The event, held at the foundation’s headquarters in Phuket Town, saw 326 scholarships with a total value of more than B2 million awarded to students from more than 23 schools across Phuket.
Present for the occasion were Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and his wife Mrs Busadee, who serves as President of the Phuket branch of the Red Cross, along with Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) and Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham.
Lek Tantiwongpaisan, President of the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation, led the main ceremony, held to honor the Chinese god Poi Sia Hud, alongside the foundation’s committee and advisors.
Poi Sia Hud is venerated as a goddess of dawn, childbirth, and destiny, and is often invoked for protection and blessings. Her worship is widespread among the Chinese diaspora, particularly in communities that have maintained traditional Chinese religious practices.
Ceremonies and offerings in her honor are common, especially in events promoting education, well-being, and community support, which aligns with the scholarship award ceremony and rice donation event described.
In addition to the scholarships, Li Cheng Long, Head of the Phuket Provincial Consular Office and Deputy Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Songkhla Province, presented an additional B50,000 in support of the foundation.
The Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation has been providing scholarships to academically promising yet financially disadvantaged students since 2011.
This year, the foundation awarded scholarships to students at various educational levels: 200 scholarships of B2,000 each to primary school students, 30 scholarships of B3,000 each to secondary school students, 48 scholarships of B5,000 each to vocational students, 30 scholarships of B5,000 each to university students, and 14 scholarships to employees of the foundation, bringing the total to 326 scholarships.
At the event the foundation also donated rice to support the lunch programs of 23 schools in Phuket. Each school received five sacks of rice, totaling 115 sacks, valued at B4,500 each. Additionally, 3,000 sets of household products were provided, bringing the total value of donations to B2,227,250.50.
The annual event highlights the foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting the educational needs and well-being of Phuket’s students, ensuring they have the necessary resources to thrive academically and personally, Mr Lek said.