Creating value from coconut shell dolls and waste wood scraps

Coconut shells and leftover wood scraps are not thrown away. A couple brings them to create value by making dolls and antique cars to sell as souvenirs and keepsakes, increasing their income. Uncle Sawan, 72 years old, and Aunt Sri-uan, 76 years old, a married couple from Village No. 6, Tambon Bua Ngam, Amphoe Damnoen Saduak, Ratchaburi Province, use the space under their house as a place to make a living, creating handicrafts from coconut shells and scraps of wood, making them into children's toys, gifts, and souvenirs to sell in tourist areas. They have received help from professors from the Fine Arts Department in designing them. Uncle Sawan said that his past life was difficult and his business failed because he had little knowledge and no experience in trading, which caused him to lose everything and return home. Uncle Sawan said that he took up this profession because his family had a lot of coconut shells. He thought about what to do with it, so he thought of making a tuk-tuk, a unique Thai identi ty. His wife took it to sell at Sanam Luang. A professor from the Fine Arts Department saw it and suggested that he register it at Bang Pae District, Ratchaburi Province. An official came to help make it a 3-star OTOP product. This was the starting point for creating more inventions, such as dolls, Vespa cars, and Volkswagen cars, which became souvenirs and mementos priced in the hundreds, giving him additional income to support himself and his wife in his later years. Source: Thai News Agency