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Press / Count Gerald van der Straten Ponthoz
Here is an overview of the current projects at Insii Thai House. The other sections will introduce you to our past and future events.
 
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Chiangrai Hills Stadium is OPEN !
After 2 years of construction the Chiangrai Hills Stadium, the latest project of the foundation is completed.
A soft opening happended on October 1st 2011, on the occasion of the first competition, the Chatiphan Cup. This first event was a competition between hill tribe teams.
Follow the construction story in images in the video on the right. Also read the press release here.
Visit www.chiangraihills.com for more.		  
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On January 2nd 2011, we held a big New Year party at the construction site of the Chiangrai Hills Stadium.
It was the occasion to invite the public for the first time on the grounds of what will probably be the nicest private stadium in the north of Thailand. Chiangrai Hills and Chiangrai United presented their teams for the coming season and this was followed by a big fireworks show. Over a thousand persons attended the event.
More pictures on the Weah Radio website, or here.
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September 2010 brings two good news...
The renewed collaboration with First Division team Chiangrai United allows our hill tribe team, Chiangrai Hills, to train with a new world class coach from Brazil, Silvio Cesar.
The players also started to learn English thanks to the collaboration of AUA school. Chiangrai Hills is on track for a bright future.
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May 16th 2010 was the date of the official launch of the Chiangrai Hills Stadium construction. The stadium will be the home of Chiangrai Hills FC, the all hill tribe football team, which was created a year ago. The stadium is privately funded, with an expected cost of around 30 million baht.
Full story here.
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Exhibition of Winai Chaso at 9 Art Gallery.

Following his exhibition in Phuket, Winai accepted an invitation to show his work at 9 Art Gallery in Chiangrai (Solo exhibition, 15 may till 15 june 2010).

More here.
Pictures of the exhibition opening here.

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April 2010. Le Meridien Chiangrai, first and only real 5 star and international standard hotel of Chiangrai city joins hands with the Chao Phya Abhai Raja foundation during the long holidays.
Two of the hill tribe students supported by the foundation, who study the food industry at Rajabhat Suan Dusit university in Bangkok are now trained in the best facilities they could dream of. The two students, (hmong and lahu) already had a chance to practice last year in another luxury hotel, the Legend Chiangrai.
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On March 25th and 26th, the Woody Show was at Insii Thai House. The show, broadcasted on April 4th on Channel 9, followed the activities of the foundation and the Weah Radio project. Pictures here. Video here.
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On the 19th of March, Niche Cars (Lamborghini Thailand) made a donation of 500.000b to the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Siammanukulkij Foundation. While the foundation does not rely on outside donations to run its activities, such a gesture is a great incentive for everyone involved. All the activities of the foundation are adequately and privately funded by its founders, but several corporations, such as ING, TMB, Padaeng, Taweeheng, Solvay, and other private benefactors have encouraged us with important donations. The Niche Cars' donation will be immediately allocated to new scholarships.

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10 March 2010. Belgian TV channel RTL-TVI broadcasts a 30' program about the activities of the foundation. The program followed the visit of journalists Nathalie De Norre and Didier Carpriau last November 2009 at Insii Thai House. See the program on the "Coute que Coute" website, or here.
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On 11th of January 2010, Miti Tiraphairat and Count Gerald van der Straten Ponthoz signed a cooperation agreement between their respective football teams; Chiangrai United and Chiangrai Hills. This cooperation is aimed at opening even more opportunities for the disadvantaged youngsters whose dream is football. This agreement also sealed a personal partnership, in which Count Gerald becomes one of the main sponsors of Chiangrai United, the team representing Chiangrai in the first division this year.
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1st January 2010. Around 400 children, friends and members of our radio station (www.weahradio.com) were invited at Insii Thai House for a big fireworks show. Many of the guests came dressed with their hill tribe costumes, which added a lot of athmosphere to this great new year party.
More here.
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November 2009. Tv program "Coute que Coute", of European Tv channel RTL-TVI came all the way from Belgium to follow the activities of the foundation during 3 days. Nathalie De Norre and Didier Carpriau, the journalists, witnessed the successes of our students in a friendly and very relaxed athmosphere. See pictures of their trip here.

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On 24 November 2009 we celebrated the first 6 months of Weah radio at Insii Thai House. On that occasion the 600 members of the radio station were invited for an evening of fun, performances and music. More can be seen on the website www.weahradio.com, or directly here. Also listen online on the website !!!
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26 and 27 September 2009.

The board meeting of the foundation, visit of the new buildings at Insii Thai House, interviews, approval of the new projects, football and success of Weah radio...
A busy but rewarding weekend for everyone. Click here...
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August 2009.
The lastest project set up by Insii Thai House and supported by the foundation is the creation of Chiangrai Hills F.C.
This new football club opens unexpected opportunities to hill tribe and disadvantaged youngsters of Chiangrai. More here.

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The Chao Phya Abhai Raja Siammanukulkij Foundation and all its board members stand together to support Khun Somjai Sasomsarp in her fight against cancer.
Khun Somjai, who is Director of the Government Public Relations Office, Region 3, has been a board member of the foundation since its creation. Khun Somjai has also been devoted in helping the society through countless projects in Thailand.
We wish her a promt recovering and expect her to come back to us at the foundation as soon as possible.

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In August 2009. Weah Radio, a new project launched at Insii Thai House by the foundation, started its programs. The station is aimed at a young public and will be run mainly by disadvantaged youngsters of the Maechan area. Besides the audio programs, the listerners will also be able to chat and see webcams on the station's website here.
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22 May 2009.
Winai Chaso, Lahu student and talented artist suported by our foundation, made his first exhibition in Phuket. Invited by &Joy Gallery to exhibit 25 of his hill tribe ceramic sculptures, the exhibition will stay on for one month in Thailand's best known island. Pictures here.
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On 4 May 2009, Drs John Jeurissen, a long time resident of Chiangrai, supporter of many artistic projects, made an extra donation for one of the foundation' students.
Banchong Mayare, an Akha student from Maesalong, will start business studies at Rajabhat University in June 2009.
The donation of Drs John Jeurissen will help the foundation to fully support Banchong in his studies during at least 3 years.
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Privately financed by Count Gerald van der Straten Ponthoz, Insii Thai House is building new structures which will be offered for use to the foundation's activities. These new buildings include an art gallery, a radio station, a recording studio, the office of the foundation, a new ceramic project, a gem polishing project and more... Click here.
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March 1st 2009.

Friends of Maechan came together to help our students with brand new computers and addtional support for the school and university.

More here.

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Saek records his first CD album.

In January 2009, Saek, one of the students supported by the foundation recorded his first CD.

Listen to some songs and read more here.
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An incredible and unforgetable journey to Dubai for two Akha students, with the Racing Team VDS.
5 January to 12 January 2009.
Saek and Banchong are part of a winning team at this exceptional 24hrs' car race.
Full story and pictures here !!!

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New Year 2009.
On January 1st 2009, around 150 hill tribe children from the Maechan area were invited at Insii Thai House for a big and wonderful fireworks show. Excitement was at the rendez-vous for this first day of the year which will most certainly be imprinted in everyone's memory for a long time! (more)

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People of the Hills.

Last 13 December 2008 has been a very special day for young Lahu artist Winai Chaso, who made his first ceramic sculptures exhibition at Insii Thai House.
Over 50 statues inspired by the hill tribe culture were on display during this event which was presided by Chiangrai Governor Trisit Sinsomboonthong and attended by H.E. Mr Rudi Veestraeten, ambassador of Belgium in Thailand, and over 300 guests from Chiangrai, Chiangmai and Belgium.
Read more here

Exhibition by Winai Chaso, one of the students of the foundation. December 13th 2008 Exhibition by Winai Chaso, one of the students of the foundation. December 13th 2008
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29 October 2008.
Official launch of the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Siammanukulkij Foundation at the Residence of the Belgian Ambassador in Thailand, and presentation of the Chao Phya Abhai Raja book in Thai version. Click Here.

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