KMUTT Partners with ‘Khao Mai Pla Man’ Learning Center to Launch “Tam Ruedu”: A Local Brand Empowered by Persons with Disabilities in the ‘City of Three Waters’

King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) has collaborated with the Khao Mai Pla Man Learning Center to unveil “Tam Ruedu” (Seasonal), a local brand handcrafted by persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Samut Songkhram. This initiative is a key milestone of the 12th Vocational Training Program for Persons with Disabilities organized by KMUTT.

The Phraek Nam Daeng community in Amphawa District, known as the “City of Three Waters” (fresh, salt, and brackish), is rich in natural resources, including coconut plantations, rice paddies, and diverse aquatic life. To unlock this potential for PWDs, KMUTT developed the “Community Entrepreneurship Development Curriculum from Local Resources of the Three Waters City.”

Empowering Self-Reliance Beyond the City

Asst. Prof. Dr. Busaket Intarpasan, Assistant to the President for Student Engagement and Learner Missions at KMUTT and Project Leader, stated that since 2014, the program has successfully helped over 50% of its participants find employment. However, realizing that many PWDs face travel barriers to urban workplaces, this latest curriculum focuses on independent entrepreneurship. By utilizing local materials, PWDs can work from home, creating economic value while fostering self-pride and independence. The 6-month training (May – October 2025) involved 10 participants and received strong support from the Khao Mai Pla Man Learning Center.

Mr. Suttilak Tokthong, a participant with a hereditary visual impairment and a committee member of the Samut Songkhram PWD Quality of Life Promotion Fund, shared that many PWDs in the area felt like “burdens” after accidents or illness. “I wanted to find a way for them to become entrepreneurs using modern knowledge like online marketing. The ‘Tam Ruedu’ brand was born from our effort to change mindsets—from being isolated to being business owners who apply the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy to our trade.”

The Essence of “Tam Ruedu”

The brand name “Tam Ruedu” (Seasonal) reflects the deep connection between the people of Samut Songkhram and their environment. It represents the “Three Seasons, Three Paddies, and Three Waters” (fresh, salt, and brackish) and the three key local products: Salt, Rice, and Fish.

Asst. Prof. Woranut Chuenrudeemol, a lecturer at the School of Architecture and Design (SoA+D), KMUTT, explained that the curriculum utilized Co-Design between PWDs, the community, and KMUTT to transform local ingredients and household waste (such as rice and Seablite/Chakram leaves) into premium products. These include:

• Chakram-based Skincare: Shampoos, soaps, and salt scrubs.
• Nutritional Products: Riceberry germ powder.
• Local Delicacies: Nam Prik Lam Pan (Mangrove Apple Chili Paste).

Official Launch at the ‘Khao Mai Pla Man’ Festival

The “Tam Ruedu” brand will officially debut at the “Khao Mai Pla Man” Local Festival on November 29–30, 2025, at the Khao Mai Pla Man Learning Center in Amphawa. The event will be presided over by Mr. Chayachai Sangin, the Governor of Samut Songkhram. Attendees can expect community product stalls, design and wisdom forums, creative market exhibitions, local textile fashion shows, and workshops led by the PWD group from the City of Three Waters.