Participants of the Bangkok Sister City Youth Program 2011 Visiting the Huai Sai RDSC, Phetchaburi Province On Monday 28 March 2011, 85 participants of the Bangkok Sister City Youth Program 2011 organized by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) visited the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Centre in Phetchaburi Province. The participants came from Bangkok and 16 Sister Cities of Bangkok which are Washington D.C., Beijing, Budapest, Brisbane, Moscow, Manila, Jakatar, Hanoi, Vientiane, Astana, Seoul, St. Petersburg, Chaozhou, Guangzhou, Fukuoka and Lausanne. They are welcomed by officials of the centre and representatives from the Foreign Affairs Group and the Bureau of the Central Region Projects Coordination, Office of the Royal Development Projects Board (ORDPB). At 9.00 hrs. the participants listened to the briefing on the Development Work of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand by Mrs. Kamolinee Suksriwong, the Director of the Foreign Affairs Group of ORPDB. After that, the Deputy Director of the Centre presented them the implementation results of the centre’s activities. Then at 10.00 hrs. The participants were separated into 4 groups and visited 4 study visit sites as follows: Group 1: Demonstration of Water management system, rehabilitation of forest and construction of check dams Group 2: Study and experimentation on the potentials of vetiver grass in the development of hard-pan soil Group 3: Research and experimentation on bio-diesel production in substitution of diesel fuel for agricultural purposes at the Phetchaburi Province Agricultural Occupational Promotion and Development Centre (Agricultural mechanics) Group 4: Agricultural plot of Mr. Kien Soisom, the Centre’s model farmer on the new Theory Farming Practice Before leaving for Bangkok at 14.30 hrs. the participants built a check dam together under the instruction of the officials of the centre. They were full of energy and enthusiasm to learn and practice. Pictorial Report of the Study Visit of the Participants of the “Bangkok Sister City Youth Program 2011” At the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Centre, Phetchaburi Province On 28 March 2011 1. Briefings on the Royal Development Projects and the Implementation results of the Huai Sai RDSC’s Activities Mrs. Kamolinee Suksriwong, Director of the Foreign Affairs Group, welcomed the participants and presented a briefing on “The Development Work of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand” The Deputy Director of the Huai Sai RDSC illustrated the background and implementation results of the Centre’s activities. 2. Study Visits Group 1:: Demonstration of water management system, rehabilitation of forest and construction of check dams The participants learned how to manage water sources, restore the forest and build check dams from the Centre’s officials. Group 2: Study and experimentation on the potentials of vetiver grass in the development of hard-pan soil The participants from Bangkok explained the experimentation results of the utilisation of vetiver grass for the development of hard-pan soil to those from other cities Group 3: Research and experimentation on bio-diesel production in substitution of diesel fuel for agricultural purposes at the Phetchaburi Province Agricultural Occupational Promotion and Development Centre (Agricultural mechanics) ผู้เข้าร่วมโครงการฯ ชมการสาธิตการเก็บเมล็ดสบู่ดํา และการกะเทาะเปลือกเมลดสบ็ ดู่ าํ ตลอดจนการสกัดเมลดสบ็ ู่ดําออกมาเป็นน้ํามันไบโอดีเซล Group 4: Agricultural plot of Mr. Kien Soisom, the Centre’s model farmer on the New Theory Farming Practice Mr. Kien narrated his past experiences suffering from the great debts. After that he led his life according the royal initiatives of His Majesty the King which enabled him to enjoy a self-sufficient life. The participants from Bangkok played role as translators in explaining these valuable real life experiences to the fellow participants. ่ The participants enjoyed touring around Mr. Kien agricultural plots with activities implemented according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, including the management of land according to the New Theory Farming Practice, vetiver grass cultivation for soil development, bio-fertilizer production and compost production. 3. Learning by Doing The Centre’s officials explained to the participants how to build a check dam made from rocks and cement. The participants disassembled the old check dam and built a new one together. The participants jointly built a check dam amidst the cheering voices around. But they had to leave for Bangkok before finishing the task. .