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The Chiang Mai Charity Calendar 2010

"Thailand's Tourism Ambassador"

CREATING AWARENESS OF THAILAND'S CULTURAL HEARTLAND,
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM + A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.

"To promote Chiang Mai and Thailand in an unusual and attractive fashion; to raise funds for rural children, and involve local schoolchildren in a creative and rewarding endeavour."

The non-profit Chiang Mai Charity Calendar is now in its third successful year, has raised over one million

Thai Baht for rural children, and is welcomed into homes and offices all around the world.

"The calendar from Chiang Mai is not just beautiful, but has a sense of spirituality and goodness about it
that makes it a pleasure to look at" - Mark Whitman, Chiang Mai Mail

Method:

Students from different schools voluntarily paint pictures depicting attractive aspects of Northern Thailand. Promotional text and photography are added. The end product showcases the destination year-round in an appealing, non-commercial way. The 14 paintings submitted for the 2010 calendar were selected by independent judges. They are displayed here.

Main Features of the 2010 Calendar:

Total 40 pages with 14 paintings by schoolchildren reflecting with the theme "Nature & Culture of Northern Thailand"

View Sample pages here

Production:

Artworks are provided by City Life Magazine and printed by Chotana Print Company on a non-profit basis. 10,000 calendars are printed. Production expenses are over 500,000 Thai Baht, which the organisers fund themselves at their own financial risk. The calendar has no sponsors, and carries no advertising.

Fund raising:

The calendar was sold for Baht 100 to residents, tourists, travel agencies, hotels and corporate companies, and could be custom-made with company logo, greetings etc, on the front cover, or on both sides of an extended 1-inch base. The total revenue less the production expenses was donated in full towards the education of rural children. The project is non-profit, supported by volunteers, and no party receives any financial benefit.

Custom-made Calendars for the travel trade, and corporate companies:

Click here to see prices and examples in 2010.

Results:

The first 2008 calendar generated 604,000 Baht which was donated to an orphanage in Samoeng, a small town about an hour's drive from Chiang Mai.

The 2009 calendar was affected by increased printing costs and the economic crisis, but nevertheless raised 423,000 Baht.

The 2010 calendar was seriously affected by the recession in the Thai travel industry, and lack of support from the private sector, but nonetheless raised 111,000 Baht

It has hence raised over a million baht for rural children in three years; travelled to offices and homes all over the world, and raised global awareness of Chiang Mai and Thailand in many different countries. It is often referred to as "Thailand's Tourism Ambassador"