Page 47 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL4

respect different cultures and not be judgemental,” she said. Following graduation she decided to work as a volunteer and teacher in a village in Chiang Rai, where she became known by the teacher title and her nickname as “Khru Daeng”.One of her motivations for social development was her respect for the Thai Royal Family. “I come from the generation that grew up seeing Royal Family members travel to poor villages across Thailand, and that inspired me to do something to contribute to society.”Volunteers and activists who work to help the poor are as essential to society and economics as those in any other profession, she believes. “Society needs volunteers and activists. Without us, the gap between rich and poor will grow wider and the country will become more dangerous.”Her work has gained attention at home and abroad. She received numerous awards, including as the Ashoka Fellowship in 1990, the Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1992 and the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1994. She was twice invited to meet Hilary Rodham Clinton on her state visits. Ms Clinton also visited her foundation in Chiang Rai. Ms Tuenjai said she was impressed by the former secretary of state’s genuine passion for women’s education. “I hope she is elected president of the US,” she said.It takes considerable devotion to work with social problems in Thailand, and Ms Tuenjai does not only work in the field. In 2000 she decided to enter national politics by running for senator, and won. This was followed by a second term. “People who work on social issues and poverty realize sooner or later that poverty comes from an unfair social structure. If you want to solve the problem, you need to work at a structural level, at a policy level. So I decided to enter politics.”Ms Tuenjai has screened many laws, monitored and questioned budget spending and opposed state projects that violate the rights of the poor. She has been rebuked by officials, developers, influential people, politicians or other senators with different points of view. Politics is a high-risk game often involving conflict, mudslinging and pressure.Known as being close to the Royal Family, with family membersvisiting her foundation in Chiang Rai in the past, red shirt groups threatened to burn down her home in Chiang Rai, wrongly assuming her to be a supporter of the royalist yellow-shirt camp.Ms Tuenjai gives credit to sociology and Buddhism for helping her deal with problems in work and life. Applying sociology has helped her avoid being judgemental and closed-minded.Elite+ 45