Osotspa Empowers 130 People with Disabilities to Celebrate Its130th Anniversary
For the past 3 years, Osotspa has been committed to helping people who are disabled from an accident and unable to work and support their family, to start a new life through the Life must go on project. This year is another pride that Osotspa has delivered a helping hand to 130 people with disabilities to celebrate its’ 130th Anniversary.
With the determination to be “The Power to Enhance Lives of Thai people,” Osotspa initiated the “Life must go on” project in 2019 to provide supports for the disabled beyond legal requirements. The project was launched peculiarly to empower those who had been a breadwinners before becoming disabled after serious accidents or illness to be able to work, earn a living and support their families. To encourage the disabled to move forward, the project focuses on building physical strengths through rejuvenating the body and developing potential; empowering the spirit through home renovations that help with daily routine, activities which return their confidence; and enhancing life through vocational training as well as equipment supports for those who have skill but have no funds. The career supports include bean sprout farming, mushroom farming, weaving baskets, selling food, hair salon, and electrical appliance repair. In 2019-2020, the project has helped a total of 64 people with disabilities.
“The greatest power is the power of giving. Our joint ambition to deliver profession to people with disabilities will reignite the power for those who never give up to start a new life in the chosen profession so that they will have greater income, better quality of life filled with happiness, hope and power to move forward,” said Mrs. Wannipa Bhakdibutr, Chief Executive Officer of Osotspa Plc.
Prior to the pandemics, people with disabilities face more difficulties in their lives than others. The pandemic has made their difficult life all the harder. While facing with COVID-19 economic crises, Osotspa still continues providing support for people with disabilities and their caregivers to help them earn income for their families. This year, we are recruited 66 more people with disabilities in 4 provinces, namely Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Saraburi, to the project, reaching our goal of delivering support to 130 people with disabilities in 2021, which is Osotspa’s 130th anniversary. The project has the cooperation of many public and private sectors, such as the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Department of Employment, local government agents, Samut Prakan Disabled Person Association, Punyapat Foundation and Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, which is an important partner that provides great support.
Mr. Yuttana Pawabutr, a participant in the Life must go on project from Bangkok who is supported with coffee shop equipment, said “I was hit by a car while I was on duty of distributing the newspaper. I become disabled after that accident. Then, I lost my full-time job. I have never thought of giving up and I have coped with the changes. I keep fighting so that I won’t become a burden. I work harder than others. I am fortunate to be able to participate in this project. It provides me the new opportunities and makes me able to move on.”
Mrs. Chanta Wichit is the project’s participant in Saraburi province. She was supported with equipment for making stucco furniture. All products are sold and she has many orders in advance. Her income is now stable. She mentioned that “I worked at the factory before. After the surgery for a brain tumor, I become blind, and my limbs turn weak. My husband had to quit his job to take care of me, causing a loss of family income. Neither I nor my husband gave up and was, fortunately, able to join the project. This creates an opportunity to bring forth our building skill to making cement benches and cement pots. My neighbors help promote our products through the word of mouth, resulting in an increase of orders and our income. Today, I keep learning and trying to make new products. It’s such luck to have this opportunity, so I want to do my best.”
The Life must go on project reflects a commitment to doing the business along with giving back to society for more than 130 years since the start of the business. Osotspa will continue to adhere to this commitment with an aim to enhance the lives of Thai people and grow alongside Thai society.
