On 9 November 2024, H.E. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke, Ambassador of Thailand to Belgium, and spouse, and Embassy diplomats, attended the Loy Krathong 2024 at SMIK, Koekelare, Belgium. Thaismiles vzw., the organiser of the event, has been organising Loy Krathong activities for 9 consecutive years since the establishment of the organisation in 2016 with an aim to raise awareness about their projects to help those in need, especially children in remote areas. At the event, Ambassador gave opening remarks, followed by Krathong competition. Participants included Thais and their families and Belgians who travelled from other cities in Belgium to Koekelare to celebrate Loy Krathong festival and the floating of Krathong to pay respect to the Goddess of Water, and to enjoy Thai food, Thai music and traditional dance performances.
           Thaismiles vzw was founded in 2016 to fundraise community projects in Thailand to help those in need, especially children in remote areas, and improve their livelihood through financial support, education, improving land use and irrigation system, building schools, among others. This year’s projects include educational projects in Nongkhai and Chiang Rai provinces, care center and farming project to improve living conditions of HIV/AIDS patients in Nongkhai provinces, supporting small schools in the mountains of Chiang Rai province. Mr. Benny Mareel, Thaismiles vzw President, and the Committee have been actively working with the Belgian collaborators in Thailand to execute the projects. For further information or contribution, please visit the website https://thaismiles.be