrich Werner (Director of International Development, Asian U), Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya (President, Asian U), and Mechai Viravaidja (Mr. Condom)
Better known across Thailand as ‘Mr Condom’ due to his efforts in promoting the use of prophylactics to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, Khun Mechai is now promoting a grass-root business that requires one rai (1,600 sqm) of land of any soil to grow several plants in concrete rings and plastic bags, such as out-of-season lemon and cantaloupe.
According to Khun Mechai, a grass-roots farmer could earn about 240,000 baht in the first year, and about 360,000 baht in any subsequent year.
An example project is installed on the ground of Birds & Bees, the famous hotel in Pratamnak Soi 4, which also hosts the restaurant Cabbages & Condoms, which provided a tasty lunch for the visitors from Asian University.
The Asian U President offered to make use of the Asian U campus to help promote this surprisingly simple and effective approach.
Later that day, the Asian U delegation visited two rural public schools near Sriracha where the 1-rai solution is about to be implemented to help in funding. The schools only receive an average of 1,800 baht per student per year from the Thai Ministry of Education, out of which it also has to provide the daily school lunch and other amenities.
