Population and Community Development Association (PDA)

Population and Community Development Association (PDA) is a non-governmental organizations founded by Mr. Mechai Viravaidya in 1974 to contribute to social development and improvement of people’s quality of life. PDA’s achievements are acknowledged both domestically and internationally. Mr. Mechai Viravaidya as chairman has received many important awards such as Prince Mahidol Award, Bill Gates Award , United Nations Population Award and Ramon Magsaysay Award. Mr. Mechai Viravaidya was also appointed as a member of the National Reform Committee. PDA has also been recognized by The Global Journal in 2012 as one of the best 100 NGOs in the world

PDA has carried out hundreds of projects to improve the quality of life for people in rural and urban areas. Activities started in 1974 with promotion of family planning and primary health care by initiating a volunteer system in villages all over Thailand. This network then became the base for widening the scope of activities, i.e. establishment of community organizations, income-generation and occupational training, promoting education, environmental conservation, water resource development and democracy.

PDA Success in 4 decade

Mr. Mechai Viravaidya, founder and chairman of PDA, on the 40th Anniversary of PDA, highlighted the successes of PDA as follows

To Reduce births

Carry out family planning work that focuses on community involvement. (Community-Based Distribution System-CBD) by training and organizing community family planning volunteers in more than 12,000 villages

To Reduce deaths

Establish a public health project to provide knowledge about health care, correct knowledge and understanding about AIDS, and publicize through various media in a wide variety of printing media, radio and television.

To Reduce Poverty

Carry out the Village Development Partnership (VDP) project to eradicate poverty together with the private sector,emphasizes the development and supporting villagers with professional skills. Establish a village development bank to be a source of community funds that the villagers manage instead of Informal loan.

To Reduce Ignorance

Support educational development with the scholarship.Create an alternative education system for the disadvantaged in rural areas, with the goal to develop the school as a learning center for everyone in the community and to participate in rural development.

To Reduce Avarice

Encouraging people to have a public mind, know to share and volunteer to help society, starting with their own community.This is done both for the students in the school and for the general villagers through various activities.

Project and Achievement

PDA activities started with promotion of family planning and primary health care by initiating a volunteer system in villages all over Thailand. This network then became the base for widening the scope of activities, i.e. establishment of community organizations, income-generation and occupational training, promoting education, environmental conservation, water resource development and democracy.