BFF management
BFF is governed by Board Committee Members who assign the Director to facilitate the Foundation activities. The Director, on behalf of BFF, works with all stakeholders - both government and non-governmental organizations. In addition, the BFF works with local and community-based organizations (CBO's) to facilitate project activities on specific sites.
Board committee members
- Mr Pramote Eua-amnuay, Chair
Director and Community Development Advisor - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surapoln Natakarnkitkul, Vice-chair
Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University - Ms Suparie Chatkunyarat, Treasurer
Managing Director, Learning Holiday Co., Ltd. Assoc. - Prof. Dr. Boonlom Cheva-Isarakul, Committee
Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University - Krongjit Eua-amnuay, Secretary
Senior Financial Advisor, Ruam Jai Cooperative Credit Union
BFF Director/Project Manager
Pramote Eua-amnuay comes to BFF with an extensive background in community development with Hill Tribe people in northern Thailand. A senior member of the Lahu people, one of 9 sub-groups of the Hill Tribe people, Pramote left behind his challenging background when he gained a scholarship to university in Thailand. He holds a Bachelor of Community Development and Masters of Agricultural Extension from Chiang Mai University.
Always a visionary and with a passion for the welfare of under-privileged people, Pramote was Director of the Thai arm of the Heifer Project (an international organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance and sustainability). As a Rotarian and Past President of Chiang Mai North Rotary Club, he has been directly involved in projects such as water drilling and installing water tanks with filtration and sanitation systems for schools and communities. Recently, he conducted the project 'Cross border passing on the gift' by providing 50 dairy cows from Thailand to women farmer groups in Vietnam. He has also been a consultant to the Royal Project Foundation – initiatives supported by the King of Thailand, Thai Government, universities, agencies and individuals.
Two years ago, Pramote was approached by leaders of the Hill Tribe people of Northern Thailand to assist in the setting up of a Foundation with the aim of providing access to education for children from the Hill Tribes. The leaders recognized in Pramote a man of deep compassion with the experience and networks necessary to gain help for their people. The result of their collaboration is the Borderless Friendship Foundation (BFF).
Personnel in sites
The BFF has local volunteers to help in targeted communities coordinated by the Director/Project Manager. The BFF makes use of volunteers in technical fields such as capacity building for youth/communities, IT management, networking, gender, human rights/laws, agriculture and microcredit/saving and environment issues.
The BFF also has leaders of community based organizations (CBOs) to assist with implementation and monitoring of activities in targeted communities
Specialist advisors
- Mr Komjak Pichaironnarongsongkram
Specialist on Animal Production, Department of Livestock Department - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boonserm Cheva-Isarakul
Associate Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Chiang Mai University - Ms Lorel Mayberry (PhD Candidate)
Lecturer in Sexology (Public Health), Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
Organizational structure
COOPERATIVE PARTNERS
BFF has proudly collaborated with Rotary International, Rotary Clubs (Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai North, Scarborough Western Australia). Other co-operative partners include Borderless Friendship Western Australia, Curtin University (Perth Western Australia), Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Case Western Reserve University, Department of Livestock Development, Chiang Mai University and local government organisations.
The Director/Project Manager and the Secretariat have been working in a voluntary capacity since the inception of BFF. Monies are urgently required to fund their ongoing positions and to expand the scope of work for BFF. With adequate funding, a Project Officer and a part time accounting position would be ideal.
======================================================================
Professor Rosemary Coates (AO) – Patron, Borderless Friendship Western Australia Inc
Rosemary Coates (Order of Australia)
BMS; BA; BSc; PGDipEd; MSc; PhD
Professor, School of Public Health, Division of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
Professor Coates has an international reputation for her work in both sexual health and medical ethics. On Australia Day, Jan 26th 2012, she was awarded an Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to the community in the field of reproductive and sexual health, and to medical education and research. Prof Coates is currently the President of the World Association for Sexual Health and has previously been the President of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, President of Family Planning Australia and Chair of the Western Australian AIDS Council.
Prof Coates is a Technical Advisor for the Reproductive Health and Research Unit of the World Health Organisation. She is a member of the Gender and Rights Advisory Panel; the Sexual Health and Human Rights Committee; the Sexual Health Indicators working group and a member of the Working Group for the Revision of ICD (Sexual Disorders).
Professor Coates has been working in the area of human sexuality for over 30 years. In that time she has been involved in the education of health professionals in sexual counselling and therapy, sexual medicine, and sexual health promotion. She established the Sexual Health Research & Education Unit at Curtin University and is responsible for the development of the world’s first postgraduate program in Forensic Sexology.
Prof Coates’ clinical and research work has focused on the physically disabled and also on specific paraphiliac behaviours. Her current research activities are diverse and involve a number of countries. A particular current concern is the world wide trafficking of women and children for the purposes of sexual enslavement.
Professor Coates is the author of the chapter on Australia in The Complete International Encyclopaedia of Sexuality, Edited by Francouer, R. New York and London: Continuum International. 2004. Her most recent publication is The Clinical Approach to Problems of Sexual Function in Sexual Health Medicine: A Clinical Approach (2nd ed.). Editors: Fairley, C., Russell, D., & Bradford, D. Melbourne University Press. 2011.
In addition to her expertise in sexual health, Dr Coates teaches medical ethics to a large number of students throughout the world, including universities in Australia, England and Italy.
As the Patron for Borderless Friendship WA, Prof Rosemary Coates supports and advises the Committee, and advocates for human rights at an international level. She joins with the BFF/ BFWA members and supporters to enhance the lives of hill tribe children in Northern Thailand.
